336, 351, 357, 358, 568, 383 Yellow fever in Philadelphia, some data re-

407, 408 York county, caterpillars at

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. X.-NO. 1.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 7, 1832.

From the new edition of Marshall's Life of Washington.
WHISKEY INSURRECTION.

NO. 236.

patrick. Successful resistance to so great a force being obviously impracticable, a parley took place, at which the assaillants, after requiring that the inspector and all About this time, (1794,) the seditious and violent re- his papers should be delivered up, demanded that the sistance to the execution of the law imposing duties on party in the house should march out and ground their spirits distilled within the United States, had advanced arms. This being refused, the parley terminated and to a point in the counties of Pennsylvania lying west of the assault commenced. The action lasted until the the Allegheny mountains, which required the decisive assaillants set fire to several adjacent buildings, the interposition of government. Notwithstanding the mul- heat from which was so intense that the house could no tiplied outrages committed on the persons and proper-longer be occupied. From this cause, and from the apty of the revenue officers, and of those who seemed prehension that the fire would soon be communicated willing to submit to the law, yet in consequence of a to the main building, Major Kirkpatrick and his party steady adherence to the system of counteraction adopted surrendered. by the Executive, it was visibly gaining ground, and The Marshal, and Colonel Pressly Nevil, were seizseveral distillers in the disaffected country, were obliged on their way to General Nevil's house, and detained ed to comply with its requisites. The opinion, that until two the next morning. The marshal especially, the persevering efforts of the administration would ul- was treated with great rudeness. His life was frequenttimately prevail, derived additional support from the ly threatened, and was probably saved by the interpopassage of an act by the present Congress, containing sition of some leading individuals who possessed more those provisions which had been suggested by the chief humanity, or more prudence, than those with whom of the treasury department. The progress of this bill, they were associated. He could obtain his liberty only which became a law on the fifth of June, could not have by entering into a solemn engagement, which was guarbeen unknown to the malcontents, nor could its proba-anteed by Colonel Nevil, to serve no more process on ble operation be misunderstood. They perceived that the western side of the Allegheny mountains. The a certain loss of a market for the article, added to the marshal and inspector having both retired to Pittsburg, penalties to which delinquents were liable, might gra- the insurgents deputed two of their body, one of whom dually induce a compliance on the part of distillers, un- was a justice of the peace, to demand that the former less they could, by a systematic and organized opposi- should surrender all his process, and that the latter tion, deprive the government of the means it employed should resign his office; threatening, in case of refusal, for carrying the law into execution. to attack the place and seize their persons. These demands were not acceded to; but Pittsburg, affording no security, these officers escaped from the danger which threatened them by descending the Ohio, after which they found their way by a circuitous route to the seat of government.

On the part of the Executive, this open defiance of the laws and of the authority of the government, was believed imperiously to require, that the strength and efficacy of those laws should be tried. Against the perpetrators of some of the outrages which had been committed, bills of indictment had been found in a court of the United States, upon which process was directed to issue, and at the same time, process was also issued against a great number of non-complying distillers.

The marshal repaired in person to the country which was the scene of these disorders, for the purpose of serving the processes. On the 15th of July, while in the execution of his duty, he was beset by a body of armed men, who fired on him, but fortunately did him no personal injury. At day break, the ensuing morn ing, a party attacked the house of General Nevil, the inspector; but he defended himself resolutely, and obliged the assailants to retreat. Knowing well that this attack had been preconcerted, and apprehending that it would be repeated, he applied to the militia officers and magistrates of the country, for protection. The answer was that "owing to the too general combination of the people to oppose the revenue system, the laws could not be executed so as to afford him protection: that should the posse comitatus be ordered out to support the civil authority, they would favor the party of the rioters."

