In this book, Samuel Sullivan Cox provides a detailed analysis of three decades of federal legislation in the United States, from 1855 to 1885. He examines the debates over slavery, secession, and reconstruction, and discusses the constitutional issues that arose during this period. Cox also explores the role of Congress in shaping the course of American politics, and offers insights into the challenges facing the nation in the aftermath of the Civil War. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the political history of the United States. 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.