THE JYEIISREL' Insuizrixtion. - 157 -- -- I Tion at a Time 11-Henevery Bushel Was Needed for the CHAPTER SV

Digital Scan by Fay-West.com. All Rights Reserved. THE JYEIISREL' INSUIZRIXTiON. - 157 -- -- I tion at a time 11-henevery bushel was needed for the CHAPTER SV. i i subsistence of the troops in the field, fighting for lib- THE WHISKEY IMSURI'LECTION. I erty. A large part of the proceeds collected at that I time was appropriated to the " depreciation fund," '(THEWhiskey Insurrection7' is a term which has j, created in this State (as in others, in pursuance of a '0 of "lawful and via- I resolUtioll been usually aI'~lied a by Congress in liSO) for tile pur- lent acts committed (principally in 17% but to pose of ,.iring to oficersand of the ~~~~l~- some extent in previous years) by inhabitants of the ;I tionary army an additional compensation, a measure counties of Washington, Alle$~eny, Weatmoreland, j rhich was manifestly just and necessary, because the These illegal and insurrectionary acts and Fayette. due of their pay had been greatly lessened by the embraced an armed resistance on several occasions to Lepreciation of the Continental currency. the esecution of certain State and national lams inl- After the close of the Revolution, laws imposing posing an escise tax on distilled spirits and stills :xcise duties on distilled spirits remained on the used for the manufacture of such spirits, a measure 'ennsylrania statute-books until 1791, but they were ~hichwas generally and peculiarly obnosious to the lot generally enforced, and were exceedingly unpop- people of these counties, particularly because they ilar, especially in the vestern and sonthwestern por- regarded it as calculated to bear with especial and .ions of the State. During the period mentioned discriminating severity on the industries of this sec- some seven or eight years prior to their repeal in tion as compared with otller parts of the country. .791), though the escise laws of the State were by The first excise tax imposed in the province of lo means generally enforced, the collection of the Pennsylvania was that authorized in an act of As- aevenue tax on spirits was several times attempted, sembly passed Jlarch 16, lGS4, entitled " Bill of Aid 3ut ne\-er successfully executed in the southwestern and Assistance of the Government." As it was found' :ounties. Such an attempt mas rnade in Fayette, to be ob-jectionxble to the sense of tlie people, that Westmoreland, and Washington Counties in the year part of the bill relating to the collection of escise 1786, and the consequences resulting to an excise duties was repealed som aftm~ards,and no similar s5cer in the last-named county are shown in a letter legislation wns had for more than half a century. In written by Dorsey Pentecost-o the Esecutive Coun- 1788 the provincial dssernbly passed "An act for cil of Pennsylvania, as follows: layin2 an escise on wine, rum, brandy, and other spirits,"' but this, Iike its predecessor of 165% was I' KAS~ISGTONCOUSTY, IGth April, 17%. r:ceired with such unmistakable disfavor that it re- " GESTLENES: mained in force only a few months from the com- " About ten days ago :t Xr. Graham, Escise officer nlencement of its operation. Ag:lin, in IIay, 17-14, for the three western Counties, was, in the exercise of the Assembly renewed the measure, "for the pur- his office in this County, seized by a number of People pwe of providing money without a general tas, not and Treated in the following manner, viz. : His Pis- only to purchass arms and anlmunition for defense, tols, which he carried before him, taken and broke to -but to answer such demands as might be made upon pieces in his presence, his Comnliasion and all his the inhabitants of the province by his Xajesty for papers relating to his Office tore and thrown in the distressing the public enemy in America." "This mud, and he forced or made to stamp on them, and enactment remained in operation but a short time. Imprecate curses on himself, the Commission, and the Another escise law was passed in 1756, but flailed of Authority that gave it to him; they then cut off one- esecution; then for nearly sixteen years the people half his hair, cued the other half on one side of his of Pe:lnsylvania were undisturbed by governmental Head, cut off the Cock of his Hat, and made him wear ntteml~tsto collect impost duties on spirits. it in a form to render his Cue the most Conspicuous ; . In I772 the subject came again before the Assem- this n-ith many otller marks of Ignominy they Im- bly, and as a measure of revenue a new act was pos'd on him, and to which he was obliged to submit; passed* levying a duty on donlestic and foreign dis- and in the above plight they marched him amidst a tilled spirits. At first this lzn- was not executed in Crowd from the frontiers of this County to Westmore- reference to domestic liquors, nor was there any en- land County, calling at all the Still Houses in their ergetic attempt made for that purpose, particularly in way, where they were Treated Gratis, and espos'd tllc old counties of the pro~ince; but after Pennsyl- him to every Insult and mockery that their Invention vania became a State, and her necessities werc greatly could contrive. They set him at Liberly at the en- increased by the Re~olutionarywar, then in progress: trance of Westmoreland, but with Threats of utter tlie law was put in execution, and a very consider- Desolution should he dare to return to our County. able revenue obtained in that way, the measure being " This Bandittie I am told denounces distruction, at that time the less obnoxious because patriotic men vengeance against all manner of People who dare to mere opposed to the consumption of grain in distilla- oppose or even ganeaay this their unparrelled beha-

1 Votes of Assembly, i. 20. Dallas, i. 203. A Ibid , i. 993. Ibid., i. GX. 5 Pa. Arcllivcs, s. 757. 11

15s I-IISTOItT OF FAI'ETTE COUXTY, PENSSYLVBKIA.

