Senate roll call 55 · 25th Congress · Jan 3, 1838
To pass the first resolution concerning slavery, stating that in the adoption of the federal constitution, the individual states acted as free states and volunt
On Jan 3, 1838, the Senate voted 32–13. Result: passed. By party: Democrats 28–3, Others 4–10. 3 members voted against their own party.
During the 25th Congress (1837–1838), Martin Van Buren was president.
- Yes
- 32
- No
- 13
- Did not vote
- 14
- Date
- Jan 3, 1838
By party
- Democrats28 yes · 3 no · 9 didn’t vote
- Others4 yes · 10 no · 5 didn’t vote
Who broke with their party
- John Tipton D-IN voted no
- Garret Dorset Wall D-NJ voted no
- Thomas Morris D-OH voted no
How each senator voted: Yes
- Clement Comer Clay D-AL
- William Rufus de Vane King D-AL
- Ambrose Hundley Sevier D-AR
- William Savin Fulton D-AR
- John Milton Niles D-CT
- Perry Smith D-CT
- Alfred Cuthbert D-GA
- Wilson Lumpkin D-GA
- John McCracken Robinson D-IL
- Richard Montgomery Young D-IL
- Henry Clay O-KY
- Robert Carter Nicholas D-LA
- John Ruggles D-ME
- Reuel Williams D-ME
- John Norvell D-MI
- Lucius Lyon D-MI
- Lewis Fields Linn D-MO
- John Black O-MS
- Robert John Walker D-MS
- Bedford Brown D-NC
- Robert Strange D-NC
- Franklin Pierce D-NH
- Henry Hubbard D-NH
- Silas Wright Jr. D-NY
- William Allen D-OH
- James Buchanan D-PA
- Samuel Mckean D-PA
- John Caldwell Calhoun D-SC
- William Campbell Preston O-SC
- Hugh Lawson White O-TN
- William Cabell Rives D-VA
- William Henry Roane D-VA
How each senator voted: No
- Richard Henry Bayard O-DE
- Thomas Clayton O-DE
- John Tipton D-IN
- Oliver Hampton Smith O-IN
- Daniel Webster O-MA
- John Davis O-MA
- Garret Dorset Wall D-NJ
- Samuel Lewis Southard O-NJ
- Thomas Morris D-OH
- Asher Robbins O-RI
- Nehemiah Rice Knight O-RI
- Benjamin Swift O-VT
- Samuel Prentiss O-VT
Did not vote
- John Mckinley D-AL
- John Pendleton King D-GA
- John Jordan Crittenden O-KY
- Alexander Mouton D-LA
- John Selby Spence O-MD
- Joseph Kent O-MD
- William Duhurst Merrick O-MD
- Thomas Hart Benton D-MO
- James Fisher Trotter D-MS
- Thomas Hickman Williams D-MS
- Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge D-NY
- Ephraim Hubbard Foster O-TN
- Felix Grundy D-TN
- Richard Elliott Parker D-VA
Other votes
From Voteview roll call records.
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Capitol Receipts, “To pass the first resolution concerning…: Senate Vote, Jan 3, 1838,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/25-S-55/to-pass-the-first-resolution-concerning-slavery-stating-that (accessed 2026-10-16).