The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-10-27


stalls and conine their heads by placing bar or
board across the neck that they cunnot raise i, a.
bovo the level of The oody tins will be eyden, to
! all on examination. s.
Oct 1912. [Thig e. .Eyis,
THE GAG.LAW OF ADAMS AND THE AR.
MY BILL or VAN BUREN,.
| Who that has read the history of hs country,
has forgotten the ''AIien and sediton law" Of The
| elder Adams administration, md tbs excitement
| which it aroused in tho nation ? The blow which
1t stuck at the freedom Of conscience, of speech
and of the press, repolIed by popular udigna-
ton every where Tho whole country Gun
vulsed, and the strong arm Of public opinion pat
forth TO stay the encroachment of Executive usur-
patton Its advocates shrunk back from the defor
mitv ofthcir own legislation, and tho resolutions Of
Virginia and Kentucky adopted in %, struck the
death blow TO that mighty monster Of tyranny.
We were not prepared to SEQ an attempt made,
at his time to revive the most odious features Of
that law, and that too, by party who have at.
tempted to ialsity the history Of that day tasten
an advocacy o f il upon Gen Harrison. But in this
we were mistaken To such height Of bold ursur-
patton and defiance 10 public sentiment has the
President and his purity gone, that they seem de
termincd to subject every thing to their WILL aud
impudenty to defy the opinions of the people. BY
the report of The Secretary of War, and the recon-
,aendntion of Mr.. Van Buren,, the Standing .4imy
which they propose, is to consist of 100000 men.
These are to be ahon from districts, in the several
portions of the Cnou Citizens of "tweny and
under forty-ive years will be required to enroll
and fnrni,h themselves, at their crDenSe, with
arms, &c--iwenty FIVE thousand leaving the
vice each year, aud passing into II reserve, and the
same number of flesh recruits taking their place
OF this army, every commissioned officer
private VINO shall disoboy the orders IF The Presi-
dent shall be "IMpsrsoNrp, on the failure Of the
Payment OF the fine adjudged against them, for ots
c0iGndcr month, for EVERY FIAE DOLLARS OF such
fine" From this revision, no citizen within The
proper age will be exempt. But this is not the
most odous aud alarmiog feature Of the project.
It proposes IA direct revival Of the "gag law The
bill reported by Mr. Poinseit, contains provision
tI,at when the militia arc in active service for train
ing or otherwise, they shall be subjected to The
articles IF ,cer The 9th section of those articles
is as follows
ART. s. Any officer soldier who shall use
cnntenaptuous or diSrespectfal ,oords against the
President of the United States, against the Vice
President thereof against The Congress Of the Uni
ted States against the Chief Magistrate "f any of
the United States in which they may be quarterod;
if commissioned officer shall be cashiered Oh
other punished court martial shall direct;
if non commissioned officer soldier, he shall
suffer such punishment as shall bo Indicted on
him by the sentence OF court naruai
Ia whit does this provision differ from the Sc
dillon Laao OF John Adalns's administration Is ii
not positive revival ofihose principles which, in
that law, were so strongly condemned That act
Provided
SLc3 Tha, if any person shall a0rite, print,
pabiish, or shall Gauss or Procaro" be 1o'i
ten printed uttered or puJtished, shall Knowing.
Nv aud willingly assist aid in ,oriting, priAting,
utering or publishing any false, scandai0us and
malicious writing writings, against the govern.
ment of lhe United States, either House OF Tho
Congress of The United States ;he President of
theU nted States, with intent TO dejaBe the said
governments or either House Of the said Congress,
or the said President, to bring them either Of
them into contempt or disrepWfe, or 10 excite a. |
ganst them either any Of Them the hat' I'll of
the GOOD people of lhc United States, or 10 excite
any unavs fol combinations there in f'r opposing
essting any law of The United States, or any act
Of the PycsiGent OF the United States DC = then
snch person, being thereof convicted, beinre any
court of HE Uuited States having jurisdiction there.
of. shall be punished By fine not 'rcc'ding toe
dutiarS and by imprisonment "t e1reca'S
tao0 gears ..
Lot ,bo independent AM patriotic American free
man, who can appreciate his proud P"siuon' 'ead
and reflect upon these two seciionS- Lei MN SUI
DIV and contrast them, and while he VIII md that
the sedttioa law was only intended TO reach those
w no wrote against Congress, the government, or
the President, lie will see that he Is poao to be
forbid bu the act IF a purity claiming to be Demo
cRATIC the use of''Contemptuous or dtSTeSPeCUut
against the President Pire President, Con-
oress, or tho chief Magistrate Of any State Are
The people of this country prepared for this alarm