I vior, and that they will support every person con- Upon the adoption of the Federal Constitution, it cerned against every opposition. I suppose they de- became necessary to provide ways and means to snp- pend on their numbers, for I am told the Combination port the government, to pay just and pressing Rero- is large. lutionary clxims, and sustain the army, which ~ras " 1 have thought it my duty as a good citizen to ' still necessary for the protection of th2 frontier against give your Honorable Boardinformation of this match- Iudinn attack. " The duties on goods imported were less and daring Insult offered to Governn~ent,andthe / very far from adequate to the n-ants of the new gor- necessity there is for a speedy and Exemplary pun- ernment. Tases were laid on articles supposed to be ishing being inflicted on those atrocious offenders, for the least necessary, and, among other thing, on dis- if this piece of conduct is lightly looked over, no Civil I tilled liquors, or on the stills with wl~ichthey were officer mill be safe in the Exercise of his duty, thougli manufactured." At thr suggestion of Alesander some Gentlemen with w11om I hare conversed think , Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, a bill was it would be best, and wish a mild prosccution; for my 1 framcd, among the proribions of which was the impo- part I am of a different opinion, fix it certaii~lyis the sition of an escise duty of four pence per gallon on most audacious and accomplished piece of outmgious I all di-tilled spirits. This bill was passed by Congresb, and unproyoked Insult that was ever offered to a ' 3Iarch 3, 1791, against the strong opposition of many Government and the Liberties of a free People, and members, among the most determined and energetic what in my opinion greatly agrirntes their Guilt is of wl~onl~vas the representatire of this district, Wil- that it was not done in a Gust of Passion, but cooly, l liam Fincllcy, of JVeatniorelantl. Albert Gallatin and I deliberately, and Prosecuted from day to day, and ' John Sn!i!ie, both men of the highest prominence and there appears such a desolute and refixtory spirit to ,I residents of Fayette County, were among the strongest pervade a Certain class of People here, particularly. opponents of the measure, thougli not advocates of those concerned in the above Job, that demnnds the 1 forcible resistance to its esecution. attention of Government, arld the most severe pun- 1 It was argued that the law of 1791 bore more ishn~ent. I heavily and unjudly on the interests of the region '. I am not able to give the names of dlconcerned, I n-est of tlie Alleghenies than on those of any other nor have I had an opportunity of making perticular part of the Union. Here a principal product of the enquiry, but hare received the aforegoing informa- i farmers was rp. For tliis there was little home de- tion from different people on whom I can rely, neither mand, and it conld not be transported across the do I think they hare as many friends as they suppose, mountains at a profit, escept in the form of whiskey. or would wicli to make the public believe. I liave it "A horse could carry but four buJiels, but he conld not in my Power at this time to be ns full and es- take the yrocluct of twenty-four bushels in the shape plicit as I could wish on this subject, as I hare but of alcol~ol. Whiskey, therefore, nxs tlie most import- Just time to hurry up this scrawl \vliilc the carrier is ant item of remittance to pay for their salt, sugar, waiting. and iron."' As a result of these peculiar circum- " I am, Gentlemen, - - with the highest Esteem and Respect, "Sectio~~2. Providccl:dways, . . . That notbingl~creincnntninedrlk?ll be deenlctl or constrned to prevent the recowry nf ::I1 such dnties'npon your most obdt. very Humble Gerrt. the said :~rtic.lesas are nuw due to the Con~nlo~rw:iltl~,nor lo rchsn or " DORFEYPCSTECOST.)' tnke a\wy any forfeiture or pr.n:ilty wllicll ally prrson or persons nlxy '' His Excellency The President 11:lrrincnrrrcl by rmson of tl~vs:~id xts of Assenhly; bnt tht all pros- and Nembers of the Supreme ~cl~tio~ls~ornillc!~cetl.or \vl~icli may be conlnlc~~cedi:~ cnnseqne~~cr there- of, nmy he pro~ccnt~Ito 13s full effect :is if snclr :icts or parts tl~ermf Executive Council of Pennsylvania. had not been repoalec!." "P.S,-I have just snatched as n1uc11 time as to This rrpeding act w~sapprovcd Srpt. 21, 1791, six months after the write a short nbte to the Chief Justice on the above pas-age by Congress ~,fthe escise law which brougllt abont the ivsurrec- tion in tl~cwcstcrn curlnlics ul' Pmnsylvani*. subject." AS Inte ns the year of t11e insorrecticn. frc.jgl~tin \~agonsto Pldn- The Nr. Grnllnm referred to in the above letter was drlld~i:~cost from five to tell dollars per Irnndred polmds. Siilt SIAI :it fire 2olia1s :t bnsh~l,while iro11 :~ndstre1 cost front fifteen to trrpnty the excibe officer for the district conzprising Wasli- cents per pound. 111 thtfertile region grain W:IS nlm1111ar1tlyproduced, ington, Westn~oreland,and Fayette. Sotliing ap- but thew was no nlsrliet, while fiirn1el-s vast uf the mm~~t;rit~swere to sllom thnt lie sirlli[arlv ml,ltreate~in tile 1 gowillg 1"d1'IS ~IWIISof tho genefiil war in Enrope. Tc~dedown the Ol~io,dwpit~ its clmger, ha11 tlrer~no outlet, the lower JIissi.;sippi b~ing two latter counties, but the public kcling in then), if i in possc.ssion of t~leSllanislr. The frrigllt 011 :S llarrel ,,f fiour to I'ilil:~-

less aggressiw,- - was equally deter~ni~icdagainst the : delliliia \v;~sas 1nnc11as it would bring;n that market. L~~i~eat,'s~ys excise, and no collections were lnade by tlie officers the Rev. Dr. C;rnl;il~an,'was so plentifel and of so little v:~luet!mt it x:m a conmon practice to grind that of tllc Lrst qnality and feed it to in tliis district under the State law duriug its con- the cattle; \vllile rye, corn, and Ivarlcy \~uuldbring 110 price 87 fuod fur tinuance.' man or beast.' The only vxy left fur tlic i1111:1bitantsto obtain a little money to porcllase ~nlt,iron, and other articles necess~irgio carr-jiag 1 "An .4ct to repe:~lso lnncll of every act %- ncts of Issf.rnb1.vof this on their fitrming oper:itions w:ts by dislilling tl~+grain and reduein:: State as rrlates tu the collection of excise duties." pn)rided,"Section it to a more portitble fur~n,and se~ldirlgthe whitkey over the nwentail~s 1. . . . Thtso nluch of every act or ac:s of Assern'11yzs antl~orizotho or down the Ohio to Iicntncky, then mpidly filling np rind affurdi~~ga collection of my dnty or duties upon wine, run),bwndy, or otlrrr ~pi:.it- nmket for that article."-Popen Z?elofbq lo lha ~i~isi-cyInstwrcctio~z, Pa. uous liquors sllall Le, aud the same are, irerchy rcpcalcd. Arclticer, vol. ir., G.

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

distilled within the United States, passed the 3d of McComb, three of the persons concerned in the out- March, 1791. " For Westmoreland County : Nehemiah Stokely the then marshal, Clement Biddle, to his deputy, ~d- and John Young, Esqs. seph Fos, who in the month of October went into 81- " For Washington County : Col. James Marshal, legheny County for the purpose of serving them ; but Rev. David Phillips, and David Bradford, Esq. hemas terrified by the "appearances and circumstnnces " For Fayette Ceunty : Edward Cook, Nathaniel which he observed in thc course of his journey," and Bradley [Breading], and John Oli phant, Esqs. therefore, instead of serving then1 himself, sent them " For Allegheny County : Col. Thomas Morton, forward under corer by a private messenger. The John Woods, Esq., and William Plumer, Esq. marshal (Mr. Biddle), in his report of this transaction "Edward Cook, Esq., was voted in the chair, and to the district attorney, said, "I am sorry to add that John Young appointed secretary." he [the deputy, Fox] found the people in general ill The meeting then proceeded to pass a series of the western part of the State, particularly beyond the resolutions, censuring the legislation of the late Con- Allegheny Mountains, in such a ferment on account gress, especially the obnosious excise law, which they of the act of Congress for laying a duty on distilled characterized as "a base offspring of the funding spirits, and so much opposed to the esecution of said system, . . . being attended with infringements on act, and from a variety of threats to hinlself personally liberty, partizl in its operations, attended with great (although he took the utmost precautions to conceal espcnse in the collection, and liable to much abuse," his errand), that he mas not only convinced of the im- and declaring that " it is insulting to the feelings of the possibility of serving the p&ess, but that any attempt people to have their vessels marked, houses painted to effect it n-ould have occasioned the most violent and ransacked, to be subject to informers, gaining by opposition from the greater part of the inhabitants, the occasional delinquency of others. It is a bad pre- and he declares that if he had attempted it he be- cedent, tending to introduce the escise laws of Great lieees he u:ould not hare returned alive. I spared no Britain, and of countries where the liberty, property, expense or pains to have thc process of the court ex- and eren the morals of the people are sported mith, to ceuted, and have not the least doubt that my deputy gratify particular men in their ambitious and inter- would ha~eaccomplished it if it could have been ested measures." The meeting also adopted a remon- done." strance to " be presented to the Legislature of Penn- In Fayette County the collector of revenue, Benja- sylvania," and further " Resolced, That the foregoing min Wells, was subjected to ill treatment on.account representations [the series of' resolutions adopted] be of his official position. That Mr. Wells was pecu- presented to the Legislature of the United States." liarly unpopular among thc people of his district ap- An address was also adopted, which, together with pears from the letters of Judge Alesander Addison,' the proceedings of the d:~y,was ordered to be printed and from other sources, and he was afterwards several in the Piftsbunyh Gnzeffe, and the meeting then ad- times maltreated, and his house snclce~and burned. journed. These acts were done in 1793 and 1794>but the first In reference to this meeting at Pittsburgh, and instance of abuse to 11i1nappears to have occurred in others of similar character, Mr. Hamilton, Secretary the fall of 1791, as the Secretary of the Treasury in of the Treasury, said that, being " composed of rery his report to the President, after narrating the cir- influential individuals, and contlnctcd without mod- cumstances of the attack on Robert Johnson, in eration or prudence," they were justly chargeable Washington County, on the Gth of September, con- mith the escesses which were after~rardscommitted, tinues: " Mr. Johnson was not the only officer who, serving to give consistency to an opposition which at about the same period, esperienceil outrage. Mr. length matured to a degree that threatened the foun- Well:, collector of tlie revenue for Westmoreland and dations of the government. Fayette, was also ill treated at Grcensburg and Union- On the 6th of September, the day before the meet- town. Nor were the outrages perpetrated confined to ing of the committees' delegates at Pittsbnrgh, the the officers, they extended to private citizens vho opposition to the law broke out in an act of open violence, said to have been the first of the l

