Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/354

 322 Alien and Sedition Acts. French Convention, [ms-ieoo were suspended; merchant ships were authorised to repel French insolence with force; privateers were commissioned; and what the Federalists called "our infant navy" was created. Opposition to the Administration now disappeared ; and the Federal- ists, in complete control of both House and Senate, proceeded to enact four memorable laws, a new Naturalisation Act, two Alien Acts, and a sedition law. The first prolonged the time of residence in the United States, before citizenship could be acquired, from five to fourteen years. One Alien Act authorised the President, for two years to come, to send out of the country such aliens as he should deem dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States : another empowered him in time of war to seize or remove all subjects or citizens of the hostile government (June, 1798). The Sedition Act prescribed fines and imprisonments for any who, by conspiring with others, sought to hinder the execution of any law of the United States, or by writing, printing, and publishing false, scandalous, and malicious writings against the Government, either House of Congress, or the President, sought to bring any of them into contempt and disrepute. A provisional army was organised, with Washington in command as Lieutenant-General. The Navy Depart- ment was created, and the first Secretary of the Navy appointed ; and three little squadrons were sent forth (July, 1798) to wage war against the French in the West Indies, where several French ships, including a frigate, were captured. Brought to its senses by this spirited action, the Directory intimated to the American Minister at the Hague that any minister sent by the United States to France would be received " with the respect due to the representative of a free and independent nation." The Presidential election was near at hand ; and Adams, to the delight of the Republicans and the deep disgust of the Federalists, once more despatched a com- mission. This time they were well treated; but they found that the Directory had been swept away (November, 1799) and that Napoleon as First Consul was master of France. The envoys had been instructed to claim compensation for spoliation committed by France on American commerce, and to secure the abrogation of the guarantee imposed on America by the treaty of alliance of 1778. Napoleon would grant either, but not both. The price of damages was the retention of the treaty of alliance; the price of the abrogation of the treaty was the abandonment of the claim for indemnity. Unable to agree to this, the envoys at last signed a convention which secured better terms for neutral trade, but in its second article declared that, "not being able to agree at present respecting the treaty of alliance and the treaty of amity and commerce, nor upon the mutual indemnities due or claimed, the parties will negotiate further on these subjects at a convenient time." That time never came. When the Senate ratified the convention, it struck out this second article, and by so doing expunged all provision for future