This abridgment of the debates of the United States Congress from 1789 to 1856 provides a window into the political and social issues that dominated American public life during this period. The debates cover a wide range of topics, from slavery and states' rights to the economy and foreign policy. This edition is an essential reference for anyone interested in the history of American politics and government. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.