Tumultuous Period

Topic: Satire
Let's play a little game of who said what, and why.

Who said:

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the mean time we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt ... If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are the stake."

Was it some liberal? ... Hum?

Maybe Michael Moore? Nah, too eloquent and sophisticated. Maybe Al Franken? Nah, Air America and radio doesn't allow for such long soliloquys.

Here's a hint: If you guessed a liberal you'd be correct. But which liberal? There's just so many of them.

George Washington did you say? No. Jesus? Nope. Moses? No. Nelson Mandela? Try again. Gandhi? Wrong. Martin Luther King Jr.? No. Jesse Jackson? Wrong again. John F. Kennedy? Nope. Roosevelt? No. Ben Franklin? Getting closer.

We could go all day like this, there's just so many of them now and throughout our great history. Hell, America itself was a liberal idea!

The answer is Thomas Jefferson. This was in a letter to John Taylor on June 4, 1798. But the real question is why would you even consider that this was a quote of a contemporary speaker?

Damn, I hope this didn't get you thinking.

The letter was in response to the creation of "The Sedition Act of 1798".(Below)

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

SECTION I 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 4 That this act shall continue to be in force until March 3, 1801, and no longer....

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And now a message from our beloved President to all the American people and the world: