To amend H.R. 713, so as to abolish the franking privilege on and after july 1st next, except so far as confined by special laws as personal privilege. (p. 167

On Mar 3, 1859, the House voted 85–89 (HR 713). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 67–32, Republicans 16–49, Others 4–8. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 48 members voted against their own party.

During the 35th Congress (1857–1858), James Buchanan was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 85
No: 89
Did not vote: 69
Date: Mar 3, 1859

By party

Democrats67 yes · 32 no · 36 didn’t vote
Republicans16 yes · 49 no · 28 didn’t vote
Others4 yes · 8 no · 5 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Samuel Arnold D-CT voted no
Sidney Dean R-CT voted yes
William Gustavus Whiteley D-DE voted no
George Sydney Hawkins D-FL voted no
Charles Drury Hodges D-IL voted no
Robert Smith D-IL voted no
James Madison Gregg D-IN voted no
John Givan Davis D-IN voted no
Schuyler Colfax R-IN voted yes
John Upfold Pettit R-IN voted yes
John Milton Elliott D-KY voted no
James Brown Clay D-KY voted no
Robert Bernard Hall R-MA voted yes
James Buffinton R-MA voted yes
Henry Laurens Dawes R-MA voted yes
Thomas Fielder Bowie D-MD voted no
John Bullock Clark D-MO voted no
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar D-MS voted no
Otho Robards Singleton D-MS voted no
Warren Winslow D-NC voted no
Mason Weare Tappan R-NH voted yes
Garnett Bowditch Adrain D-NJ voted no
Elijah Ward D-NY voted no
Horace Francis Clark D-NY voted no
Emory Bemsley Pottle R-NY voted yes
William Henry Kelsey R-NY voted yes
George Hunt Pendleton D-OH voted no
Clement Laird Vallandigham D-OH voted no
Matthias H. Nichols R-OH voted yes
Benjamin Stanton R-OH voted yes
John Sherman R-OH voted yes
Cydnor Bailey Tompkins R-OH voted yes
Benjamin Franklin Leiter R-OH voted yes
La Fayette Grover D-OR voted no
Thomas Birch Florence D-PA voted no
Henry Myer Phillips D-PA voted no
Henry Chapman D-PA voted no
William Lewis Dewart D-PA voted no
Paul Leidy D-PA voted no
Allison White D-PA voted no
John Alexander Ahl D-PA voted no
James Lisle Gillis D-PA voted no
Nathaniel Briggs Durfee R-RI voted yes
Samuel Axley Smith D-TN voted no
John Houston Savage D-TN voted no
John Singleton Millson D-VA voted no
Albert Gallatin Jenkins D-VA voted no
John Fox Potter R-WI voted yes

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend H.R. 713, so as to abolish the…: House Vote, Mar 3, 1859,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/35-H-539/to-amend-h-r-713-so-as-to-abolish (accessed 2026-10-17).