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1798
An
Act in addition to the act, entitled "An act for the punishment
of certain crimes against the United States. "
SEC.
I Be it enacted . . ., That if any persons shall unlawfully combine
or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures
of the government of the United States, which are or shall be
directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law
of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding
a place or office in or under the government of the United States,
from undertaking, performing or executing his trust or duty; and if
any person or persons, with intent as aforesaid, shall counsel,
advise or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot. unlawful
assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy, threatening,
counsel, advice, or attempt shall have the proposed effect or not,
he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on
conviction, before any court of the United States having
jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term not less than
six months nor exceeding five years; and further, at the discretion
of the court may be holden to find sureties for his good behaviour
in such sum, and for such time, as the said court may direct.
SEC.
2. That if any person shall write, print, utter. Or publish, or
shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published,
or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing,
uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing
or writings against the government of the United States, or either
house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the
United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either
house of the said Congress, or the said President, or to bring them.
or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against
them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the
United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for
opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of
the President of the United States, done in pursuance of any such
law, or of the powers in him vested by the constitution of the
United States, or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act,
or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign
nation against the United States, their people or government, then
such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United
States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not
exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding
two years.
SEC.
3. That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act, for the
writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for
the defendant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in
his defence, the truth of the matter contained in the publication
charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause, shall have
a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of
the court, as in other cases.
SEC.
4. That this act shall continue to be in force until March 3, 1801,
and no longer....
  
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