Page:Kentucky Resolutions of 1798.djvu/30

vituperation. The X. Y. Z. despatches arrived and were made public on the 3d of April, 1798. A tremendous revulsion of feeling was the result. "Millions for defence, not one cent for tribute," became the cry on every hand. Adams was for once almost a popular hero. Federalism was in high feather. A French war seemed imminent, and for the moment would have been received with acclamation by all parties. This seemed to be the time to press forward vigorous measures that would undo much past evil and prevent much future annoyance. The programme embraced three acts. The first a change of the naturalization law; the second an alien act; the third a sedition act. The effect of the first was to alter the period of residence necessary to citizenship from five to fourteen years, to require a registration of all white aliens, and to forbid the naturalization of alien enemies. The Alien Act permitted the banishment of aliens under the simple order of the President, and in case of refusal to depart it authorized imprisonment and deprivation of the right to become a citizen. This was for alien friends, for the act drew this distinction. Alien enemies could be detained, banished, imprisoned, all at the discretion of the President. This was a most remarkable stretch of authority, but the Sedition Act was far more radical. It originated in the Senate, and must have alarmed not merely the friends of France and the Republican party, but equally all clear-sighted friends of freedom and of calm legislation. As introduced, its first section declared