Sedition

In criminal law. The raising commotions or disturbances in the state.

195 Mich. 293.

It is a revolt against legitimate authority.

Ersk. Inst. 4. 4. 14; Dig. 49. 16.

3. § 19, not amounting to insurrection. Excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority; conduct tending to treason, but without an overt act.

195 Mich. 293.

The distinction between "sedition" and "treason" consists in this, that though the ultimate object of sedition is a violation of the public peace, or at least such a course of measures as evidently engenders it, yet it does not aim at direct and open violence against the laws, or the subversion of the constitution.

Alis. Crim. Law, 580.

The obnoxious act of July 14, 1798 (1 Story, U. S. Laws, 543), was called the "sedition law," because its professed object was to prevent disturbances. Verbal sedition, or the uttering of words tending to create discord between the king and his people; real sedition is generally committed by convocating together any considerable number of people, without lawful authority, under the pretense of redressing some public grievance, to the disturbing of the public peace.

Ersk. Inst. 4. 4. 14.