Capital!
I'm working on a web scraping thing for work, and I stumbled on the NYTimes spider index while I was poking around there. They've got an index of articles starting from 1851:

http://spiderbites.nytimes.com/free_1851/articles_1851_09_00000.html

Hot topics in 1851 included "stomach derangement", fugitive slaves, and scary women:

I have just left the President. He has suffered considerably during the night and morning from an attack of diarrhea and stomach derangement, similar to his attack, recently, at White Sulphur Springs, and brought on by change of water, cold and fatigue. He has declined medical attendance, is now much relieved, and sleeping quietly.
-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0DE1DE1431E13BBC4851DFBF66838A649FDE

Our readers will be already advised of the occurrence of a lamentable riot and loss of the life at Christiana, Lancaster Co., Pa., on the 9th inst.,--growing out of the attempted capture of two fugitive slaves by their owner.
-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C02EEDF1430EF33A2575BC1A96F9C946092D7CF

The advent of some eight hundred females, of every gradation of age, condition and personal attractiveness, into this rather out-of-the-way village, has, for the past two days, awakened the liveliest surprise and admiration hereabout. That a formidable "demonstration" on the Woman's Rights question, or a crusade for the Bloomer costume, was to be made, was currently reported;
-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9405E7DD1431E13BBC4850DFBF66838A649FDE