The second session of the Thirty-Fifth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. with Speaker William Pennington, Republican of New Jersey, presiding. It sat until March 3, 1861. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, after a animated morning of argument, Speaker William Pennington at noon brought down the gavel on the first session of the Thirty-sixth Congress of the United States. The House had been in session for 202 days and was adjourned until its return for the second session which began on December 3, 1860. (By John Osborne)

The first session of the Thirty-Fifth Congress of the United States sat in Washington, D.C. from early December till the following June.  The new Speaker, William Pennington of New Jersey, was not elected until February, 1860, due to party wrangling.  (By John Osborne)

The Thirty-sixth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C. Of the 238 representatives, there were 116 Republicans, 83 Democrats, 19 from the Opposition Party, eight Anti-Lecompton Democrats, seven Independent Democrats, and five members representing the American Party. The position of the parties made legislation difficult and the first order of business, usually concluded within days, that of the election of the Speaker of the House, dragged on in controversy until a compromise in February, 1860. (By John Osborne)

Speaker James Orr gavelled the second session of the House of Representatives to a close, ending the term of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States. (By John Osborne)

In Washington DC, the second session of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States sat for a total of eighty-eight days and adjourned on March 3, 1859. (By John Osborne)

On this day, the second session of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States returned to work after its ten day adjournment for the holiday period. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States was in a ten day adjournment for the holiday period. It sat again beginning on January 5, 1859. (By John Osborne)

The second session of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States this day started its ten day adjournment for the holiday period. (By John Osborne)