1798 newspaper COMPLETE PRINTING SEDITION ACT John Adams Expels French Diplomats

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1798 newspaper with inside-page headline reports, including a COMPLETE PRINTING of the SEDITION ACT and a proclamation from President John Adams Expelling several French Diplomats as the QUASI WAR with France comes into full swing - #1V-070Please visit our ebay store for printed on the front page other FANTASTIC Americana, Antiquarian Books and Ephemera.SEE PHOTO-----COMPLETE, ORIGINAL NEWSPAPER, the Universal Gazette (Philadelphia, Pa) dated July 19, 1798, with SPECTACULAR Quasi War and John Adams history! The Proclamation by Adams revoking the diplomatic credentials of French Diplomats features the signature of Adams and Secretary of State Timothy Pickering in block type. The Alien and Sedition Acts had just been passed by Congress five days earlier.Perfect for framing and display!In one of the first tests of freedom of speech, the House passed the Sedition Act, permitting the deportation, fine, or imprisonment of anyone deemed a threat or publishing "false, scandalous, or malicious writing" against the government of the United States. The 5th Congress (1797--1799), narrowly divided between the majority Federalists and minority Jeffersonian Republicans, voted 44 to 41 in favor of the Senate-passed bill. Federalists championed the legislation fearing impending war with France and out of the desire to hold the majority in Congress and to retain the White House, then occupied by Federalist John Adams. In an era when newspapers served as political parties' chief organs, the Republican press was particularly vicious in its attacks on Federalists and the Adams administration. "Liberty of the press and of opinion is calculated to destroy all confidence between man and man," noted one of the bill's supporters, John Allen of Connecticut."It leads to the dissolution of every bond of union." Republicans defended the First Amendment protecting free speech and press. "What will be the situation of the people?" James Madison of Virginia demanded. "Not free: because they will be compelled to make their election between competitors whose pretensions they are not permitted by act equally to examine, to discuss and to ascertain." Signed into law by Adams on July 14, the law proved immensely unpopular with the public and the President lost re-election to Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Under the incoming Republican administration, the Sedition Act eventually expired on March 3, 1801; however, arguments made for and against it shaped subsequent debate about constitutional protections of free speech.Good Condition, with a small hole in the front page, not affecting any of the Adams text. This listing includes the complete entire original newspaper. VINTAGE BOOKS AND FINE AR T stands behind all of the items that we sell with a no questions asked, money back guarantee. Every item we sell is original printed on the date indicated at the beginning of its description, unless clearly stated as a reproduction in the header AND text body. U.S. buyers pay calculated priority postage which includes waterproof plastic and a heavy cardboard flat to protect your purchase from damage in the mail. International postage is quoted when we are informed as to where the package is to be sent. We do combine postage (to reduce postage costs) for multiple purchases sent in the same package. We accept payment by PAYPAL. W e ship packages daily. This is truly a piece OF HISTORY that YOU CAN OWN!Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution read more

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