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTIOX. only dared to show their respect for the laws of their 2rm which he should intend to work it, and to renew ~ountry.'~' hat license for a further term or terms. This pro- Another outrage was committed in Washington ision was regarded as peculiarly favorable to the County, in the month of October of the same year, :stern section of the State, where very few 'of the on the person of Robert IVilson, who was not an es- istillers wished to prosecute their business during cise officer, but a young sclioolmaster who was look- he summer. "The effect has in a great measure," ing for employment; and carried with him very aid Hamilton, in 1794, " corresponded with the views reputable testimonials of his character " Ytwas lf the Legislature. Opposition has subsided in sev- supposed that lie was a little disordered in his intel- ral districts where it before prevailed,6 and it was lect, and ha\-ing, unfortunately for himself, made ~aturalto entertain, and not easy to abandon, a hope some inquiries concerning stills and distillers, and hat the same thing .would, by degrees, have take11 acted in a mysterious mmner otherwise, he was sus- )lace in the four western counties of the State." pected of being in the service of the go~.ernment. But this hope was not realized. The modifications On this account he " was pursued by a party of men nade in the law, favorable as they had been thought in disguise, taken out of his bed, carried about five o be to the western counties, did not produce acqui- miles back to a smith's shop, stripped of his clothes, tscence and submission among the people of this sec- which were afterwards burnt, and having been inhu- ion. On the 21st and 22d days of August next fol- manly burnt in several places with a heated iron, was owing the passage of the modified law there mas tarred and feathered, and about daylight dismissed, leld at Pittsburgh "a Meeting of sundry Inhabitants naked, mounded, and in a very pitiable and suffering )f the Western Counties of Pennsylvania," the pro- condition. These particulars were conimunicated in :eeclings of which plainly indicated that the feeling a letter from tlie inspector of the revenue of the 17th )f opposition had not been lessened, but rather inten- of Korenlber, who declarcd that he had then himself ;ified. At that meeting there were present the fol- seen the unfortunate maniac, tlie :ibusc of whom, as owing-named delegates from the western counties, lie espressed it, exceeded rlescription, and was suffi- riz.: Edward Cook, Albert Gallatin, John Smilic, c'ent to lnake human nature shudder. . . . The Bazil Bowel, Thomas Gadclis, John McClellan, John syniptoms of insanity were during the whole time of Zanon, William Wnllace, Shesbazer Bentley, Benja- inflicting the punishmeut apparent, the unhappy nin Parkinson, John Huey, John Badollet, John sufferer displaying the heroic fortitude of a man who Hamilton, Neal Gillespie, David Bradford, Rev. coliceived himself to be a martyr to the discharge of Darid Phillips, Matthew Jamison, James Marshall, some important For participation in this James Robinson, James Stewart, Robert McClure, outrage Col. 8:unuel IVilson, Samuel Johnson, James Peter Lyle, Alexander Long and Samuel Wilson. . Wright,, William Tucker, and John Moffit were in- The persons composing this meeting were, in general, dicted at the December Sessions, 1791; but before the tnen of ability and influence, and in this particular offenders were taken upon the process of the court,' tlie Fayette clelegation (comprising the first six namec! the victim, Wilson (probably through fear of furthe1 in the above list) surpassed those from the othcr outrage), left that part of the country: and at the counties. June Sessions, 1792, the indicted persons were dis. The meeting was orgznized by the choice of Col. charged. John Canon as chairman, and Albert Gallatin, of The demonstrat.ions above mentioned comprise all Fayette County, as clerk. The subject of the excise of the more notable acts of violence which 'jvere don( law was then "taken under consideration and freely in tliese counties by the opponents of the law during debated ; a committee of five members was appointed the first year of its existence. On the St11 of May to prepare a draft of Resolutions expressing the sense 1792, Congress passed an act making material changer of the Meeting on the subject of said Lam ;" and on in the excise law, among these being a reduction o: the second day the resolutions mere reported, de- about one-fourth in the duty on whiskey, and giving bated, and adopted unanimously. After a preamble the distiller the alternative of paying a monthly in, denouncing the excise lam as unjust in itself, oppres- stead of a yearly rate, according to the capacity o sive upon the poor, and tending to bring immediate his still, with liberty to take a license for the precis( distress and ruin on the western country, and declaring it to be their duty to persist in remonstrances to

1 Pa. hrchivrs, 2d Series, ~ol.iv. p. SS. Congress, and every other legal measure to obstruct Letter of J:rmes Urison, of Allegheny, to Governor Mifflin, date1 the operation of the law, the resolutions proceeded, Nov. 8, l78.'.-Pu. Arcl,ires, 2d Scries, vol. iv. pp. 44, 43. first, to appoint a committee to prepare and cauee to 3 Report of tho Secretary of tllc Treasury ; Ps. Archives, 2d Series, 1-01 iv. p. 8% be presented to Congress an address, statiug objec- 4 Pa. .4rchives, Brison's Icttcr, bcforc q~~oted. tions to the law, and praying for its repeal ; secondly, "'The audacity of the peryetn~torsof these excesses \\-as so great tlln an armed Lnnditti rcrit~uetlto seizc iiud cirrry off two persons who \ver 6 Opposition to tllc Inw of 1781 ~vsviolent, not only in the "fo~zr aitnef;sesag~~inst the lioten it1 tho czse of Vilson, ill order to prcven vrstern counties" of F:~yette, 7Vestmoreland, Waslrington, and Ah- lheir giving testin~onyof tl~criot to :I court then sitting or about t gl~euy,but also ill several other counties of the State, notubly Chester, sit.'-Alexunder Hwiilfm~lo President Wctalrington; Pa. Arch., iv., p. 89. Bedicrd, Bucb, and Xorthumbcrlund.

