John Adams was a prominent Founding Father - bringing together his compatriots to pass the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and also the first Vice President and second President of our Country. His term as president is tarnished by the Alien and Sedition Acts. The events of today are parallel to this blemish.
"One area of controversy was the signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts by Adams as president. These were four acts that found their enactment following the French Revolution and intended to prevent talks of state secessions and anarchy in our young Country. These acts were the Naturalization Act, Alien Act, Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act. In essence, there were components that were contrary to the Bill of Rights. The Naturalization Act reduced the time of residency for an immigrant to become a citizen (said to be for getting more eligible and favorable voters); the Alien Friends Act and the Alien Enemies Act provided the authority for the president to deport by executive order any foreigner he thought dangerous to the Country; the Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials. These acts resulted in few deportations or imprisonments, and Jefferson, opposed to the acts, pardoned any who remained in prison when he became president. The use of the executive order to bypass Congress and the Constitution, and enactment of laws violating a person’s rights, is a bruise on the body of Adam’s life. However, these were repealed and the whole of Adam’s contributions to the founding of our Country cannot be emphasized enough."
http://order.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com
"One area of controversy was the signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts by Adams as president. These were four acts that found their enactment following the French Revolution and intended to prevent talks of state secessions and anarchy in our young Country. These acts were the Naturalization Act, Alien Act, Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act. In essence, there were components that were contrary to the Bill of Rights. The Naturalization Act reduced the time of residency for an immigrant to become a citizen (said to be for getting more eligible and favorable voters); the Alien Friends Act and the Alien Enemies Act provided the authority for the president to deport by executive order any foreigner he thought dangerous to the Country; the Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials. These acts resulted in few deportations or imprisonments, and Jefferson, opposed to the acts, pardoned any who remained in prison when he became president. The use of the executive order to bypass Congress and the Constitution, and enactment of laws violating a person’s rights, is a bruise on the body of Adam’s life. However, these were repealed and the whole of Adam’s contributions to the founding of our Country cannot be emphasized enough."
http://order.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com
RSS Feed