The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-06-17


lic.-[ Philadelphia Age.
The Old Federai scditiOn Law.
AS perhaps not one in thousand of
our readers ever read this law, that hal
been so long reproach to the party
that passed it, and died by the wound,
we give it below:
"SEc. l. Be it enacted by the Sen
ate and House of Representatives OF
the United States of America, in Con.
gress assembled, That if any persons
shall unlawfully combine to conspire
together, with intent to oppose any
measure or measures of the govern
ment of the United States, which are
or shall be directed by proper authori-
ity, or to impede the operation of any
law of the United States, or to intimi-
date or prevent any person holding q
place or Office in or under the govern
ment of the United States, from un-
dertaking, performing or executing
his trust, or duty; and if any persons
or person, with intent as aforesaid,
shall counsel, advise, or attempt to pro-
cure any insurrection, riot, unlawful
assembly, or combination, whether
such conspiracy. threatening, counsel,
advice or attempt, shall have the pros
posed effect or not, he or they shall be
deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor;
and on conviction, before any court of
the United States having jurisdiction
thereof, shall be punished by fine not
exceeding FIVE thousand dollars and
by imprisonment during a term not
exceeding FIVE years; and further, at
the discretion of the court, may be
holden to find sureties for his or their
good behaviour, in such sum, and for
such time, as the said court may d.
rect. ,. +.e s-..... ..... -... a
..SEc. 2. And be it further enacted,
That if any person shall write, print,
utter or publish, or shall cause or pro-
cure, to to be written, printed, uttered
OF. published, or shall knowingly and
willingly assist or aid in writing, print
ing, uttering or publishing any false,
scandalous and malicious writing or
writings against the Government of
the United States, or either house of
Congress of the United States, or the
President Of the United States, with
intent to defame the said Government,
or either houses of Congress, or the
said President, or to bring them, or
either of them, into contempt or dis.
repute, 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 Uni
ted States, or to excite any unlawful
combinations 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 vested
in him by the Constitution of the Uni
ted States; or to resist, or defeat any
such law or act; or to aid, encourage,
or abet any hostile designs of any for
eign nation nation against the United
States, their people or government,
then such persons, being thereof con-
lyicted before any court Of the United
States. having jurisdiction thereof,
shall be punished by o fine not exceed
ing two thousand dollars, and by inns
Iprisonment not exceeding two years.
"SEc. 8. And be it further enacted
and declared, That if any person shall
be prosecuted under this act, for wri-
ting or publishing any libel as afore-
said, it shall be lawful for the defen-
dant, upon the trial of the cause, to
give in evidence in his defense, the
truth of the matter contained in the
publication charged as libel. And
the jury who shall try the cause, shall
have a right to determine the law and
the fact, under the direction of the
court, as in other cases. slsa 3
"SEc. 4. And cit further enacted,
That this act shall continue and be
in force until the third day of March,
one thousand eight hundred and one,
and no longer: Provided, That the
expiration Of the act shall not prevent
or defeat prosecution and punish
mont of any offense against the law,