To jeffersonian republicans, the alien and sedition acts seemed to be in clear violation of the

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were deemed to be in clear violation of the Bill of Rights, according to Jeffersonian Republicans. 

The Alien and the Sedition Acts were passed by the federalists and eventually signed into law by President Adams. The Alien Act gave power to the president to arrest, detain, and deport any non-citizen of the country who were found to be a threat to the nation's security. The "alien" had no right to hearing or to present evidence in his defense. The Sedition Act prohibited the people from even just criticizing the president, the congress or the U.S. government, limiting the people's freedom of speech and the press.