Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-28
Things You Want to Knew "a: e: s-

The presidential and congressional cam
paign Of 1900 presaged the first political
Landslide" in the annals Of the republic
II was more. however than a mere party
victory for the democrats, for It ended for
ever the career Of the federalist party and
forever established the right OF the peo-
pie freely to discuss the official acts and
policies OF all governmental officers While
the federalists had been successful in cap
turing the house OF representatives In 1873,
their victory was due solely to the French
war panic and perfervid patriotism. The
allen ami sedtion laws passed in July,
1873, had not been in effect long enough to
counteract the influence OF tthe X Y, u
conspiracy Of the off year election. Be
fore the new congress assembled the war
panic had passed away and the democrats
were inviting the attention OF the people
TO the odious seditlon law which was used
by the federalists in office for the purpose
Of imprisoning every editor or pamphleteer
who criticised President Adams or any Of
ficial of his administration.
The grand jury Of Hamilton district,
Tennessee. then far on the frontier, took
the first formal action in protest against
the alien and sedition laws It was
mooted question whether or not even an
official body could criticise congress for
passing these laws without laying its mem
bers liable TO Imprisonment In the Vir-
ginia legislature a delegate, ]. Taylor of
Caroline county, offered a resolution as
sorting the right Of members OF the legis-
lature to immunity from the penalties of
the sedition law if any member should
in conscience be constrained to charge
congress with an infrsction Of the consti-
ton in the passage OF the law In these
modern times when someone assails almost
every act OF congress as being unconstitu-
| tional, the language Of Mr.. Taylor's reso-
luton seems to be very mild indeed. But
It was not then so regarded. The New York
Daily Advertiser, a federalist publication,
in commenting on this resolution said:
How can we restrain our indignation at
such proceedings? They have thus dis
played their real character and views. They
have proclaimed their sbitter enmity to the
government. Shame on such prostitution
! confusion to their counsels-may the name
% ]. Taylor OF Caroline county, Virginia
and his ooadjutors be held in everlasting
| contempt"
But as democratic editors were being
Jailed almost every week by partisan judges
and packed jurtes, the people became
holder and 1t was resolved that state legis-
latures should be asked to make formal
protest. Mr.. jefferson prepared a set of
resolutions which was adopted by the Ken
lucky legislature and a similar set was
soon after passed in the Virginia legisla-
ture. These Kentucky and Virginia resolu-
lions, in after years and when new issues
had arisen. often have been denounced as
the germs of the subversive doctrines OF
notification and secession. However just
| nrif tnf6 H.
taken into consideration with contemporary
politics are not nearly so revolutionary nor
nearly so subversive of constitutional gov
eminent as were the tyrannical and unjust
laws which they were designed to combat
The sedition law was passed by the fed
eralist congress against the advice of
Hamilton, who had come to hate Adams.
After the election of 1888, and aftsr the
French war panic had ceased, the sedition
law was called into operation solely tc
punish those who dared TO criticize the
administration. Needless to say only demo
Gratis were imprisoned. Political lampoons
of that day we're outraEeously severe and
both parties made use Of unscrupulous
scoundrels who might be hired to utter the
most unspeakable SANDERS At this dis
lance 1t appears that both parties were
equally guilty, The difference was tha
| "A@SA q NSiAOSAHAlS palAApul6L6SE ChllGu JONI
Adams the tool Of the British government
and the friend OF monarchy, he would b,
sent to Jail; while federalist writer nigh
declare with impunity that jefferson wal
an aetheisto scoundrel bent upon tine de
struction Of all government and property
Toward the end OF the Adams administra
ton and when the campaign of 1900 wa
fairly launched, Hamilton wrote a lette
attacking the record of Adams and uslnI
language quite as scurrilous as any tina
Lyon, Bache or Calender had used. Blu
the federalist administration did not dar
to invoke the sedition law to silence Hamil
ton, and the country had a new and strik
ing illustration Of the fact that the Law
was designed solely to muzzle democrats.
When the campaign opened the issue be
tween the two parties was Joined upo
the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
The federalists attacked jefferson ant
Madison as the authors, and their follow
ers as the supporters of these resolution
which they charged sought to disrupt tn
the union and destroy the constitution
jefferson and all the other democratl