."' '..
. -4 ;
ir- t -,lJ
:..tlifh'iUs-H lir
- .: V v F-AYET t-E VFLKE AD V ER r;I'S7E:R''-fetfi
;:?:V,;V;:
" i i i i 1 1 i ' . ii ::' v. t
7 Voi; lv.
M rV.7 7 j
the Hoo. Wm. Bahry Gaovi. efq It. fifou
we
careful perulat and in the words of Mr. G.
hope the found argument and teafon it contains
-' will fatjsfy rattShalntn of all partiei, that the laws
: rV neceffary,-' eoaftitutipnal and wifei wd that
much of the which has been made about them,
: has fprun'g from a falfe jcaloufy of the federal go
vernment,, or fomcflu'ng worfe."J - :
..." The Committee, to whom were referred the M
"" merials of fundry inhabitants of the counties ofSuf-
tmiihfevTh' Wr
". fitt etunty m-HkJerfey0duntia''ifPb'
Jelpbia, TltiP
, Wajbingtonond Gumhtlann Pemtfjhaniajatid
- "1 of the count j of 'Amelia inVirgimdcmplaii(ipgof
the ail i intituled An at! concerning aliens and
. ether late oils of Congrefffubrnit the following
REPORT,
pf Congreti the one a eouccrHHig uucub,
,he otlir i Ararft additienvtor An aafor'theptf
.. J nilhmcnt of certair7criine$again(l tt Uuitetl Statts,
; on the ground 1 theft bemg'uncoiittitattotial, opprefi-
- fife, and impolfticT7 i' C . " ' 7"
The Committee cannot, hof ever, forbear to notice,
Jthat tbi principal .-neafurci i huherto adopted for repeT-
ling tlie-aggreffiona and 'nlulta of France hae not cf
- caped animadvciGon.t.- '. . - -
Complaintl are particularly' direfted againft the
... bwa providing a pa? y--for augmnling the army au
r . thorizing a provihonal army, and corp of volunUers
j .for laying; duty on flamped yelluin, parchment,
' ' and paperaffeffinjgand colIefting direA taxe$i-and
j JuthoriiSng Ipan fF the public fervicc, ,,
With thefe topics of complaint," la fome of the pe
titions, are. intermingled inveftives againft the policy
of the government trom an early period, and iiirinna:
"tidns"detpgat6ryoihV of the i-egiflaturc,
anj of the Adminiftration. i .
-, while the Committee legret'thaOhe public cotln--Vdi
(hould ever be invited to liiren to other than ex-
e e l A. .1 Iim Itnii d itnnar.
preuions oi reipccx, tucy uuu - i
off,v alter theVVrrivalfuch roigrahis'as might abufi
the. indulgence', by' rendering cmfelre dangerous to
Itie
peace or faUt ot the country, and tiiat u trie
Conftitution, in this particular (lio'uld be fo conftrued,
it would prevent Congrefs from driving a body of arm-
ea men trora the country, wno migni jana witn views
evidently tortile, ' ' -' -
TlhiidlyjTlhiit vie (JonlTitution has gwen to t?le
Mates no power;"toe)n4vejalirns, during the period
of the limitatiiifier confider4tion, in the mean
time on the conltruAibn aifumcd, there would be do
authority in- ther sliurtryixmpoered to fend away
dangerous alienjf'iivhicljt cannot be admitted; and that
on a Tuppofition the ifirefaid reftriAjve'claufe include
ed every defcriptibn of emieranisi Tilie different Ttftiohs
nu!l receive; fich :a cotfjuction as (halhreconciletrieiD:
wun eacn ptner ; fnq. accorainy xor rair inicrprcra
tiori of , the different parts of tlie-Co.nftitulion the fee-
tian cannot be comulcreJ areftiiclivc'on the power
of Congrefs to fend a way dangerous foreigners in times
of 4Vr'aten1 nr nAiiiT.fjnft'iliftr-.i .'And 'thoilfrh: thife
cit a repeat of t wo stts paflcd during the laft feffiot i in a ftate ot Relayed warf ky ,wtt$xtt::x ftfite of pari
tial holtiJity, and. had the power,, by lawj-to proviacj
as by tlutEiyav041(0'' remliug'dangerous
iiien.