HISTORY OF FATETTE COUNTY, PENSSYLVAXIA.

to nppoint committees of correspondence for Wash- I of the proceedings of the Pittsburgh meeting, the Sec- ington, Fayette, and Allegheny, charged with the retaq- of the Treasury reported the facts to President duty of corresponding together, and mith such com- Washington, who thereupon, on the 15th of Septem- mittee-as sllould be appointed for the same purpose her, 1791, issued a proclamation admonishing all per- i;l Westmoreland, or with any committees of a simi- sons to refrain and desist from all unlawful"combina- Inr nature from other parts of the Union. The com- tions and proceedings mhatsoerer having for their mittees appointed for this purpose for the three coun- object, or tending, to obstruct' the operation of the ties named were conlposed of the following-named law, declaring it to be the detelmination of the persons, viz. : Thomas Gaddis, Andrew Rabb, John go~ernmentto bring to justice all infractors of the Oliphant, Robert McClure, James Stewart, William law, to prosecute delinquents, to seize all unescised Wallace, John Hamilton, Shesbazer Bentley, Isaac spirits un their may to market, and to make no pur- Weaver, Benjamin Parkinson, David Redick, Thomas chases of spirits fbr the army escept of such as had Stokely, Stephen Gapen, Joseph Vanmeter, Alesan- paid the duty. der Long, William Whiteside, Jame; Long, Benjamin d supervisor of the revenue was sent into the Patterson, Samuel Johnston, William Plumrner, and western counties immediately afterwards to gain ac- Natthew Jan~eson. . curate infor:n:ition of and report on the true state of The final declaration of the meeting was to the affairs; but his mission "had no otherfruit than that effect that, " TVherens, soine men may be found of obtaining evidence of the persons who coniposed amongst us so far lost to every sense of virtue and the meetiag at Pittsburgh, and two of those who were feeling for the distresses of this country as to accept understood to be concerned in the riot [against C~pt. ofiices for the collection of the duty, Resolved, there- Faulkner], and a confirmation of the enmity which fore, that in future we mill consider such pnr-aons ,?s certain active and designing leaclers had indus~rionsly un\vorthy of our friendship; hare no intercout-se or infused into a large proportion of the inhabitants, dealing-s with them; withdraw front them every assi.st- nof agnhst fhepartictilar Zam ir~puesfion only, bttf ?f a ance, ajad witi~holclall the c0ntforf.r of lye which depend more ancient date upinst the gocernment of tltc Chited upon those duties that as men and fellow-citkens we owe Stcltes itsev." ' to each other; and upon all occasions freut them with In the following April (1793) a party of men, armed fhut contempt they deserce; and that it be a~zdit is hereby and disguised, made an attack upon the house of Ben- most enrrlestly recommended to the people at large to fol- jamin Wells, who was then collector of revenue for low the same line of conduct tozonrds them." Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. His house, It is difficult to understand how men of character which stood on the west side of the Youghiogheny and good standing, sueh as were a majority of those Rirer, opposite the present borough of Connellsville, composing the Pittsburgh meeting, could hare given was visited in the night by these rioters, who, having their assent to the passage of these extreme resolu- forced an entrance, finding that Wells was absent, tions. They were aimed in a general way (as appears contented themselves with threatening, terrifying, on their face) at all who might be even remotely con- and abusing his family, without proceeding to any cerned on the side of the government in the collection further outrage. Warrants for the npprel:ensic,n of of the revenue, but in particular, and more than all, se~eralof these rioters? were issued by Ju~ticesIsaac as Gen. John Neville, agzinst whom no charge could Xeason and James Finley, and placed in the llands be brought, except that he had dared to accept in- of the sheriff of Fayette, Joseph Huston, ~vho,liow- spectorship of the Wedern Revenue District. ever, refused or neglected to serve them, and ~v\-ss A few days before the holcling of the Pittsburgh therefore indicted in the Circuit Court. meeting, an outrage had been committed upon Capt. A second attack wns made on the house of Wells, William Faulkner, of the United States army, who the collector, in the night of the 22d of Xovember by had permitted his house in Washington County to be n body ofmen all armed and in disguise.' They broke used as an inspection-office. Being out in pursuit of and entered the house, and demanded a surrender of deserters in the same neighborhood where Johnsou the officer's commission and official books, and upon was maltreated in the previous autumn, he was en- countered by a number of disguised men, who re- 1 Report of Secretary lhrniltou; Pa. Arcllives, 211 Series, wl. iv. p. 93. proached him mith having let his house to the govern- '"UaleL Xunnt, then n C;~pt;ri~~,sime n 1.I;ljnr of JIiliti;~,st;u~rls ment officers, drew a knife on him, threatened to scalp cl~:~rgcdLefvrc Isnnc 3Iwson i111c1 J:~PFinle3-. Assist;wt Judges, 11y iuforn~ationupon o~thof Uenjn~~iinWells, Collector of tlrc Reveune, him, tar and feather him, and burn his house if he and his wife, with 1te111gof n pi~rtytlmt broke into the Ifouse of the did not solemnly promise to prevent all further use Sxicl Collector soule time in April, li03."-Report of the Semetrrry of the of it as an inspection-office. He was induced by Trensay to Presiilenl Tl;rs7riw~Lo1z; Pa. 8rcl~ices,2d Series, vol. ic. 1).2SS. 3 " Indictn~entsImriug been found at a circuit court Idden at I'l~ilrz- their threats to make the promise demanded, and on delpl~iain JnIj kt,:tgninst Itobcrt Snrilit. ~III~Jd~n 3IcC11llocI1, two of the 21st of August gave public notice in the Piff.sbt~rgh the rioters in the athick wl~icli,in Kurrn~berpreceding, had Lccn n1ir11e Gaxtfe that the office of the inspector should no upon the home of n. collector of tile revenue in Fl~yetteConnty; processes issued against tllern also to Ixing t11r.m to trial, :rut1 if guilty, to longer be kept at his house. pn~~isl~n~ent."-Hrr~~~ilLo~~lo Presidal TlirekingLmg Bug. 5, 1704; I'u. Ar- On receiving intelligence of this occurrence, as also rhizes, ic.,p. 100.

