Letter from Waldo Johnston

I’m Setting the Record Straight

Chip Northrup’s letter to the editor titled “‘We the People’ Versus Tyrants” that appeared in the April 24 edition of “The Freeman’s Journal” accurately portrayed my distant ancestor, John Adams, as an ardent critic of the tyranny of King George.

But Mr. Northrup failed to note that Adams, once he was president, signed into law the four Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 [the Naturalization Act, the Alien Act, the Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act] that were designed to thwart the mischief of his opponents.

These included restricting immigration and limiting free speech, increasing residency requirements for citizenship, allowing for the deportation of non-citizens deemed dangerous, and criminalizing false statements against the government.

As might be expected, these were broadly condemned as tyrannical and later three of the laws were repealed [the Alien Enemies Act is still in effect], but not before Adams was himself accused of serious executive overreach.

Respectfully submitted, with apologies to my ancestor.

Waldo Johnston
Vero Beach, FL and Cooperstown