Alien and Sedition Acts

An Act Respecting Alien Enemies

Whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, it shall be lawful for the President at any time to order all aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government, to depart out of the territory of the United States within such time as shall be expressed in such order, which shall be served on such alien at his usual abode. And in case any alien so ordered to depart shall be found at large within the United States, he shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, and shall never after be admitted to become a citizen of the United States. And if any alien so removed shall return thereto, such alien shall be imprisoned so long as, in the opinion of the president, public safety may require.

APPROVED, July 6, 1798.

.

Sedition Act

SECTION 1. If any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States, from undertaking, performing or executing his trust or duty, and if any person shall counsel, advise or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, unlawful assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy shall have the proposed effect or not, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term not less than six months nor exceeding five years.

SECTION. 2. If any person shall write, print, utter or publish any false, scandalous and malicious writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame or to bring them into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States, or for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against United States, then such person, being thereof convicted shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.

APPROVED, July 14, 1798.