THE TI7'IIISI.EY INSURRECTION. 163

his refusal to deliver them up they threatened him, Ben.jamin Wells, of Fayette, and deputy collector with pistols presented at his head, and swore that if he under him. The fire was returned, but withont did not comply they would instantly put him to effect on either side. Then the party set fire to death. By this means they forced him to surrencler Reagan's barn, and having burned it to the ground, his books and commission, and not content with this, moved off without making further depredation. In the rioters, before they left the premises, compelled a clay or two a much larger party of assailants Wells to promise that lie would, within two weeks, (numbering about one hundred and fifty men) ap- publish his resignation. It does not appear, however, peared at Reagan's, and he, knowing, the folly of that Wells did resign his office at that time, for lie attempting to resist so large a force, and \vishing certainly held it in the following year, and was then to avoid the shedding of blood, consented to capit- an object of peculiar hatred to the opponents of the ulate, provided they wouid gire him assurances 1alv.l that they would not destroy his property nor abuse " At last Marc11 [IT941 Court, in Fayette County," him or his fLmiIy. This was agreed to, with the ccm- said Judge =iddison, " in a publick company at din- dition that his house should no more be used as an ner in the tarern where I lodged, some of the most escise-office, and that John WeMs should agree and respectable gentlemen of that county. and most strenu- promise nercr again to act as an oEcer for the collec- ously opposed to the Escise lam, proposed that a tion of the excise duty. The stipulations were reduced niketing of the inhabitants of that county should be to writing and signed by the parties. The house was cnlled, in which it should be agreed that they would then thrown open, and Reagan produced a keg of dl enter their stills, provided Benjamin Wells was wlliskey, from which he "treated" the assailants. removed from office, and some honest and reputable But after they had drank the whiskey they began to inan appoiuted in his stead. I will not say that tllese grow more belligerent, and some of them said that are the words, but I know it is the amount of the Reagan had been let off altogether too easily, and conversation." This was written by the judge in a that he ouglit to be set up as a target to be shot at. letter addressed to Governor Mifiin, dated Wasliing- Some of them proposed that he be tarred and feath- ton, Mxy 12. 179+L2 In a reply to that letter, written by ered, but others strongly opposed this, and took Rea- Secretary Ddlas,3 on behalf of the Governor, he says, gan's part, saying that he had acted in a fair and "The truth is that such general dissabisfaction has manly way, and that they were bound in houor to been espreased with respect to Wells tliat, for the sake treat him well after having agreed to do so as a con- of the western counties, as well as for the sake of the dition to the surrender. Then they drank more General Governme:lt,, it was thought advisable to whiskey and fell to quarreling among themselves, and transmit all the iufornlntion that could be collected the proposition was made to " court-martial7' Reagan, .on the subject to the President, and the estract from and to march him to the house of Benjamin IVelIs, your !etter . . . made a part of the documents." in Fayette County, and try them both together. This Finally, about the 1st of July, 1794, the rioters de- suggestion was immediately acted on, and the party stroyed IVells' house and forced him to vacate his moved towards Stewart's Crossings, taking Reagan office, the circumstances being as follom : The ex- with them. Arriving at Wells' house they found that cise-office for Westmoreland County had been opened he was absent, and in their disappointment and anger in the house of Philip Reagan, whereupon an attack they set fire to his d\velling and entirely destroyed it, mas soon after made upon it by the insurgents. This with all its contents. Sevcral of them remained hid- attack had been expected by the on-ner of the house den near the ruins for the purpose of capturing Weils (Iteagan), who had accordingly prepared for it with on his return,-a clesign which they effected in the a guard of two or three armed men. When the as- following morning. On making him prisoner they sailing-party approached they were fired on by Rea- demanded of liim that he resign his comniission as gan's party, among whom mas John Wells: son of collector, and promise to accept no office under the excise law in the future. These demands mere made 1 "Xi~drewRobb [Ld~l~].a Justict?of the peace, sta~~clsclla~ged by in- as the conditions on which his life and safety de- furt~i:~tiul~11po11 oath before JiicnI~Bti:i~n, another .Justice of the peace, wit11 lraving 3ffcre11a reu~nrdof Tell ponnds fi~rkilling the Esrise man, pended. He accepted them and submitted to all menning, as wlsunderrtood, Wells, the Collector. This fact is stated on their requirements, upon which they desisted from the iuforn~ationof the s:~idCullector."-Pa. .-tr~L., 2d Series, rot. i~.. p. all further ill treatment and liberated him. This 26s; Leller of' Alexancler Humillol~Io President IVu.sliiqton. was the end of his career as an escise-officer. He 2 Pat. Arch., ir., p. 63. 3 IOid, p. 64. afterwartls removed to the other side of the river (at 4 Tn the ncconnts sl~ichhart? lr~cntis~~ally given of this affair, John Connellsville) and made his residence there. TVrlls hns been inenrio~~etlas the collector for Wt~st~non.lal~d,and the time of the final :rbandonn~entol Itengm's 11cmse as all escisr-office ns 11eingin the month of June; Imt both these stxtemrnts aye disproved places were procured for the purpose. That in Westmoreland County 11). tllc repuct of the Secretary of the Tre;tsury to President Washington, W:L- repeatedly .ztt:icked in the night by armed men. who frequently dstrd Au:. 5, 1704 (Px. Archives, 201 series, ir., CIS), ill which he says, fired npon it; but, according to a report which hns been nlade to this " Jone being the month fur receiving annual entries of stills, end~:ivors Drp;~rttncnt,it !v.m defended with so much courage nnd perscve~w~ce were uficd to open offices in Westn~orelmdand Washington, wl~creit by .John Wells, nn ansiliary oflicer. and Pl~ilipRe:~gnn, the owner of the Lad l~ithcrtobeen fvuud impracticalde. Wit11 much paius and dificulty house, ns to hare beex nzninlaincd dsrilq the re~nairideroj the n~onU~."

HISTOEP OF FrlYETTE 'COUNTY, PENSSTLVdNId.

Soon after the destruction of Wells' liouse by the house before the commencement of tlie firing, and had insurgents, a United States officer came into Fayette sought a place of concealment at a distance, wisely County to serve processes against a number of non- concluding that this iy:is the only vay to save his life. complying distillers, and also against Robert Smilie On the night of the 19th of July he with the marshal and John McC~~llocil,tao persons charged with par- who had come to serre the processes (having been re- ticipation ill tlie riotous attack on the liouse of Col- peatedly threatened with dent11 at the hands of tlic lector Wells in the previous November. "The mar- insurgents, and finding that no protection was to be shal of the district," said Secretary H ~inilton,'" went expected from the magistrates or inlinbitants of Pitts- in person to serve these processes. He executed his burgh) ~nadetheir escape from the place, fled don-11 trust without interruption, tl~oughunder many dis- the Ohio, and proceeded to the East by a circuitous couraging circumstances, in Fayette County ;' but way, the usual rnutes over the mountains being known while he was in the csecution of it in Bllegheny to be beset by tlieir enemies. County, being then accompanied by the inspector of On tlie 25th of July the United States mail, near the levenue (Gen. Neville), to wit, on the 15th of July Greensburg, on the road from Pittsburgh to Philadel- last (179-1),lie was beset on the road by a party of from phia, was stopped by two armed men, who cut open thirty to forty armed men, who after much irregularity the pouch and abstractcd all the letters except those of conduct finally fired on him, but, as it happened, contained in one package. In connection with this without injury either to him or to the inspector." circumst:mce, it is proper to notice a circular addresied The attack on tile mnrshal and Gen. Neville, how- by Col. Jolin Canon, DxvidBradl'orcl, Benjamin Park- ever, proved to be but the prelude to one of the most ' inson, and otl~ersto tlie militia officers of the counties, tlaring cutrages that were committed during the con- , clatcd July 28, 1794, as follo~vs: tinuance of the insurrection. The disaffected people " SIR,-Having had suspicions that the Pittsburgh \ver,o greatly incensed against Gen. Neville for accom- 1 post would carry with him tlie sentiments of some of panying the marshal to :~ssistin serving the processes, i the people in the country respecting ow present situ- piloting him to the homes of his victims, as tlicy I ation, and the letters by the post beiny now in ourpos- slid. On this account the feeling against him beealue I se.ssion, by which certain secrets are discovered hostile very intense and bitter. ! to our interest, it is therefore now come to that crisis On the day next following the attack on the mar- that every citizen most express his sentiments, not by slial and inspector (July lGth), at d:~ybre:ili," in con- his words, but by his actions. Yon are then called formity with a plan which seems to hare been for upon as a citizen of the I!-estern country to render some time entertained, and whicl~mas probably only your personal service, u-it11 as mnny volunteers as you accelerated by the coming of the marshal into the can raise, to renclczvoas at your usual place of meet- surrey, an attack by about one hundred persons armed ing on \Vedriesday nest, and thence you mill march with guns and other weapons w:ts made upon the liouse to tlie usual place of rc:idezvous at Braddock's Field: of the inspector (Neville), in the vicinity of Pitts- on the I~lonongahela,on Friday, the first day of Au- burgh. The inspector, though alone, ~igorouslyde- gust next, to be tlierc at two o'clock in the afternoon, fended himself against the assailants, and obliged with arms and accoutrements in good order. If any them to retreat without accomplisliing their p~rpose."~volunteers shall want arms and ammunition, bring They had only postponed, and not abandoned, the them forward, and they shall be supplied as well as

