Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-03-07
For the Chronicle.
DEMOCRACY AS IT WAS AND IS

days of federalism, and not having been
privileged to see the same, have eOnclu-
ded to send you the following Extract from
the Annals of the West:
During the summer of 1898, Congress
passed an act concerning alien enemies
The first section of that act provided
That it shall be lawful for the Presi-
dent of the United States, at any time du-
ring the continuance of this act (this act
was limited to two years. to order such al
lens as he shall judge dangerous to the
peace and safety to the United States, or
shall have reasonable grounds to suspect
are concerned in any treasonable or secret
Vaccinations against the government there
of, to depart out of the territory of the Uni
ted States within such time as shall be ex-
pressed in such order, which order shall be
served on such Alien BY delivering him a
copy thereof, or leaving the same at his
usual abode, and returned to the Office of the
Secretary of State by the Marshal, or 9TH
er person to whom the same shall be di-
rected And in case any alien so ordered
to depart, shall be found at large within
the United States after the time limited in
such order for his departure, and not hav-
! ing obtained license from the President
to reside therein, or having obtained such
license, shall not have confOrmed thereto,
every such alien shall on conviction there
Of, be imprisoned for term not exceeding
three years, and shall never after be ad-
mitted to become a citizen of the United
States. Provided always. and be it fur
ther enacted, that if any alien so ordered
to depart, shall prove, to the satisfac-
ton of the President, by evidence to be ta-
ken before such person or persons as the
President shall direct, who are for that
purpose hereby authorized to administer
Oaths, that no injury or danger to the Uni
ted States will arise from suffering such
alien to reside therein, the President may
grant license to such alien to remain
within the United States for such time as
ne shall judge proper, and at such place as
he shall designate; and the President may
also require of such alien to enter into
bond to the United States, in such penal
sum as he may direct with one or more
sufficient sureties, to the sat- sfaction of the
person authorized by the President to take
the same, conditioned for the good behavior of
such alien during his residence in the Uni
ted States, and not violating his license,
which license the President may revoke
whenever he shall think proper.
And at the same session an act was pass
ed in addition to the act for the punishment
of certain crimes against the United States
The second section of it provided
That if any person shall write, print. ut
ter or publish or shall cause or procure to
be written, printed, uttered or published.
or shall, knowingly and willingly, assist in
writing, printing, uttering or publishing.
any false, scandalous and malicious wri-
ting or writings against the government Of
the United States, or either house of the
Congress Of the United States, or the Pres
ident of the United States, with intent to
defame the said government or either house
of'the said Congress or the President, or to
bring them, or either of them into contempt
or disrepute; or to excite against them. or
either or any of them, the hatred of the
good people of the United States, or to stir
up sedition within the United States, or to
excite any unlawful combination therein,
for opposing or resisting any law of the
United States. or any act of the President
of the United States done in pursuance of
any such law, or of the powers in him YES
ted by the Constitution of the United States,
or to resist, oppose or defeat any such law
or act; or to aid, encourage or abet any
hostile design of any foreign nation against
the United States. their people. or govern
ment, then such person, being thereof con-
victed before any court of the United States
having jurisdiction thereof, shall be pun
ished, by fine not exceeding two thousand
dollars, and by imprisonment not exceed
ing two years
These acts. known in the political his
tory of the county as the Alien and Sedi-
tion Laws, passed as they were under the
Federal Administration of John Adams
excited great opposition. They were, by
the democratic party, especially, every
where regarded with horror, and hatred;
and in Virginia and Kentucky especially,
called forth in opposition, the most able
men, and produced the most violent meas
ures.
The governor of Kontucky called the at
tention of the Legislature to them, and on
the Sth of November, resolutions, prepared
by Mr.. jefferson, were introduced into the
House, declaring that the United States
are united By compact iavder the style
and title Of a constitution for the United
States; that to this compact, each state
acceeded, as .State, and IS an integral
party. its co-.States forming to itself the
other party; that the government created
by this compact, was not made the final
judge of the extent of the powers delegated
to itself, but that as in all other cases of
compact among parties having no common
judge, each party has an equal right to
Judge for himself as well of infraetiOns. as
the mode and manner of address
And this doctrine was further d. veloped
by the mover of the resolution, John Breck-
enridge; said be, i consider the eO-states to
be alone parties to the federal compact,
and solely authorized to judge in the last
resort of the. power exercised under the
compact Congress not being party, but
merely the creature of the compact, and
subject as to its assumptions of power, to
the final judgement of those by whom and
for whose use, itself and its powers we're
created