To introduce H.R. 2788, a bill to authorize the building of a military and postal railway from washington, d.c., to new york city. (p. 380-2)

On Jan 16, 1871, the House voted 114–78 (HR 2788). Result: passed. By party: Republicans 112–24, Democrats 2–53, Others 1–2. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 26 members voted against their own party.

During the 41st Congress (1869–1870), Ulysses S. Grant was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 114
No: 78
Did not vote: 62
Date: Jan 16, 1871

By party

Republicans112 yes · 24 no · 42 didn’t vote
Democrats2 yes · 53 no · 17 didn’t vote
Others1 yes · 2 no · 3 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Stephen Wright Kellogg R-CT voted no
James Buffinton R-MA voted no
Ginery Twichell R-MA voted no
Samuel Hooper R-MA voted no
Benjamin Franklin Butler R-MA voted no
William Barrett Washburn R-MA voted no
Henry Laurens Dawes R-MA voted no
Eugene Hale R-ME voted no
John Forbes Benjamin R-MO voted no
Aaron Fletcher Stevens R-NH voted no
John Hill R-NJ voted no
John Morrissey D-NY voted yes
Charles Henry Van Wyck R-NY voted no
John Henry Ketcham R-NY voted no
Addison Henry Laflin R-NY voted no
Eliakim Hastings Moore R-OH voted no
Charles O'Neill R-PA voted no
Leonard Myers R-PA voted no
William Darrah Kelley R-PA voted no
Caleb Newbold Taylor R-PA voted no
John Black Packer R-PA voted no
Calvin Willard Gilfillan R-PA voted no
James Scott Negley R-PA voted no
Luke Potter Poland R-VT voted no
Worthington Curtis Smith R-VT voted no
Charles Augustus Eldredge D-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 introduce H.R. 2788, a bill to authorize…: House Vote, Jan 16, 1871,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/41-H-511/to-introduce-h-r-2788-a-bill-to-authorize (accessed 2026-10-16).