'rothitid i 2 tli feci
of acccfTcii'its id ptracyi' and of perfops whu fluff con-
federate.to" beebm'e'-iratef ihtmlcIvcV' dr..'tS Iniluee
ot h ers to ' bccoineifo j--llr 1 1 1 ft - ft A ion which fni ! "X&,
nidf ,a endltyjJBLthpfe falfity tbe record
of a'nV court of the Udiwd tktei i tfie, i 8t b snd 3 i 11
lections, wnicn provrae tor tue punitnment or penons
omrjittting perjury in any cobrt of the .pm(ed States, f
or"attemptinff to bribe any of ttiitr iudffei Vihe'2ad r
L fection, which pnnihes . thofeLtwho obfttuft.'pt Itfift.
the proceuCPf any court Pt the United State and
,;fltl confidered the oueftions referred to their exam
ination, and Tormed theur opinions on a jutl apprecia
tion of their merits,: with a due regard to the autho
rity of govCTpmeot, and the difpaflionate judgment of
"the Amer,icao''neoplcr-v;.-;.-;
The act concerning aliens" amd the aft in addition
to the aft, H'tituled an Aft for. the punimment of
"certain cnmeSfjfhall be firftitifidered-,.5;...lr
Thijir ctnJUuliokaVtty is impea'ched.- U h contended,
(bat Congrefs have up power to.pf.a law for. remov-
ing aliens. . ' , '
.To this it is anfwered, thaj the afylum given by
parton to Forelgncri is mete matter of favor, tf'a.
ble .it the public-will. U Oa-ikis point, abundant au.
-tho,;;, M -addocecr, but the common praaice
1 t mmIIb tit nrtnrmle.
' The right of removing aliens," as" stn incident to in
turner of war and pUe, according to the theory of
the Conftitution, belong to the government of the
if rVnllirntlnii. I mutlA ilt . It rt'QUltrG 0 proictl
each Mate from ihvafion, and is vt: lied by the bth fee
- tfon of the 5th artUfle, with pt5r cr to make all las,
" ' whrch feiilt be proper to .cariy info -tffeft all powciS
Vtftcd by thq CouttiUHWn in the government, of the
United States, or in any department, or officer there
i -f . nA tn rtn.ovc froratlic coiintrv, in times of bof-
X
tility, dangerous aliens, ho msy be employctl in pi.e
barinc the way fV invafion, is a meafure nccclTaiy fcr
ruroole-! prcvrgnnu jiivainui, uuu w
ifure that Congiefs is empow
This law is laid tC'Violate ihat part of the Conrlitui
tion which provides that .the trial if all crimcB, exeept
in cafes of impeacWnent hall b by yJ;i whereas this .
ad in veils the Piefidtnt with power-to fend away alieniS
on his own fufpicion, and thus to inflift punilhment
without trial by Jury. 't'fv"".!'?;
.It is aufwered iu'tde!rft"1a'c,' iW'tht ConftittiT
tion was made for cit'iz sns not for a LI bms, who of
confequencefiave no rights: nder iti but remain in
the country, and enjoy the b&iejlt f the laws, - not as
matter of right, but -merely t matter of favour and
permtilioD, which' favour antfpermiulori may be with
drawn, .whenever' the government charged .with the
general welfare Hull judge their further continuance
dangerous!.' ..' .'-"-';'.'''
"""It is anfyvered in the fecondpJacJf,'that." the'provi
Cobj a the Confiytuilon 'relative -to presentment and
TrtaToroffences byjuftea, dcrnorapphjr to-the ievoca
tion -of an afy lum given to aliens. T hofe provifions
foltly refpeji ciimcs, and the alien may be removed
without havingcomrnitted anyjoJfence, merely fronj
motives hi poUcy, 01 fecurity, Tlhi tittMU,- being a
member , of therfocictyiias a n"tbt 'jlo reoiaiu in the
country, of which he cannot be disfiancluTcd, except
for offences firif afcertancd, pn prefentmcut and trial
fayjurr v, - : V
h;;Itj anfwered thirdly, that tbe removal" of, aliens,
though, it may be inconvenient to them, canrtot be
con (id tied as 4 puniftmeut. infiided. for an offenx-e,
but, as before remarked, merely the rempvj Jrom mo
tives of general fafety,' of an indulgence .fhicb there is
danger of their abufing,' and which we arc in no xhau-;
ner bound, to grant or ceiitinue. . ;;V .'i V
v The "
"for the puniftTfteiitTof wTO
ted jb tales, commoUly called the iedition, -aftcon-.
tains provifions of a twofold nature t rli it againft fcdi
tiaus.aa8, and, fcc)uu, againlt Llxliotis anditditious
atiohy for! punilhirif feditio'us" combinations he 'a'ct v ' ;
paffed dung the prtTent fefGon for puniih ing pcrions
who. witbdUl 4uth6ritr"rfahTtnrff6Tr7n7
carry 4pn"any corrfcfponderice relative tJ foreign affair
with any foreign: government j the aft i for the p'u-.
niflinsenvof certairi crimes againft the United Stattt, ;
which, de.fi rrcs d punifhes 'mtfprifiotf'of treafbdi t the ,i ;
icclionsj whick declare the bifhimment ' n
irhent.'ftlall
po mot tJfif
y ft', !' '"
II iHj i t i
the 2 3d againft refcuing offenderlf whb'bave beth 'con;
viftcd of any capital offence before thofe courts ' pro
vifionsl hone of which aie cxDrefslT authoHfedi but"
they arc neceffary; and proper for carry ing into fFek
certain powers exbreuly given to Longrefs.
