The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-28

/ ANHNANNAAANCe III A 100 AllElt NANlhIN VAS
due solely To the French war panic
and perfervid patriotism. The Alien
and Sedition Laws passed in July.
1898, had not been in effect long
enough TO counterfeit the influence of
| the y. Y. Z. conspiracy of the on"
year election. Before the new con.
greSs assembled the war panic had
passed away and the Democrats were
! inviting the attention OF the people
10 the odious Sedition Law which was
used by the Federalists in Office for
the purpose OF imprisohing every ed
itor or pamphleteer who criticised
President Adams or any Official OF his
administration.
The grand jury OF Hamilton dis
trict. Tennessee. than far on the
frontier. took the first formal action
in protest against the Alien and Sedi-
tion Laws. Ii was a mooted question
whether or not even an official body
could criticise congress for passing
these laws without laying its members
liable 10 Imprisonment. In the
Virginia legislature a delegate. j..
Taylor, OF Caroline county, offered a
resolution asserting the right OF mem
hers OF the legislature TO immunity
from the penalties OF the Sedition Law
If any member should in conscience
be constrained TO charge congress
with an infraction Of the constitution
in the passage of the law. In these
modern times when someone assails
almost every act OF congress as being
unconstitutional, the language OF Mr.
Taylor's resolution seems TO be very
nt.F n fhnn
regarded. The New York Daily Ad
vertiser, a F deralist publication, In
commenting on this resolution said:
How can We restrain our Indignation
at such proceedings? They nave
thus displayed their real character
and views They have proclaimed
their bitter enmity to the government.
Shame on such prostitution-confu-
sion 10 their counsels-may the name
of ]. Taylor. OF Caroline county, Vir-
ginia. and his coadjutors be held In
everlasting contempt!
But as Democratic editors were be-
ing Jailed almost every week by partl-
san Judges and packed iuries, the peo-
pie became bolder and II was resolved
that state legislatures should be ask
ed 10 make formal protest, Mr.. Jener-
son prepared set of resolutions
which was adopted by the Kentucky
legislature, and a similar set was
soon after passed in the Virginia leg
islature. These Kentucky and Viz
ginia resolutions. in after years and
when new issues had arisen, often
have been denounced as the germs OF
the subversive doctrines OF nullitca-
ton and secession. However just
such criticism may be. the resolutions
taken into consideration with contem-
porary politics are not nearly so revo-
lutionary nor nearly so subversive OF
constitutional government as were
the tyrannical and unjust laws which
they were designed TO combat.
The Sedition Law was passed by the
Federalist Congress against the ad'
vice Of Hamilton, who had come to
hate Adams. After the election OF
1898, and after the French war panic
had ceased, the Sedition Law was
called into operation solely 10 punish
those who dared to criticise the adj
ministration. Needless to say only
Democrats were imprisoned. Political
lampoons OF that day were outrageous
Is severe and both parties made use
OF INSCRIPTIONS scoundrels who might