The perpetrators of these treasonable practices, being desirous to ascertain their strength, and discover any latent enemies who might remain unsuspected in the bosom of the disaffected country, despatched a party which stopped the mail from Pittsburg to Philadelphia, cut it open, and took out the letters which it contained. In some of these letters, a direct disapprobation of the violent measures which had been adopted was avowed; and in others, expressions were used which indicated unfriendly dispositions towards them. Upon acquiring this intelligence, delegates were deputed from the town of Washington to Pittsburg, where the writers of the offensive letters resided, to demand the banishment of the offenders. A prompt obedience to this demand was unavoidable; and the inhabitants of Pittsburg, who were convened on the occasion, engag ed to attend a general meeting of the people, who were to assemble the next day at Braddock's Field, in order to carry into effect such further measures as might he deemed advisable, with respect to the excise and its friends. They also determined to elect delegates to a convention, which was to meet on the fourteenth of August, at Parkinson's ferry. The avowed motives to these outrages were to compel the resignation of all of ficers engaged in the collection of the duties on distilled spirits; to withstand by force of arms, the authority of the United States; and thereby extort a repeal of the law imposing those duties, and an alteration in the con

On the succeeding day, the insurgents re-assembled to the number of about five hundred, to renew their attack on the house of the inspector. That officer finding that no protection could be afforded by the civil authority, had applied to the commanding officer at Fort Pitt, and had obtained a detachment of eleven men from that garrison, who were joined by Major Kirk-duct of government. VOL. X.

1

Affidavits attesting this state of things, were laid before the President.

The secretary of the treasury, the secretary of war, and the attorney general, were of opinion, that the President was bound by the most high and solemn obligations to employ the force which the legislature had placed at his disposal, for the suppression of a criminal and unprovoked insurrection. The case contemplated by congress had clearly occurred; and the President was urged by considerations the most awful, to perform the duty imposed on him by the constitution, of providing, "that the laws be faithfully executed." The long forrecall the deluded people to a sense of their duty and interest, by appeals to their reason, had produced only increase of violence, and a more determined opposition. Perseverance in that system could only give a more extensive range to the disaffection, and multiply the dangers resulting from it.

The opposition had now reached to a point which seemed to forbid the continuance of a temporizing system. The efforts at conciliation, which, for more than three years, the government had persisted to make, and the alterations frequently introduced into the act, for the purpose of rendering it less exceptionable, instead of diminishing the arrogance of those who opposed their will to the sense of the nation, had drawn forth sentiments, indicative of designs much deeper than the eva-bearance of government, and its patient endeavors to sion of a single act. The execution of the laws had been at length resisted by open force, and a determination to presevere in these measures, was unequivocally avowed. The alternative of subduing this resistance, or of submitting to it, was presented to the government. The act of Congress which provided for calling forth the militia, "to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions," required as a prerequisite to the exercise of this power, that an associate justice, or the judge of the district, should certify that the laws of the United States were opposed, or their execution obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals." In the same act, it was provided, "that if the militia of the state where such combinations may happen, shall refuse, or be insufficient to repress the same, the Presisident may employ the militia of other states!"

16

The evidence which had been transmitted to the President was laid before one of the associate justices, who gave the certificate, which enabled the chief magistrate to employ the militia in aid of the civil power.

The executive being now authorised to adopt such measures as the crisis might require, the subject was again seriously considered in the cabinet, and the governor of Pennsylvania was also consulted respecting it. To avoid military coercion, if obedience to the laws could be produced by other means, was the universal wish; and therefore, all concurred in advising the appointment of commissioners from the government of both the Union and the State, who should warn the deluded insurgents of the impending danger, and should convey a full pardon for past offences, upon the condition of future submission. But, respecting ulterior and eventual measures, a difference of opinion prevailed. The act already mentioned, made it the duty of the President, previous to the employment of military force, to issue his proclamation, commanding the insurgents to disperse within a limited time.

The Secretary of State, (and the Governor of Pennsylvania, is understood to have concurred with him,) was of opinion, that this conciliatory mission should be unaccompanied by any measure which might wear the appearance of coercion. He was alarmed at the strength of the insurgents, at their connexion with other parts of the country, at the extensiveness of the prevailing discontents with the administration, and at the difficulty and expense of bringing the militia into the field. The governor of Pennsylvania having declared his opinion, that the militia of that state, who could be drawn forth, would be incompetent to enforce obedience, the aid of the neighboring states would consequently be necessary. The secretary of state feared that the militia of the neighboring states would refuse to march, and that, should he be mistaken in this, their compliance with the orders of the executive might be no less fatal than their disobedience. The introduction of a foreign militia into Pennsylvania, might greatly increase the discontents prevailing in that state. His apprehensions of a failure, in the attempt to restore tranquillity by coercive means, were extreme; and the tremendous consequences of a failure were strongly depicted. From the highly inflamed state of parties, he anticipated a civil war, which would pervade the whole Union, and drench every part of it with the blood of American citi

zens.