Tit fs'pbjecVed to tfiis;'aft;fn'lKe fecond placed that
5L;.1. -tt .'. r' 5-f
ins expreisiy -contrary 1,0 inai part or ine.c.onnitutiL;
on whicbhdeclart8,;that ; Congrefs,' fhall make " ho
law refpeftiog an eftablifhrtent f religidribr brbbib i
iting the-free exercife Ifierebf or abridging the libe'r-
ty .of tht prefs.": iThe act in qucttion ii faid to be an
i-...-jir'-.-'4
r t
I
I
1
t.-:.-:-S-:.s,'.
h rjtdrt ihHy
f.-pttiui- ir. v, a
mitt. "
U i'rtwt.
1
I
A 1 fervid UM
ibiu ' iien her
ctthe't'M'to'i
abridgement of the liberty of lhe pref,'"nd (here
Iffl
1 -L
V-
fore unconftitdtionaL
; To this it is arifweredin 'the firft place, that the
liberty of the prefs confifls not in a licenfe for every
man to publilh what he pleafts, without beinj?" liable
to punifhment if he fhould abufe this" licenfe to the in-
jury 01 omcrs, 0111 id a pcrmiymn 10 puDiun, wii nout t--
previous reftraiuti hatevr W may think prope'ri be-" t
ing anfwerable to' the public and individualsj fbr any "i
abufe of .this permiflion Uo;.'therr:rrji)drcUilinLe ,y ' : j
manner'as the liberty ;pf fpecch ' does ijot authorize s (i 'V
man to fra)eilhpQaiar1iciuift' lhlinS'P
nor the liberty bf acjion juftify hinv- ki going' by vio.
Jcn.cc into another man's h"tfe,orin affauhiug any
perfon whom i be .niay meet in tbe flreets.SIfl the fe
ve'ral ftates the liberty of the prefs has always- been
underftood in this- manner, and no other ; and the
oiJk$eS'ti V"
s fihrih dtt
hea toat tse tt
hid til: T-
puUtun is A
r or .fff'p , i
utidtdjtdi,
xr it trt.fi
ure it Hijjp.'i
f ihrr rjttti
1TJntd 4 "UtU. P . thr itfe writingg. Tbe ifl lLaveeyer
the
me
oweieu to aoopt.
rrv iii faid to be unconttitutional. becauie tu
' remove aliens, is a dircA breach of the Conftitution,
hich provide, " by the htction of the I ft arti
' "fie, "that the' migration,' or importation of fuch per
' fons as any" of the dates (lull think-, proper to sdmi.v
1 fhall not be prohibited by the Coi'grcfs; prior to the
"year 1 808," - '
To this, it is anfwered, firft, tbat this, fsction in
the Conftitution was enaclcd folcly iu.ordvr to prevent
Congrefs from prohibiting, until after a fit period, the
importation of sLAvtSvhrh appesrsTrom two con
iideratio9 . Firil, that, the reltridtion is confined to
the ftates whicli were inexiftence a the time of eftab
liiliing the Conftitution ; arid fecondly, that it is to
continue only twenty years for nenher of which mo
dificaiions could there havfc been the lcaft reafon, had
'ihercllticlion been intended to apply, not'to flaves
'particularly," but. to'ali fimig rants in grneial..
. Secohdly, lt -is aafercd, that to prevent emigra-"
' tion in general, is a very different thing fionr (eliding
nor has anyxobjec'tion beeo mde to its validity : The
objeflioii applies folely to the feCond i and on the
griJutid, in tlvk fiift place, that Congrefs have po pow
er by the CotiHitutiou 'to pafs any adt for pumlhing
likii, do fuch power being txprefsly given, and all
powers. not xiveii to Coogicfs, being refervtd to the
dat'vs refpe'clively,' or.the people-theieof. ; -
( To ' this objection, it is atilweied, that a law, to
puhiiii falfti lcandalous and malicious writings againft
the government, with intent '.to II ir up fedition, is a
lawTreceflaryrf or canying into eflecVthe powe-JeiU.
cd by the Conllltiiiiun in the govetnrient of the Uni
ted States, and in the departments and officers there
of, and confequently fuch a law as Congrefs may pafs s
becaufe the dircA tendency of fuch. writings is to ob- ,
Itract the afts of thejovernment W exciting oppbfitioii
to them, to endanger its exiftetic by rendering it odi
6os and contemptible in the eyes of the people, and to
produce feditious combinations againft the laws, the
power to punim which has never been qudtioncd : be
caufe it would be nlanifcrtly -abfuid to fuppofe that a
government might puhiih feditiori,' and yet be void of
power-;ttf-pteventfti'by-puni(hing-throfe.-ada.vyhicli.
