The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-02-18
a Relic Of DE aAlien and sedi-
ton" Times.

The administration Of Mr. FILLNoRE will
be crowned in history with many peeuliari-
ties, moi he least memorable OF which will
be he digging Out from the dust and rub
bish OF tie State archives, an act OF Con
gress, The uiplet bro,herof Alien and Seditiol
We have briefly spokea Vf the circumstance,
but will again aliude 10 it. Anaet was pass
ed in 1898, contemporary With those two
infamous measures, known as the Atisa and
the SediiOn laws, which provided heavy
penalties for any person in his cuutry who
wOnld engage in any correspondence with
a foreign power for the purpose of defeating
any treaty in which our government had an
interest. The law never was pnt into exc
cution till Mr.. FILLMORE had it hunted up to
use against a citizen of New York, who is
charged with having written letters to the
Mexican Government to thwart the designs
of the United States perfecting the Tehuan-
tepec treaty.
Mr.. LEVY claims that he has a prior right
to the country in question, which his govern
ment does not intend to respect, and there
fore be has reserted to his letter writing to
take care of his own interests.
The New York Times, an able Wing jour
nal, remarks thus upon the law, its origin
and its present silly application:
The law was passed by the Federal party,
at the close of the last century, during the
excitement to which Jays treaty, the French
war, and the violent attacks of the Democrat
ic newspapers upon the administration OF
John Adams gave rise. 1t was in the same
spirit and for the accomplishment of the same
general objects, as the famous SedHion Lar,
which so aroused the indignation, of the
country, during the three years it continued
in force. That act made it a high INSIDE
mcanor punishable with fine and imprison-
ment, to publish any writings, with intent tc
resist or impede the execution of any law Of
the United States. 1t was passed by the
full strength ofthe Federal party, and against
the earnest remembrance of the Democrats.
1t was under this law that Mathew Lyon,
a member of Congress from Vermont, where
he had been an editor, was punished with
Imprisonment for attacks upon the admins
~tration. The spirit of the whole nation was
aroused by its provisions-so hostile to the
free institutions Of the country. And even
Hamilton, ardent as were his attachments
to a strong government, and susceptible as
he was to fears from the violence of faction
and partizanship, warned his friends against
its enactment. "Let us not" he said, "es-
tablish tyranny; energy is a very different
thing from violence"
Now what greater necessity is there for
Furnishing those who seek to defeat a treaty,
than those who, by writing, would impede
the execution of a law? The offense is nc
more serious; indeed it is far less to, because
a law, enacted by the concurrence of all
branches of the Government, has higher
sanctions than a treaty negotiated by the
Executive, but still unratiiied. Of the two,
impeding the law should be a grayer otfense
than defeating a treaty. Yet an act which
made the first sedition, was received as an
act Of tyranny. and is now to be found only
in the absoIete Legislation OF the days OF
Federalism; while an act furnishing the latter
is even now carried into execution in the
City Of New York.