Oh, Jonah: If only conservatives knew their own tradition, Part LXXVII

Jonah Goldberg had this little exchange on Twitter on this morning.

I wonder if Jonah has ever read Section 2 of the Sedition Act.

SEC. 2. And be it farther enacted, 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…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.

The champion—many claim the author—of that bill in Congress was Theodore Sedgwick, president pro temp of the Senate. The president who eagerly and happily signed it into law was John Adams. Both conservatives in good standing.

One Comment

  1. jonnybutter October 13, 2017 at 2:15 pm | #

    Not that it really matters, but I would bet money that he *hasn’t* read TRM, other than excerpts (if that). Ppl at Jonah’s level don’t need to actually read the books.

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