execution of tlieir plans. On the following day they possible. Here, sir, is an espedition proposed-. in reassembled in augmented numbers, amounting, as mliicll you will have an opportunity of displaying it mas said, to fully fire hundred, and on tlic 17th of your military talents, and of rendering service to your July renewed their attack on Gen. Pu'eville's house, country. Four days' provisions will be wanted; let wliich was then defended by a detachment of eleven tlie men be thus supplied." men from tlie garrison of Fort Pitt. The result was Many of the militia officers obeyed the directions that after a fight of about an hour's duration, in which contained in the circular, and marched their men to the one of the insurgents was killed and several woundcd, appointed rendezvous. With reference to the readi- while three of the persons in the house were also ness displayed by oEcera and soldiers to obey these wounded, the defending party surrendered, and the in- orders, elnanating as tliey did from no responsible au- surgents then burned thehouse to theground, together thority, Judge Addison said that in consequence of with all the outbuildings, occasioning a loss of more the danger of Indian incursions having often ren- than twelve thousand dollars. Gen.Neville had left tlie dered it necessary in this region to assemble the military force without waiting for orders from the govern ment, "it had become l~abitnalwith the militia of 1 Pa. Arclr.. ?d Scries,vt,l. iv. p. 100. 2 A meeting h:ad been held at union torn^, i:~ptlrwnnce of the suggrs- these counties to assemble at the call of their officers, tiuns made in March,l794,at the Itutcl, as ~t~cntiocedby J:~dgeAdgllso~~, without inquiring into the authority or object of the atid at this n~cetingit 1ras agreed Ly tlrose present thit no oppositimi wonld be made tu the law iu this cwnty, pruvidetl Ecnj:~ul~uWells \\as disp1:lced ;IS collcctor. 4 Bmddocli's Field was the place lvl~ere-the attnu;ll brigade n~usters "~;unilto~r. were held.

THE TTTIIISIiEY ISSURRECTION. .- call." This habit, well knorrn to the contrivers of I As the rendezvous was but a few miles from Mtts- the rendezvous at Braddock's Field, rendered the exe- burgh, the people of that place were greatly alarmed cution of their plan an easy matter. They issued lest the company assembled at Braddock's Field their orders to the officers of the militia, xvho as- sliould, at the instigation of their leaders, march on sembled their men, accustomed to obey orders of this tlie town and destroy it, in a spirit of revenge against ki11d given on the sudden and without authority. a number of officers and friends of the government Tile militia came together without knowing from , who lived there. A meeting of the inhabitants of the whom the orders origin:;ted, or for what pnrpose they r town had been he16 on the evening before the day of met. And when met it was easy to conllnunicate the rendezvous, nt which "a great majority-almwt from breast to breast more or less of the popular I tlie ~vholc.of the inhabitants of the tomn-assembled..' frenzy, till all felt it or found it pritdent to dissemble It was announced to this meeting that a committee and feign that they felt it." from Washington 11-as present, bearing a message to At Braddock's Field, on the appointed dny, there the meeting. A committee of three was appointed to gathered a vast and wildly excited assemblage, of confer wit11 the conimittee from Washington, and wllicll a good proportion was composed of militiamen after their conference they reported "that in conse- and volunteers under arms. F~iyetteCounty mu quence of certain letters scnt by the last mail, certai~i su2iciently represented on the field,' though the num- persons were discovered as aclrocates of the excise ber from this less than from either IVasbingtnn, law and cnemies to the interest of the country, and Allegheny, or Westmorelancl. Among the great that Edwarcl Day, Jnmcs Brison, and Abralmm Kirk- throng of persons assembled there, very fern were fit- patrick are pr,rticularly obnoxious, and that it is ex- rorable to the government and to the execution of thc pected by the country that they should be dismissed law. Such as were there of this class had come to without delay; TVhereupon it was resolved it should the rendezvous lest their nbsence might be made a be so done, and n committee of tn-enty-one was ap- cause for proscription.' Bxt they were compelled, pointecl to see this resolution carried into effect. Also out of regard for their personal safety, to conceal their that, whereas it is a part of tlie message from the gen- real sentiments ; and some of them had even assumed tlemen from Washington that a great body of the the rOle of leaders, for the purpose (as t,hey said after- people of the county will meet to-morrow at Brad- wards when the insurrection had been crushed) of dock's Field, in order to carry into effect measures gaining the confidence of the disa.ffected multitude, that may seem to them advisable with respect to the and then by organization and judicious management excise lam and the adrocatcs of it, Resolred. That to restr~inthem from proceeding to outrage and re- the above committee shall at an early hour mait upon bellion. The Hon. Hugh H. Bmckcnridgc v-as one the people on the ground, and assure the people t!mt of these, and there were some among the F:lyc.ttc the above resolution, with respect to the proscribed

County leaders, whose coursc with regard to the in- - - - - surrection has been similarly explained. There mre body arllecti\~cly,111111 to the secret and dre;ideil power of the ol.g;u~iz;r- also present at Braddock's Field on the occasion re- tiuu, if org;rniz:itiun it ccmld be c:~llccl. As to the origin uf the rzxnlr., ferred to some who wnt there merely as spectators, Drxlienridge S;I~S," h cert:ii~~Juhu 1111Icrt)rtWIS tlluugl~ttu 11al.e 1n:ifle the first spplia~tio~~of it at tile time of the masked attack on Willii~n~ without any strong feeling on either side ; but by far Cougl~rii~~,wI~(~se still vas c:~tto 11'~~s.This wxs 11~1u0runslyri~llcd the greater part were in full sympathy vith the in- n~eirdilrghis still. Tl~ornrntlrrs of cmrse must lbc tiuke~s,and tl~cn;me surgent cause, though probably few of them hacl any collectirely 1rec:unc Trm tl~cTi~~lier." Adrertiscmmts \\.err pnt 111) on very definite idea of the object of the meeting otlier trccs i~ndin othrr CUII~:I~CIIUU~111:tces wit11 tllr aignntore of Tmr the Tiuker, aclnwnisl~ingor con~n~:i~~di~~giudiridu;~ls to do or not to do crr- tllan to denounce escise-officers and the government, ti~intlli~~gi nnder ~:ICpe11:11ty of rrtribution nt tl~o11a11dst~f the ~nys and to shout in wild acclaim, lluzzahs for Tom tlie teriuus Tmi iu case of ~~uu-conlpli;~ncr.nIenaciug letters with the s hule Tir~ker.~ rip~ulturewere s~uttu the Pill~h~fr~kGa:erte wit11 orders to pttl~lial~tlwnr, and tlle editor cli~rc~lul~t refilsc tt~cmul~ly, tliougl~ 11e did so nn\~illiugIy. Oficn tl~epersola to \rl~omtllt.se tllrrirteui~~gnotices were :ul~lressc~d 1 Findley in l~isI~istory of the insnrrection s:iys there \rere not mow were comn~;r~laletlto see tlmt t11t.y were 11nl~li41e~lin thc Cu.-ptle, and than tsalvc nicn fmin Fztyette Coiu~ty;rt T,r:rd8iocl<'s Field ou illat &ry, 1l1t.y ;il\\-;~y-;ccuiij~1ir.d; for tlloy Icl~ewt11:it refilm1 or nq:l(ct to do sd but this sti~tru~el~tsernls very i~nprob:rble~11en it is ran~cll~beratltililt \vould Iwi~tgupm them the drstr~~ctionof tl~rirproperty ;i11c1eldanger Cook, Gaddis, :utd sereri~lotl~ers of tilo pnmi~~entle~~drrs of iusurrcc- tl~eirlives. timists were rrsi~lrntsof this c,,n~ri>-. " Tl~isTCBIII fl~c Tillkrr,"s;~).s,T~~dgc Lobe~~gier, " was anev gnd :ulded to Xr. Braclienridg~,in dcscribil~gtl~e gcncr:~l fcclingprer;ii:i~~gi~t tint tllen~?.tl~ulogy;~ttl~istin~r,;~nd \r;~ssnpposrd tt, 11re.-ideover a11islie)--stills time tl~rongl~ontthe WCP~C~IIcounties, s:~ys,'' .i brwtil in fi~vorof the aud sr.11-11ousr.a. \Vl~ue\'er stoutly 11nrn111edfur Tom tllr Tiuker wis ot' Ian wos sufficient to rni~~imy 11lit11. It \ri~~cu~~sidt-ret! as it bildge of u;~ql~estiull;ll~lc~l0~-:11ty !r.itll tila \vl!isliry Irojs; while those Vhu cullld Turjisni. h clcrgyn~:~n\\.;IS ]lot thonght ortl~wlmin the pulpit unless not vere Itrm~tledas traitors to this new dcit). ;rid thrir cuuntry " J~~dge apiust the law. A p11ysici;rn\iZ\.;is not c:~p;iblevf aclmi~~isteringmedi- Teccl~s;qs of tile Iujstc~.inl:s god tl~atit w;~sslq~poaed "Ilis Oly~~qnls cine unlrss his priuciples were rigllt in this respect. h lawyer could wis on some of tile l~illsof Miogo or Petev's Creek. But trnly Ile \v;is Ir:lve got no prxvtice withouti~tleast concixli~~g11is sentinlents iffur. the :r n~ultibwndeity, nr at Ir:~irIre vxs Ut'inrean in his functims. Ilis I:w, nor cui~lda mercl~xntat a conutry store get c:~stoni. 011the con- 111i111,l:merecrr:ttions \wrc to de-troy thr stills and mills nnd 1,111-11 the tnry, to talk against tile 1r1v \ws t:~cwry to office an11emnlunicnt. To IDIWII~of ampl? iug distillers, and terrify others into ~~II-C~III[I~~;IIIC~. go to the Legis1;lture or to COII~~CSSyou IIIIIS~ mnlce a noise against it. He ~on~eti~n~.~\\.itr11~11hefore striking, but the \\xrniugs and blows were It 1~;~sthe SItBbolelk of safety, and the lmlder of ambition." alwn~siu the dirrk and of diffiuult tletectk~n." liiudley =J's ir. dter- TOM THE T126EB \\.as :L 11111110w11icIl tile I;w-brcaliers not nlrly used warh iippe:~rcd that tl~etern1 Tow the Tinker d:d not origi~rtevith individnally for purposes of dirguise, but also applied to the insurgeut John IIolcroft s \vrsfirst supposed.

