The Republican journal., 1874-07-23
FOR GOVERNOR
Joseph Titcomb,
The Alien and Sedition Laws.
.lF KENNEBJNT

The Alien and Sedition Laws.
An esteemed friend and correspondent
says in note to us ''NFill you explain,
minutely, in the next journal, the old
Alien and Sedition Laws of the Fcderals
Some Of the Younger men Of to-day DO
not understand them
The laws alluded to grew out OF the
state of party feelings that existed in the
early days Of the Republic, Immediately
following the peace with England. There
existed at that time two parties called
Fcderalists and Republicans. The Fed
eralists claimed to be the peculiar friends
of the federal government and 0l the
constitution, then but recently adopted,
and denounced the Republicans as enc
mics OF both. The Federal leaders We're
Adams, Hamilton and jay. The republi-
cans, denying the charges OF their oppo-
nents claimed to be better friend 10 the
| country than the Federalists were. and
charged the latter with hostility IL The
| form at government. and with han
/ kcrings after a nobility and monarchy
The Republican leaders We're jefferson,
Madison, Monroe and Gallatin At that
time, and for fifteen OF twenty Years after
ward, the contest between the revolutions
ist7 of France and the English govern
ment were raging Remembering the
services OF the French in the American
revolution, and believing in the dethrone-
ment Of all monarchs. the Republicans
ardently sympethjzed with Trance The
Federalists, on the other hand believing
in strong government, and admiring
the Laglish constitutional monarchy.
gave their warm sympathy TO the side Of
England, Washington was claimed rs
Federalist and it i undoubtedly true that
his love of forms and ceremonies, as we'll
as his natural dignity OF character. tend
| ed to that side OF the question But he
took care that the interests Of the United
| States should be, in the affairs of his ad-
minIstration, paramount 10 both. lie
called the two great leaders OF the par
ties, jefferson and Hamilton, TO his cabi-
net, in the cndoavor to preserve harmony.
But from that hour the struggle between
the parties began.
In 1898 a crisis arose in consequence OF
the discovery that the French Minister,
Genest, was secretly fitting out priva-
teers to cruise against the commerce IF
England The Federalists demanded that
their sailing should be prevented by force,
while the Republicans affected not to
think the matter of much consequence
One Of the vessels sailed. The recall Of
Gensst by the French Government settled
the matter and the excitement subsidized
There were at that time in the country
many French and othe- European reiu-
gees The French bitterly denounced the
Federalists. and some Of them published
newspaper articles lampooning and as
sailing the leaders. They were but a
handful in comparison with the resident
Irish or English, and the preteXt that
they could be dangerous to the govern
ment was ridiculous. But in 1897, the
first year Of Adams presidency, it was
made lawful for the President to order
"all such aliens rs he should Judge dan
gerous to the peace and safety Of the
United States" to depart therefrom
within such time as should be expressed
in such order and if the person ordered
to depart was afterward found in the
country, he could be imprisoned three
years The President might order any
alien to be forcibly removed out of the
country, and on voluntary return to be
imprisoned at his (the President's) dis
crction Masters Of vessels. bringing
any aliens into the country and falling to
report the fact immediately to the collect
or Of the port in writing, specifying
names. ages, places of nativity. occupa-
tions, and "a description Of their per
sons,' were to forfeit three hundred
dollars The collector was required to
forthwith transmit these returns to the
State department.
These were the famous Allen Laws"
The impolicy Of thus striking a blow at
foreign immigration by country that so
much needed it is seen at glance. The
fault OF these laws, so far as the purposes
Of the Federalists We're concerned. was
that they did not reach native republicans.
The Sedition Law was required to do
that. and Congress addressed itself 10 the
work of accomplishing that end
On the 14th of July it was enacted that
if any persons unlawfully conspired to
oppose any measure of the United
States, to prevent any public officer from
executing his trust, or advised OF attempt
ed ito procure any insurrection, riot IN
lawful assembly, or combination, whether
such conspiracy, threatening, counsel, ad
vice, or attempt should nave the proposed
effect or not" they should he deemed
guilty of high misdemcaeor, and on CON
viction punished by fine not exceeding
S5, 900, and by imprisonment during a
term not less than six months nor exceed
ing five years; and further, at the discrc-
ton of the court. may be holden to find
suretes for good behavior in such sum,
and for such time as the court might d.
rect. The second section Of the act we
Will present entire az legal curiosity:
| ''Ser 9. And be it FURTHER ouacted That if