Speaker John White gaveled the 89 day "lame-duck" second session of the House of Representatives to a close, ending the term of the Twenty-seventh Congress of the United States. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Twenty-sixth Congress of the United States was sitting. It served for 87 days and adjourn on March 3, 1841. Democrat Robert M.T. Hunter of Virginia presided as Speaker. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Twenty-eighth Congress of the United States opens in Washington, D.C. with Speaker John W. Jones presiding. This "lame duck" session will sit for 92 days and adjourn on March 3, 1845. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, Speaker John W. Jones brought down the gavel on the first House session of the Twenty-eighth Congress of the United States. The chamber had been in session for 196 days. It adjourned until the opening of its second session on December 4, 1844. (By John Osborne)

The Twenty-eighth Congress of the United States was in session in Washington, DC. It sat until June 17, 1846. Democrat representative John W. Jones of Virginia was in the Speaker's chair. (By John Osborne)

The Twenty-eighth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. Of the 223 representatives, Democrats dominated with 147 members, a clear majority. Of the remainder, 72 were Whigs, two were Rhode Island members of the Law and Order Party, Henry Nes of Pennsylvania was an Independent Democrat, and there was one Independent Whig. Democrat John W. Jones of Virginia was elected Speaker of the House on this first day. (By John Osborne)

Speaker John W. Davis gaveled the 87 day "lame-duck" second session of the House of Representatives to a close, ending the term of the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States was sitting. It served for 87 days and adjourned on March 3, 1847. Democrat John W. Davis of Indiana was presiding as Speaker. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. with Speaker John W. Davis presiding. This "lame duck" session sat for 87 days and adjourned on March 3, 1849. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, Speaker John W. Davis brought down the gavel on the first House session of the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States. The chamber had been in session for 253 days. It adjourned until the opening of its second session on December 7, 1846. (By John Osborne)