The second regular session of the Thirty-fourth Congress of the United States was sitting. It served for ninety-three days and adjourned on March 3, 1857. (By John Osborne)

After a short special session the previous August, the second regular session of the Thirty-fourth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. with Speaker Nathaniel Banks presiding. (By John Osborne)

President Pierce had recalled both houses back into session claiming that vital defense appropriations have not been made and that therefore Indian hostilities and other problems threaten the "public peace." The special session has lasted ten days. (By John Osborne)

Three days after the Congress adjourns after a 280 day opening session, President Pierce had called both houses back into session claiming that vital defense appropriations have not been made and that therefore Indian hostilities and other problems threaten the "public peace." The special session will last ten days. (By John Osborne)

Three days after the Congress adjourns after a 280 day opening session, President Pierce calls both houses back into session claiming that vital defense appropriations have not been made and that therefore Indian hostilities and other problems threaten the "public peace." The special session will last ten days. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, Speaker Nathaniel Banks brings down the gavel on the first session of the Thirty-fourth Congress of the United States. The House had been in session for 260 days. Within the week, however, President Pierce will call both houses back into session claiming that vital defense appropriations have not been made. (By John Osborne)

The Thirty-fourth Congress of the United States is in session in Washington, DC. It will sit until August 18, 1857. (By John Osborne)

The Thirty-fourth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. Of the 234 representatives, 85 were Democrats. Allied against them to form a majority were 100 "Opposition" or Republican members, and 51 representatives from the American Party. Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts, sitting as an American Party member but later identified as a Republican, was elected Speaker of the House in February, 1856. (By John Osborne)

With controversy over the status of Fort Sumter raging and Abraham Lincoln due to be inaugurated the next day, Speaker Pennington gaveled the ninety-three day "lame-duck" second session of the House of Representatives to a close, ending the term of the Thirty-sixth Congress of the United States. (By John Osborne)

The second, "lame duck" session of the Thirty-sixth Congress of the United States served for ninety-three days and adjourned on March 3, 1861. (By John Osborne)