SEDITION.
A bill was received from the Senate in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, which was read the first time.
[This bill provides, that if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measures of the Government of the United States, or to impede the operation of any law, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding an office under the Government from exercising his trust. And if any person shall, by writing, printing, or speaking, threaten such officer with any damage to his character, person, or estate, or shall counsel, advise, or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, &c., whether such attempt shall have the desired effect, or not, he shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and punished by a fine, on conviction, not exceeding $5,000, and by imprisonment not less than six months, nor exceeding five years. And if any person shall, by any libellous or scandalous writing, printing, publishing, or speaking, traduce or defame the Legislature of the United States, by seditious or inflammatory declarations or expressions, with intent to create a belief in the citizens thereof, that the said Legislature in enacting any law, was induced thereto by motives hostile to the constitution, or liberties and happiness of the people thereof; or shall in manner aforesaid, traduce or defame the President of the United States, or any Court, or Judge thereof, by declarations tending to criminate their motives in any official transaction, the persons so offending, being convicted shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000 and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.]
Mr. Otis moved that it be read a second time.
Mr. Harrison called for the reading of the amendments to the constitution.
The Speaker said, the only motion in order, if objections were made to the second reading of the bill, would be to reject the bill.
Mr. Livingston made that motion.
Mr. Allen.—I hope this bill will not be rejected. If ever there was a nation which required a law of this kind, it is this. Let gentlemen look at certain papers printed in this city and elsewhere, and ask themselves whether an unwarrantable and dangerous combination does not exist to overturn and ruin the Government by publishing the most shameless falsehoods against the Representatives of the people of all denominations, that they are hostile to free Governments and genuine liberty, and of course to the welfare of this country; that they ought, therefore, to be displaced, and that the people ought to raise an insurrection against the Government.
In the Aurora, of the 28th of June last, we see this paragraph: "It is a curious fact, America is making war with France for not treating, at the very moment the Minister for Foreign Affairs fixed upon the very day for opening a negotiation with Mr. Gerry. What think you of this, Americans!"
Such paragraphs need but little comment. The public agents are charged with crimes, for which, if true, they ought to be hung. The intention here is to persuade the people that peace with France is in our power; nay, that she is sincerely desirous of it, on proper terms, but that we reject her offers, and proceed to plunge our country into a destructive war.