Acts Passed At the First-third Sessions of the Fifth Congress of the United States of America: Begun and Held At the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the Fifteenth of May, 1797 to the Third of March, 1799

United States.; United States. 5th Congress, 1797-1799.

Published by Philadelphia, Printed by W. Ross, 1797

About this Item

3 sessions bound in one. Octavo. Bound in fine modern Moroccan leather. 5 raised bands. Gilt tooling to spine and boards. Inlaid gilt tooling inside boards. Marbled end pages. Original end pages bound in. Slight soiling to FEP and title page of the first session. Tanning, scattered foxing. Collated: 559; 26 (Constitution); iv, Table of Contents; [48] index. A highly important period of early American history during John Adams first 2 years of presidency. During this period, the XYZ affair occurred, along with the Quasi-War. The Alien & Sedition Act was passed by this Congress. This law was an attempt by the Federalist controlled Congress to create new powers to deport foreigners as well as making it harder for new immigrants to vote. Significantly, Federalist legislators attempted to restrict the freedom of speech after receiving a flurry of biting criticism from the Republican press. The Acts banned publishing false or malicious statements against the government and inciting opposition to any act of Congress or the president. Decreed unconstitutional by the Democratic-Republicans, it lead to the drafting of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, also known as the Principles of '98. June 18, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: ("An Act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization") (Naturalization Act of 1798), Sess. 2, ch. 54, 1 Stat. 566 June 25, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: ("An Act concerning Aliens"), Sess. 2, ch. 58, 1 Stat. 570 July 6, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: ("An Act respecting Alien Enemies"), Sess. 2, ch. 66, 1 Stat. 577 July 9, 1798: Act Further to Protect the Commerce of the United States, Sess. 2, ch. 68, 1 Stat. 578 July 14, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: ("An Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States") (Sedition Act), Sess. 2, ch. 74, 1 Stat. 596 Other notable legislation passed by the 5th Congress: July 11, 1798: The establishment of the US Marine Corps, Sess. 2, ch. 72, 1 Stat. 594 April 30, 1798: The establishment of the U.S. Department of the Navy. July 16, 1798: Marine Hospital Service Act ("An Act for the relief of sick and disabled Seamen"), Sess. 2, ch. 77, 1 Stat. 605. Includes petitions Virginia and other states opposing the Alien & Sedition Acts. 1st work: Evans 32951; ESTC W14656; 2d work: Evans 34688; ESTC W14660; 3d work: Evans 36479; ESTC W19240; Sabin 15502.

Seller Inventory # 1409030009

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Acts Passed At the First-third Sessions of the Fifth Congress of the United States of America: Begun and Held At the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the Fifteenth of May, 1797 to the Third of March, 1799
• Publisher: Philadelphia, Printed by W. Ross
• Publication Date: 1797
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • American History and Politics