- persons, has been carried into effect. Resolved also, Edirard Cook, of Fayette County,' and Bradford,.of That the idinbitants of the town shall march out and Washington, two of t,he principal leaders. If they join the people on Braddock's Field, as brethren, to had succeeded in doing this, there is little doubt that carry into effect wit11 them any measures that may the principal part of the town mould have been burned. seem aclvisable for the common cause." An account of the turbnlent proceedings at Brad- The Pittsburgh committee appointed at the meeting dock's Field and Pittsburgh was forwarded without above mentioned reported to the leaders at Brad- delay to the State and national authorities, and on the dock's Field the resolutions whicl~had been adopted, 7th of August the President of the Unitedstates issued and that in pursuance of those resolutions some of a proclamation, reciting in its preamble that '(cornbi- the men most objectionable to the insurgents, viz.: nations to' de:'ext the execution of the laws hying Eclw~rdDay, James Brison, Abraham I- people, and then move the troops across the river." N:u-yhnd ...... '7,000 201) 120 Virginia ...... 3,000 3 MI .. .. . :?,,:

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION. 167 - issued, calling together the Assembly of the State in kind may be seen in the Pittsburgh paper. Parkin- session. Previously (on the Gth of August) son's Ferry is the place proposed as the most central, the Governor had appointed Chief Justice McKean and the 14th of August the time. We solicit you by and Gen. William Irvine to proceed immediately to all the ties that an union of interests can suggest to the disaffected counties, to ascertain the facts in refer- eonie forward and join us in our deliberations. The ence to the recent acts of violence and lawless gather- cause is common to us all. We invite you to come, ings, and, if practicable, to induce the people to sub- ere11 should you differ with us in opinion. We wish mit to the law. you to hear our reasons influencing our conduct." The President, on the day nest following the issuance of his proclarnation, appointed James Ross, The events of the first two days of August at Brad- Unitcd States senator, Jasper Peates, associate dock's Field and Pittsburgh and of the two or three sue- judge Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and William ceeding weeks, seemed to mark the culmination of the Bradford, Attorney-General of the United States, popular frenzy on the subject of the escise law, and . commissioners on the part of the United States: with from the 15th of July to the last of August was the full instructions and ample powers, to repair forth- period of the greatest excitement that exhibited itself with to the western counties, for the purpose of con- during the insurrection. During the interval of time ferring, at their discretion, with individuals or bodies between tlie great muster at Braddock's and the day of men, "in order to quiet and estinguish the insur- appointed for the meeting at Parkinson's Ferry, great rection.,' numbers of " liberty-poles" mere erected by the in- Before the great demonstration at Braddock's Field, surgents in various parts of the four counties, and the anti-escise leaders issued a call (in the latter part upon these were hoisted flags, bearing such inscrip- of July') for a meeting of delegates from the western tions as "DEATH TO TR-AITORS," "LIBERTY AKD counties, to rncet at Parkills~n'sFerry, 011 the 310non- soEXCISE." Few persons were found hardy enough gahela (now Monongahela City), " to take into con- to refuse assistance iu the erection of these poles, for sideration the sitnation of the western country." And to do so was to be branded as an enemy to the cause, from tlie muster-place at Braddock's Field, Col. and a fit subject for the .cengeanceof Tom the Tinker. (Maj.-Gen.) David Bradford issued the folloming cir- A number of these "liberty-poles" mere raised in cular : Fayette County. +One was at New Salem, one at " To the fi~habitnntsof iVonongnheln, J%rp%z : Sew Geneva, one at hIasontown, on which a very " GESTLEI\IES,-I presume you have 1ie:ird of the beautifhl silk flag was raised. One was at the old spirited opposition given to tlie excise law iin this Uilion Furnace, in Dunbar townsliip, and one at the State. Matters hare been so brought to pass here market-house, in Cniontown. At the raising of this that all are under the necessity of bringing their pole, about one hundred men under command of Capt. minds to a final conclusion. This has been the clues- Robert Ross came in from German (now Nicholson) tion amongst us some days, 'Shall we disapprove township to assist. Another pole mas raised on the of the conduct of those engaged against Keville, the Morgantoan road south of Uniontown, on the farm excise-officer,or approve :7' Or, in other words, 'Shall of Thomas Gaddis, who was of the principal leaders we suffer them to fall a sacrifice to Federal persecution, of the whisliep boys in this county. The pole at this or s11a11 we support them?' On the result of this place and the one in TTniontown were cut down by business me hare fully deliberated, and hare deter- Gen. Ephraim Douglass in defiance of all threats and inined, lvitll head, heart, hand, and voice, that we intimidation. That which had been erected at New will support the opposition to the excise law. The Geneva met the same fate at the hands of Mrs. Eliia- crisis is now come, sztbmission or oppositio~t: we are bet11 Everhart (wife of Sdolph Ererhart) and two or determined in the opposition. We are determined three other women of equal determination. The in future to act agreeably to system; to form ar- others named stood bearing their threatening flags rangements guided by reason, prudence, fortitude, and inscriptions until the tide of insurrection began and spirited conduct. We have proposed a general to turn before tlie menace of military force, and then lneeting of the four counties of Pennsylvania, and those who had raised them were glad enough to see have invited our brethren in the neighboring counties them fall, and to deny all agency in their erection. in Virginia to come forward and join us in council and deliberation in this important crisis, and conclude On the 14th of August, according to appointment, upon measures interesting to the western counties of the meeting of the delegates was opened at Parkin- Pennsylvania and Virginia. A notification of this son's Ferry. The proc1am:~tions of the President and ' At the meeting of the inl~nbitantsof Pittsburgh, l~cld.JnIy Slst, it of Governor MifRin had not been received. Neither \WS I'csulwl tlmt vllcre'w a general llleetillg of (1elrg;ltrs fr(1111tile town- the commissioners for the State nor those for the fillips of the cou~ltry\\-est of the mountains will be held nt Pnrlii~lso~~'~United States had made their appearance, but intel- E'vrry olr file 14th of August nest, therefore dekgites 6ll:dl be ap- puiutrd t~ tl~:lt~i~ectiug, and that tlie 9th of AIISIIS~be nppointcd fur a ligence came during the progress of the meetinp, that to\v\.n-u~cctingto plcct such delegates. the two delegations were on their way from Pliiladel-

