IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 817 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the African Americans who duly won election to the House during the post-Civil War 

Reconstruction Era but were wrongly denied the right to take their 

seats should be recognized as former Members of the House. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2023 

Mr. CARTER of Louisiana (for himself, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. 

FROST, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. WILLIAMS of 

Georgia, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. IVEY, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. 

ADAMS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of 

Georgia, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms. CLARKE of New York, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CARSON, Ms. SEWELL, Mrs. WATSON

COLEMAN, Mr. EVANS, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. BROWN, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. 

DAVIS of North Carolina, and Ms. MCCLELLAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the African Americans who duly won election to the 

House during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era but 

were wrongly denied the right to take their seats should 

be recognized as former Members of the House. 

Whereas, during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era, 

many African Americans won election to the House of 

Representatives but were wrongly denied the right to 

serve as Members; 


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•HRES 817 IH 

Whereas James Lewis of Louisiana, who won an election in 

1869, was denied his seat in the House when his credentials were challenged; 

Whereas John Willis Menard of Louisiana, who also won an 

election in 1869, was denied his seat in the House on the 

basis of a challenge by the individual he defeated; 

Whereas Pinckney B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana, who had 

been elected previously to the House, conceded his seat 

in the House on the assumption that he would be seated 

in the Senate, but was denied his seat by the Democratic 

majority; and 

Whereas Josiah Thomas Walls of Florida, who had been 

elected previously to the House and recognized as a 

former Member of Congress, won an election in 1874 but 

was denied his seat in the House on the basis of a challenge by the individual he defeated, a former colonel in 

the Confederate Army: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) James Lewis, John Willis Menard, Pinck4 ney B.S. Pinchback, and Josiah Thomas Walls duly 

5 won election to the House during the post-Civil War 

6 Reconstruction Era; 

7 (2) James Lewis, John Willis Menard, Pinck8 ney B.S. Pinchback, and Josiah Thomas Walls were 

9 wrongly denied the right to take their seats as Mem10 bers of the House; 


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•HRES 817 IH 

1 (3) James Lewis, John Willis Menard, and 

2 Pinckney B.S. Pinchback should be recognized as 

3 former Members of the House; and 

4 (4) an oil on canvas honoring James Lewis, 

5 John Willis Menard, Pinckney B.S. Pinchback, and 

6 Josiah Thomas Walls should be displayed in the 

7 House connecting corridor, first floor. 

Æ 


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