Those who were of opinion that the occasion demanded a full trial of the ability of the government to enforce obedience to the laws, were also of opinion, that policy and humanity equally dictated the employment of a force which would render resistance desperate. The insurgent country contained sixteen thousand men able to bear arms; and the computation was, that they could bring seven thousand into the field. If the army of the government should amount to twelve thousand men, it would present an imposing force which the insurgents would not venture to meet.

It was imposible that the President could hesitate to embrace the latter of these opinions. That a government entrusted to him should be trampled under foot by a lawless section of the Union, which set at defiance the will of the nation, as expressed by its representatives, was an abasement to which neither his judgment nor his feelings could submit. He resolved, therefore, to issue the proclamation, which, by law, was to precede the employment of force.

On the same day, a requisition was made on the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, for their several quota of militia to compose an army of twelve thousand men, who were to be immediately organized and prepared to march at a minute's warning.

While steps were taken to bring this force into the field, a last effort was made to render its employment unnecessary. Three distinguished and popular citizens of Pennsylvania were deputed by the government to be the bearers of a general amnesty for past offences, on the sole condition of future obedience to the laws.

It having been deemed advisable that the executive of the state should act in concert with that of the United States, Governor Mifflin also issued a proclamation, and appointed commissioners to act with those of the general government.

Meanwhile, the insurgents omitted nothing which might enlarge the circle of disaffection. Attempts were made to embark the adjacent counties of Virginia in their cause, and their violence was extended to Morgantown, at which place the inspector resided, who saved himself by flight, and protected his property by advertising on his own door, that he had resigned his office. They also made similar excursions into the contiguous counties of Pennsylvania, lying east of the Allegheny mountains, where numbers were ready to join them. These deluded men, giving too much faith to the publications of democratic societies, and to the furious sentiments of general hostility to the administration, and particularly, to the internal taxes, with which the papers in the opposition abounded, seemed to have entertained the opinion, that the great body of the people were ready to take up arms against their government, and that the resistance commenced by them would spread throughout the Union, and terminate in a revolution.

The convention at Parkinson's ferry had appointed a committee of safety, consisting of sixty members, who chose fifteen of their body, to confer with the commis

sioners of the United States, and of the state of Penn-rected to rendezvous at Bedford; and those of Marysylvania. This committee of conference was not en:powered to conclude on any thing. They could only receive and report the propositions which might be

made to them.

land and Virginia, at Cumberland, on the Potomac. The command of the expedition had been conferred on Governor Lee of Virginia; and the Governors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania commanded the militia of their respective states, under him.

The president, in person visited, each division of the army; but, being confident that the force employed must look down all resistance, he left the secretary of the treasury to accompany it, and returned himself to Philadelphia, where the approaching session of Congress required his presence.

Men of property and intelligence, who had contributed to kindle the flame under the common error of being able to regulate its heat, now trembled at the extent of the conflagration. It had passed the limits they assigned to it, and was no longer subject to their control. The committee of conference expressed themselves unanimously in favor of accepting the terms offered by the government, and exerted themselves in the commit- From Cumberland and Bedford, the army marched tee of safety to obtain a decision to the same effect. In in two divisions into the country of the insurgents. The that committee, the question whether they would sub-greatness of the force prevented the effusion of blood. mit peaceably to the execution of the law, retaining ex- The disaffected did not venture to assemble in arms. pressly the privilege of using all constitutional means to Several of the leaders who had refused to give assuraneffect its repeal was debated with great zeal. The less vi- ces of future submission to the laws, were seized, and lent party carried it by a small majority: but, not thinking some of them detained for legal prosecution. themselves authorised to decide for their constituents on so momentous a question, they afterwards resolved that it should be referred to the public.

This reference resulted in demonstrating that though many were disposed to demean themselves peaceably, yet a vast mass of opposition remained determined to obstruct the re-establishment of civil authority.

