How we cite our quotes: (Law.Section)
Quote #1
"...no alien shall be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, or of any state, unless...he shall have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, five years, at least, before his admission, and shall, at the time of his application to be admitted, declare and prove, to the satisfaction of the court having jurisdiction in the case, that he has resided within the United States fourteen years, at least..." (Naturalization.1)
The important thing to remember is that at the time this was signed into law, the United States was ten. In four years, Adams would either be in his second term or out (he was out), so he's playing a little politics with this time limit. He's putting a rule in place and either his successor can change it, or he can keep it going.
Quote #2
"That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of this act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof" (Friends.1)
There's a gray area here. If the government is composed entirely of Federalists, is espousing Democratic-Republican beliefs "treasonable"? It depends, but it's not off the table.
Quote #3
"That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government...all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies." (Enemies.1)
That's a lot of leeway. Whenever the President judges that a foreign government was threatening, he can throw out all the immigrants from that country. Whether or not this was intended as a political move (and it was at least partially), there's a huge opportunity for abuse.
Quote #4
"And be it farther enacted, That if any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President..." (Sedition.2)
This makes it super obvious how much political calculation was going on. Notice that it's only a crime to defame the President and Congress, who, if you recall, are Federalists. The Democratic-Republican Vice President, Thomas Jefferson? It's totally fine to say whatever you like about that guy.
Quote #5
"Provided, that the expiration of the act shall not prevent or defeat a prosecution and punishment of any offence against the law, during the time it shall be in force." (Sedition.4)
Even though the law expired, if you violated it, you still have to do the time. This was Adams reaching beyond his first term and as it turned out, his presidency as a whole. Jefferson could play politics too; when the Sedition Act expired in 1801, Jefferson pardoned everyone convicted under it.