Sedgwick, Theodore

(1746-1813), represented Ma achusetts in the Continental Congre from 1785 to 1786. He served in the U. S. Congre as a Federalist fram 1789 to 1796 and in the U. S. Senate from 1796 to 1799. He was Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives from 1799 to 1801. He was a Judge of the Ma achusetts Supreme Court from 1802 to 1813, Sedition Law. The Sedition law was an act pa ed by the Kederal majority in Congre in 1798. It was pa ed in order to put an end to the scurrilous and abusive tone of the pre , which was largely controlled by aliens, French, English, Irish and Scotch refugees. It was modeled on two English acts of 1795. It provided heavy fines and imprisonment for any who should combine or conspire against the operations of the Government, or should write, print or publish any “false, scandalous and malicious writings” against it or either [louse of Congre , or the President, with intent to bring contempt upon them or to stir up sedition; truth of the libel could be offered in defense. The Alien and Sedition laws called out the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, and by their severity occasioned the fall of the Federal party.