To amend a motion fixing 70 minutes for general debate on H.R. 257 by increasing the time of debate to four hours.

On Feb 27, 1878, the House voted 117–131 (HR 257). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 9–123, Republicans 110–10, Others 0–1. It was a party-line vote: most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides. 19 members voted against their own party.

During the 45th Congress (1877–1878), Rutherford B. Hayes was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 117
No: 131
Did not vote: 49
Date: Feb 27, 1878

By party

Democrats9 yes · 123 no · 26 didn’t vote
Others0 yes · 1 no · 1 didn’t vote
Republicans110 yes · 10 no · 22 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Thomas MacDonald Patterson D-CO voted yes
Alexander Hamilton Stephens D-GA voted yes
Thomas Alexander Boyd R-IL voted no
Richard Wellington Townshend D-IL voted yes
William Addison Phillips R-KS voted no
William Walsh D-MD voted yes
Mark Hill Dunnell R-MN voted no
Lyne Shackelford Metcalfe R-MO voted no
Charles Edward Hooker D-MS voted yes
Clarkson Nott Potter D-NY voted yes
John Henry Ketcham R-NY voted no
John Sills Jones R-OH voted no
Abraham Herr Smith R-PA voted no
Hendrick Bradley Wright D-PA voted yes
Edward Overton Jr. R-PA voted no
Levi Maish D-PA voted yes
Joseph Hayne Rainey R-SC voted no
Robert Smalls R-SC voted no
Gilbert Carlton Walker D-VA 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 a motion fixing 70 minutes for…: House Vote, Feb 27, 1878,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/45-H-91/to-amend-a-motion-fixing-70-minutes-for-general (accessed 2026-10-17).