But although no direct and open opposition was made, the spirit of the insurrection was not subdued. A sour and malignant temper displayed itself, which indicated but too plainly, that the disposition to resist had only sunk under the pressure of the great military force brought into the country, but would rise again should that force be withdrawn. It was, therefore, thought advisable to station for the winter, a detachment to be commanded by Major General Morgan, in the centre of the disaffected country.

From some causes among which was disaffection to the particular service, the prospect of bringing the quota of troops required from Pennsylvania into the field, was at first unpromising. But the assembly which had been Thus without shedding a drop of blood did the pru summoned by the Governor to meet on the first of Sep- dence and vigour of the executive terminate an insurtember, expressed in strong terms, its abhorrence of rection, which, at one time, threatened to shake the, this daring attempt to resist the laws, and to subvert government of the United States to its foundation. the government of the country; and a degree of ardour That so perverse a spirit should have been excited in and unanimity was displayed by the, people of other the bosom of prosperity, without the pressure of a sinstates, which exceeded the hopes of the most sanguine gle grievance, is among those political phenomena friends of the administration. Some feeble attempts which occur not unfrequently in the course of human were indeed made to produce a disobedience to the re-affairs, and which the statesman can never safely disrequisition of the President, by declaring that the people would never be made the instruments of the secretary of the treasury, to shed the blood of their fellow citizens; that the representatives of the people ought to be assembled before a civil war was commenced; and by avowing the extravagant opinion that the President could not lawfully call forth the militia of any other state, until actual experiment had ascertained the insufficiency of that of Pennsylvania. But these insidious suggestions were silenced by the general sense of the nation, which loudly and strongly proclaimed that the government and laws must be supported. The officers displayed an unexampled activity; and intelligence from every quarter, gave full assurance that with respect to both numbers and time, the requisitions of the President would be punctually observed.

The governor of Pennsylvania compensated for the defects in the militia law of that state, by his personal exertions. From some inadvertence, as was said, on the part of the brigade inspectors, the militia could not be drafted, and consequently the quota of Pennsylvania could be completed only by volunteers. The governor, who was endowed with a high degree of popular elocution, made a circuit through the lower counties of the state, and publicly addressed the militia, at different places where he had caused them to assemble, on the crisis in the affairs of their country. So successful were these animating exhortations, that Pennsylvania was not behind her sister states in furnishing the quota required from her.

On the 25th of September, the President issued a second proclamation, describing in terms of great energy, the obstinate and perverse spirit with which the lenient propositions of the government had been received; and declaring his fixed determination, in obedience to the high and irresistible duty consigned to him by the constitution "to take care that the laws be faithfully executed," to reduce the refractory to obedience.

gard. When real ils are felt there is something posilive and perceptible to which the judgment may be directed, the actual extent of which may be ascertain ed and the cause of which may be discerned. But when the mind, inflamed by supposititious dangers, gives a full loose to the imagination, and fastens upon some object with which to disturb itself, the belief that the danger exists seems to become a matter of faith, with which reason combats in vain.

Under a government emanating entirely from the people, and with an administration whose sole object was their happiness, the public mind was violently agitated with apprehensions of a powerful and secret combination against liberty which was to discover itself by the total overthrow of the republican system. That those who were charged with these designs, were so destitute of the means as well as of the will to effect them, did not shake the firm belief of their existence. Disregarding the apparent partiality of the administration for France, so far as that partiality was compatible with an honest neutrality, the zealots of the day ascribed its incessant labours for the preservation of peace, to a temper hostile to the French republic; and while themselves loudly imprecating the vengeance of heaven and earth on one of the belligerents, and openly rejoicing in the victories of the other; while impetuously rushing into a war with Britain, and pressing measures which would render accommodation impracticable,they attributed a system calculated to check them in this furious career, not to that genuine American spir t which produced it, but to an influence which, as far ais opinions are to depend on facts, has at no time insinuated itself into the councils of the United States.

In popular governments, the resentments, the suspicions, and the disgusts, produced in the legislature by warm debates, and the chagrin of defeat; by the desire of gaining, or the fear of losing power; and which are created by personal views among the leaders of parties, The troops of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were di- I will infallibly extend to the body of the nation. Not