James Madison, "Father of the Constitution," lived in troubled times; his public life coincided with international conflict that stretched, almost without interruption, from 1776 to 1815. The first time the nation waged an undeclared war against enemies on an extended scale came in the late 1790s, in a conflict with France. John Adams was President and regarded France as a dangerous threat to international peace. He signed legislation--the notorious Alien and Sedition Acts--to cope with dangers, real and perceived. The first of these laws severely restricted the rights of immigrants in the U.S.; the second criminalized any criticism of the government and its policies. Madison went public with his criticism of these laws. The man who compiled the Bill of Rights used the occasion to spell out the fundamental principles of the role of a free press and the civil liberties of immigrants in the U.S., principles that have shaped the nation we are fighting to protect today. For More Information See: Madison And The Bill Of Rights Also See: American Founding Fathers On The Individual Right To Keep and Bear Arms
Read Original at: Richmond Times-Dispatch
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