To agree to an amendment to H.R. 6143, directing the postmaster general to contract for 2 ocean mail steamship service lines between the U.S. And brazil, one to

On Feb 20, 1879, the Senate voted 23–17 (HR 6143). Result: passed. By party: Republicans 23–9, Democrats 12–18, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 21 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: 23
No: 17
Did not vote: 19
Date: Feb 20, 1879

By party

Republicans23 yes · 9 no · 11 didn’t vote
Democrats12 yes · 18 no · 8 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Augustus Hill Garland D-AR voted yes
Henry Moore Teller R-CO voted no
William Henry Barnum D-CT voted yes
Benjamin Harvey Hill D-GA voted yes
John Brown Gordon D-GA voted yes
Richard James Oglesby R-IL voted no
James Biddle Eustis D-LA voted yes
Thomas White Ferry R-MI voted no
Samuel James Renwick Mcmillan R-MN voted no
Francis Marion Cockrell D-MO voted yes
James Shields D-MO voted yes
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar D-MS voted yes
Algernon Sidney Paddock R-NE voted no
Bainbridge Wadleigh R-NH voted no
Matthew Calbraith Butler D-SC voted yes
Richard Coke D-TX voted yes
Samuel Bell Maxey D-TX voted yes
Robert Enoch Withers D-VA voted yes
George Franklin Edmunds R-VT voted no
Justin Smith Morrill R-VT voted no
Angus Cameron R-WI voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To agree to an amendment to H.R. 6143…: Senate Vote, Feb 20, 1879,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/45-S-472/to-agree-to-an-amendment-to-h-r-6143 (accessed 2026-10-17).