plainly and neceffarily lead to it J And becaufe Under
the general power to make all, laws proper and necef
fary for darry ing into effed the powers vefted by the,
Conftitution in the government of the United States,
Congreft his paffed ir.any laws for wnTch no exprefs
provifion can be found in the conftitution, and the
conltiiuiionality of-whicUh8Tiever been queftioned";
fuch as th fit ft feftion of the ait new; under confider-
conftitution 0 every ftafer" which has been , hamed
and adopted fince the declaration of independence, af-
ierts the JiberVyijof thtprefii while iri; feveral if V
riot all, their laws provide for the punifhment pf libeW ;
loua pubiicatioiis which woyld be a manifeft akwrdity T
and cootradidior), if the liberty of the prefs meant to . ' f;
publim ahy and every thing, : without being amenable
to the laws for ibe abufe of this licenfe, r According - ;
to ibis juft, legal,; and u'niveifally admitted defini
tion pf the. liberty of the prefs," a law to reftrain Vr
its licentioufntfs, in publilliinir "falfe, fctindalous, and -
maliciouslibek airainft the.governmenti cannot be con- .;
fidcrcd a3 " an abridgemeui" of its " liberty." - ;
It is aufvVered, m the fecorid pj
ty"pf tTit'pletsTcitcteer aucot ding nr, the
4
it or. fore 11
-b RrpukicJ
ir'srfl Aiiif
of "the 4
)iut mt
U- tifJm
Us thtre:n A
- K
las 6f ny ftate, or of thef;United State , or of Eag
land, from whence our laws are 'derived, ' to' tjjie .pub--" .
lication of falfe, fcandalous and tnalicio us 1 writinea '.
TipraffltilrfolltWmcni-writtcn or"plTtvTrtnT
tent tp do mif. hief, fuch publications:beiii g uulawfnl, ; v
- . j ' 'I'm ". ' . n... ."; .'!.
ana puniinaDie tn every Hate ; rrom wnenciru toiipws, ;
undehiiblyi jharaawo pim kditio us and ma '
licipus ruUications,' is- W
Hoerty ot,. me- preis-:':4. t wpuw be' a m-aoitelt a,b-;
furdity tp fay, that a man's liberty Was abridged by v
Cunifhing him for doing that which he never had a liP"
erty ta do. ' , ' 1 ' '
It is anfwertd thirdlyj thaf tbeac in queRfon can.
bQtbe unnftitutional, becaufe it makes nottmirj'pe. ;
nal that was not penal before, and gTves- ne 'po wi
ers to the court, but is merely declaratory of the
common law, and ufeful for rendering that lav more
generally known, and 'more eafily uhderRood. This .
cannot be denied, if it be admitted, aa it mull be, that
falfe, fcandalous,. and malicious libels againft the go
verntoent of the cpuntry. rjubliflied with ietcnt to do
mifcfiTtf, are punifhable by the common law 4 for by "
Xhe.ad Teftion of the 5 d article of thc-confl itution, the T;
judicial power of the United States is exprefsly extend
ed to all offences ariGgg. under the conftitution. By
the conftitution, the government of the United States
is eftabhlhed, for many important Pbjt&sTas the go-
ixrnment of the country ; arid.libtls againft that govern
ment, therefore, are offences aiifing under the 'con
ftitutionj' and confequently are puniftable at;common
law by the coUtts of the United States.' 1 Tbt act, in
deed, is fo far from baring txlendtd the lawjmd the
power of the conrt, that it has abi idgfcd both, and haa'"
enlarged inflcad of abtidgio the1 liberty 'of the
e re Jmcrit
Ifurt'ijbcJ )
'u ith the m
i JrtfCrutinJ
rt tihich t
rlniniih ( c
'f&itlHS-fy
-i
I any neg'i 1
j vith nit." vA
I ptof tfyeVni
i, ctal rtmmu
H-emi tut.ii
.it tZeinfir
lujt invent
jnttt ro
tkemvmpot
r ctrn.mu.ni 1
UMd.
- at our emu
I tinged vit't.
: is toe j
tier attogei
'"'Eler.ee on,
'ijer time fit ot
V, in.-. i
sir,
rial 9
i.ue tLfitil
tfureyul
4
that
negpeiate
States, I
vpfoed)
1)1
aiy -rHiir trj. -
mAAc f
happy iffue of the negocia .ons v lU su.
j -iv, ana fill ii
-1 - . , , $ the gevernmel
fry government f ete "
ninirrd. I W?f nrtaetets. yo' - - -
-1
1
1
'i