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

resentatives In 1928. their victory was
que solely 70 the French war panic
AND perfervid patriotism. The Allen
and Sedition Laws passed In July,
lISS, had not been In effect long
enough 10 counterfeit the influence OF
the X Y. z. conspiracy or the Ion"
year election. Before the new con-
gress assembled the war panic had
passed away and the Democrats were
inviting the attention OF the people
to the odious Sedition Law which was
used by the Foderallsts In ONCE for
the purpose OF imprisoning every ed
ltor or paIhphleteer who criticised
President Adams or any ofiicial 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 Allen and Sedi-
ton Laws. II was mooted question
whether or not even an oficial body
could criticise congress for passing
these laws without laying Its members
liable to imprisonment. In the
Virginia legislature a delegate, j.
Taylor, OF Caroline county, offered
resolution asserting the right Of mem
bers OF the legislature to immunity
from the penalties of the Seditiou Law
~ 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 az being
unconstitutional, the language OF Mr..
Taylor's resolution seems to be very
mud indeed but IL was not then 30
regarded. The New York Daily Ad'
yertiser, a r deralist publication, In
commenting. on this resolution said:
, How can we restrain our Indignation
at such proceedings? They have
thus displayed their real character
and Views. They have proclaimed
their bitter enmity to the government.
shame on such prostitutiOn-confu-
sion to their, counsels-may the name
Of j. Taylor, Of Caroline county, viz
ginia, and hia coadjutors be held In
everlasting contempt"
But as Democratic editors were be-
ing jailed almost every week by paru-
san judges and packed juries, the peo-
pie became holder and II was resolved
that state legislatures should be ask
ed to make formal protest. Mr.. Jener'
son preparods set OF revolutions
which wassHd6ntaCF bS the Kentucky
legislature. and similar set was
soon after pasaed IN the Virgins leg
islature. These Kentucky and VII.
ginia resolutions. In after years and
when new isGueg had arisen. often
have been denounced as the germs OF
the subveraiye doctrines OF nuliinca-
lion and secession. However Just
such criticism may be, the resolutions
taken into consideration with contem-
porary politics are not nearly so revo.
intionary nor nearly so subyersive OF
constitutional government as were
the tyrannical and unjust laws which
they were designed to combat.
The Seditions 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 tie Sedition Law was
called into operation solely to punish
those who dared to criticise the ad-
minlstration. Needless to say only
Democrats were imprisoned. Political
lampoons of that day we're outrageous
" severe and both parties made use
Of interruptions scoundreis who might
be hired TO utter the most unspeak-
able ISLANDERS. At this distance II APP
pears that both parties were equally
guilty. The difference was that when
a Democratic parnphleteer called John
Adams the tool Of the british govern
ment and the friend OF monarchy, ne
would be SAINT TO jau; while a FEEDER
aIist writer might declare with impun-
lily that Jefferson was an aetheistc
scoundrel bent upon the destruction
81 all government and property. To-
ward the end OF the Adams admins
tration and when the campaign OF
1900 was fairly launched, Hamilton
wrote a letter attacking the record OF
Adams and using language quite as
scurrilous az any that Lyon, Bache or
Calender had used But the Federal
fat administration did not dare to In
woke the Seditton Law to silence Ham.
ilton. and the country had new and
striking illustration of the fact that
the law was designed solely TO muzzle
Democrats q
When the campaign opened, the 10
sue between the two parties was join
ed upon the Kentucky and Virginia
resolutions. The Federalists attacked
Jefferson and Madison as the authors,
and their followers as the supporters
of these resolutions which they charg-
cd sought 10 disrupt the Union AID
destroy : the Constitution. Jefferron
md all the other Democratic leaders
defended the resolutions on the ground
that they were necessary to preserve
the Constitution. since the rights of