An Act in addition to the act, entitled "An act for the punishment of
certain crimes against the United States."
SEC. 1 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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