On May 4, 4:02*pm, "Ed Huntress" wrote:

It would depend on whether he was convicted under Section 1 (which applies
to individuals, not just to conspiracies) or Section 2. Surely he would be
guilty under Section 2. If I were the prosecutor, I'd go for Section 1, as
an act of "counseling," in which case he could get five years, and a five of
up to $5,000 (in 1798!), "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."

and the act
itself limited the amount of time the act was in force to three
years. *So Rich would not have spent many years in prison.

Up to five.

And since
the act was passed in 1798 when George Washington was no longer
president, I am not sure the Sedition Act qualifies as being passed by
the Founding Fathers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan

John Adams signed it. What was he, chopped liver? g

--
Ed Huntress

It never crossed my mind that Rich was counseling. You might get a
conviction on Section !, but it would not be as easy as Section 2.

And yes John Adams is a founding father, but does not qualify as " The
Founding Fathers ".

Dan