Statutes at Large Vol. 5, 25th Congress

What it is

This text is a volume of the United States Statutes at Large, the official record of federal laws. It covers the acts passed at the first session of the 25th Congress, which began on Monday, 4 September 1837, in Washington, in the District of Columbia, and ended on 16 October 1837. The opening lists the officers of the government: Martin Van Buren as President, Richard M. Johnson as Vice President and President of the Senate, and James K. Polk as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The chapter list gives each act and its date, such as Chapter I, dated October 2, 1837, and Chapter II, on the issue of Treasury Notes, dated October 12, 1837.

Why it matters

This volume is an official record, not a personal statement, so it shows Polk's role in the government rather than his opinions. It places him in the House as Speaker during this session. The laws in it deal with the ordinary business of the national government in 1837, including Treasury matters, the fees of district attorneys, and payments for horses lost in military service. Reading the acts alongside the names of the officers helps students see who ran Congress at that time.

Look closer

• Which officers are named on the first page, and what does their order tell you about how the government was arranged?
• What kinds of problems do the chapter titles show Congress dealing with, and which of them seem most urgent to you?
• The record names Polk but says little about what he did as Speaker. What other sources would you need to learn about his work in this session?