277. ALIEN AND SEDITION LAWS, Hatching.—
One of the war party, in a fit of
unguarded passion, declared some time ago
they would pass a citizen bill, an alien bill,
and a sedition bill; accordingly, some days
ago, Coit laid a motion on the table of the
House of Representatives for modifying the
citizen law. Their threats point at Gallatin,
and it is believed they will endeavor to reach
him by this bill. Yesterday Mr. Hillhouse
laid on the table of the Senate a motion for
giving power to send away suspected aliens.
This understood to be meant for Volney and
Collot. But it will not stop there when it
gets into a course of execution. There is now
only wanting, to accomplish the whole declaration
before mentioned, a sedition bill,
which we shall certainly soon see proposed.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 237.
Ford ed., vii, 244.
(Pa.,
April 26 1798
)
