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287. ALIEN AND SEDITION LAWS, Unconstitutional.—

For the present, I should
be for resolving the Alien and Sedition laws
to be against the Constitution and merely
void, and for addressing the other States to
obtain similar declarations; and I would not
do anything at this moment which should
commit us further, but reserve ourselves to


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shape our future measures, or no measures,
by the events which may happen.—
To John Taylor. Washington ed. iv, 260. Ford ed., vii, 311.
(M. Nov. 1798)