It should be remembered that ALL “newspapers” (including Harper’s) were political. Since the 1820s, when the DemoKKKrat party was created by Martin Van Buren, papers were founded, staffed, and directed solely by political operatives with the goal of electing (at first) DemoKKKrats, then later, Whigs, then later, Republicans.
Hence in the masthead, the “Arkansas Democrat,” the “Springfield Republican.” As long as one reads the “news” with that in mind, they can be helful.
It’s also worth noting that after the election of 1858, Congress was SO DIVIDED the House could not even elect a speaker! And they say we are “so divided” today!
Anachronism: there was no KKK until the 1860s.
Looking at history through the lens of newspapers would have driven my methods professor nuts. Still there are some things they’d have more trouble lying about. I’d imagine their readers would have challenged them over the details of middle class life if they were too far off the mark.