Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791

This Documentary History is of immense historical significance and is the kind of record that helps all branches of government keep their constitutional bearings. -- Warren Burger, former Chief Justice of the United States It is impossible to overemphasize the importance to our times of [this] publication. -- Carl Albert, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

The editors once more have assembled the most complete and reliable text of the debates by examining a variety of sources: stenographer Thomas Lloyd's shorthand notes, his Congressional Register, and contemporary newspaper accounts.Volumes 12 and 13 of this highly acclaimed documentary edition cover the first Congress's second session, from January to August 1790. Among other important issues in this critical period, Congress debated Hamilton's report on the public credit, federal assumption of state Revolutionary War debts, and antislavery petitions from Pennsylvania Quakers. The editors once more have assembled the most complete and reliable text of the debates by examining a variety of sources: stenographer Thomas Lloyd's shorthand notes, his Congressional Register, and contemporary newspaper accounts.