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Line 9: − + − Congress shortly thereafter drastically amended the Alien Enemies Act and repealed the Alien Friends Act. In 1840, Congress repaid all fines levied under the Sedition Act<ref name="NYT"/>. + + + +
Alien and Sedition Acts (view source)
Revision as of 17:11, November 14, 2009
, 17:11, November 14, 2009still the law
The Sedition Act automatically expired on March 3rd, 1801, so it did not outlast the Adams administration. Upon taking office, Thomas Jefferson pardoned everyone convicted under it:
The Sedition Act automatically expired on March 3rd, 1801, so it did not outlast the Adams administration. Upon taking office, Thomas Jefferson pardoned everyone convicted under it:
{{quotebox|I discharged every person under punishment or prosecution under the sedition law because I considered, and now consider, that law to be a nullity, as absolute and as palpable as if Congress had ordered us to fall down and worship a golden image.<ref name="NYT"/>}}
{{quotebox|I discharged every person under punishment or prosecution under the sedition law because I considered, and now consider, that law to be a nullity, as absolute and as palpable as if Congress had ordered us to fall down and worship a golden image.<ref name="NYT"/>
Congress repealed the Alien Friends Act. In 1840, Congress repaid all fines levied under the Sedition Act<ref name="NYT"/>.
The Alien Enemies Act is still the law of the land and allows the president in time of war to seize and hold enemy aliens.
==References==
==References==
*[http://www.constitution.org/rf/sedition_1798.htm Text of the Sedition Act]
*[http://www.constitution.org/rf/sedition_1798.htm Text of the Sedition Act]