[evgen]

It requires a great deal of ignorance of US history to make such a claim regarding “intent.” The Sedition Act of 1798 was passed by Congress less than a decade after the ratification of the Bill of Rights and many of the same venerated founders who were instrumental in creation and passage of the latter bore equal responsibility for the former. The founders most certainly did not intend the sort of free speech that is enjoyed today, so the “intent” of the first amendment means little.

[technothrasher]

You're conflating the Federalists with the Democratic-Republicans. Madison and Jefferson, who were largely responsible for the first amendment, objected strongly to the Aliens and Sedition Acts. The Federalists were voted out of power in the next election, and the sedition laws were allowed to sunset quickly.