 As a result of the 1824 elections , the Relief faction gained a 22 – 16 majority in the state Senate and a 61 – 39 majority in the House . The pro @-@ Relief majority in the state Senate subsequently elected Rowan to the U.S. Senate , which had the inadvertent effect of weakening the faction 's cause in the House by removing its leader there . Rowan served in the Senate from March 4 , 1825 to March 3 , 1831 . During the Twenty @-@ first Congress , he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee . 