IIISTORY OF FilTETTE COULUTY, Y EXSSTLVASI-I.

pliia, an:l that two of the United States coinmissioncrs rary measures as they may tliink necessary." The had just arrived at Greensburg.' closing resolution was to this effect, " That n com- Tlie first ceremony perfornled at Parkinson's was mittee, to consist of three members from each county, the erecting of a tall "liberty-pole," and tlie hoisting be appointed to meet any commissioners that llarc of a flag bearing theinscription, "Equal Taxation and been or may be appointed by the government, and no Excise.-Xo Asylum for Traitors and Co\vards." report tlie result of this conference to the standing Two hundred and twenty-sis delegates were present. committee." Tlie standing committee (consisting of from townships in Fayette, Westmorelnnd, Allegheny, ,isty persons) net, and appointed the committee to Washington, and that part of Scdhrd lyinp \vest of the Ineet the conlmissioners of the United States arid Allegheny Nountains, with a few from Ohio County, t hose of Pennsy11-ania, as provided by the final reso- Va. The ~neetingwas organized by the appointnlent 1ution. This committee of conference was co~~posed of Col. Edward Cook and the Hon. Albert Gallatin, f E follorvs : both of Fapette County, respectively as chainnan and For Fayette County: Albert Gallatin, Edward Cook, secretary. It soon became apparent that a reaction ~ndJames Lang. had commenced, and that the tide of opinion had, For Westmoreland County : John I

TIIE WHISKE'Y 1NSI;ERECTION. of time gave great offense to Bradford and other ex- Washington County, to p~nishSamuel Jackson as an tremists. The change of time was made in deference :nemy to what they called their cause." to one of the conditions imposed by the commissioners, The business of the meeting mas opened by the riz.: " It is expected and required by the said com- jubmission of the conference committee's report and lnissioners that the citizens composing the said stand- t speech upon it by Mr. Gallatin, who urged the ing committee do, on or before tf~ejrstdajy qf September tdoption of a resolution in acceptance of the terms next, explicitly declare their determin:ttion to submit ~fferedby the commissioners, and set forth the dan- to the laws of the United States, and that they will :er of using force in resistance to the law, the im- not, directly or indirectly, oppose the eseci~tionof the 3ossibility of these western counties contending suc- acts for raising a revenue on distilled spirits and :essfully against the force of the United States, and stills.?' ;he erident necessity of submission. " Nr. Gallatin, Accordingly, on the 28th of Augnst, the standing ilthough a foreigner who could with cliaiculty make committee (the committee of sixty) met at Bran-ns- himself understood in English, yet presented with vi1le;to receive and act upon the report of tlie com- ;reat force the folly of past resistance, and the ruin- mittee of conference. Oi' the sixty niembers of the )us consequences to the country of the continuance committee, fifty-seven were in attendance, of whom 3f the insurrection. He urged that the government tnenty-three were from \Vashington County. Judge was bound to vindicate tlie laws, and that it would Alexander ,4cldison said' "that the minds of all men surely send an overwl~elmingforce against them. He appeared to be strongly impressed \\.it11 a sense of the placed the subject in a new light, and showed the critical situation of the country, and tile minds of al- insurrection to be a n~uclimore serious a$&r than it most all with a fear of opposing the current of the had before appeared.""Mr. Braclienridge followed popular opinion," and that '' these impressions mere Gallatin in an argument to the san~eend, though greatly increnscd by the appcarnnce of a body of urged in a different manner. Then Col. Bradford armed mcn assenibled there lkom Muddy Creek, in delivered a speech in opposition to the various arguments of Gallatin and Brackenridge, alluding to the revolutions in Amerjca and in France as models for of the constitution:~l powr of the Prrsidel~tto call upon the force of the Ellion tv sul~l~resstlle~~. It is: onr ul,ject, :us it is yoi~rs,tu mupose imitation, and as inducements to hope for the success the diatn:l~nnct*. . . . We 11:1ve :~lrwdyst;tted t*:you in cor~fere~~cetht of these countics against tlie government, wliich lie wc are empuxtmxl to give yon no ~lcfi~~ite:rns\ver xith rvgard to the said was rendered reasonably certain on account of sruse of the people on tl~cgrrat qncsti\m of :lcceding to the I:t\v, Lut tllxt in our opi~k~nit is t!lc inttw-;tof the cuo~~trytu ;tccedr, :u~dtlmt their peculiar situatio:~,as separated from the eastern we s11:111 nl:ike this rep )rt to the con~u~itteeto whom \vc :Ire to report, country by alinost insurmountable natural barriers. :II~sti~tc to tl~e~ntile rraeons of our oj~iniolr,tl~tt so fsr as tl~eyhi\-e His whole speech was manifestly intended to keep up aeigl~ttl~rg UI:I~ 11e reg:irdcd by tl~en~.It will IT our ende;i\'or to cun- the opposition to go\-ernunent, and to prevent the rilii~tel~ot 01115 rl~cnl,Lnt the pnLlic ~nin:lin general to our views on tl~issuljcct. We I1o11c to be ;~suistcdIry yon IU giving all thtextent adoption of the resolutions propos~clby Mr. Gallatin. ilud preci~iun,~li~:~rncs~ :m1 ccrt:~inty to yunr l~ro;wsitiousthat nny Le The leaders, with the esception of Bradford and a nece.%uy to satisfy !he 1111derst;111i1s:ind eug:Lge tl~r;~cquiescence of few others of less prominence, !lad fully made up their the pe~l~lt~.. . . As we :re di.jln)sc,l, wit11 SOII, to have the sense of the pcople tdic~~on the sulJrct of our~confcrc~~ccas speeilily ns nuy be, mincls to abandon the wreck of the insurrection, but with that view \vr Iwve resdvcd to c;dl the cumn~ittreto \vlmn onr rc- the followers had apparently at that time little tl~ought ~wtis to Ilc ~~l:ule:it :111 r:rrliar d:ty than IdI#een :qq~ointed, tu wit, on of submission, and were as violent and determined an Tl~u~s~l;iy,the 2x111 iusii~ut,but Ili~venot tl1011g11tu~~rselves i111t110rizrd in ~lkilugi~~gthe lhce :tt Redhto~tet.11~1 Fort, UII the >Iuuongnllels. "By urder uf the Con~u~ittee, 2 S:~xnuel.1:1cliSo11 WRS a Qi1:1lx~t,f grc,:~tr~slwrt:~l~ility, a man of some "Euw.\nu COOK,ClmC~i~a?a." ~\-e~~ltl~,:ind in p:wt OWIIIT (~fz ~~:~per-rniIl on ltc~~lstc~~~t~ Creek. 11e XIS -Pt,pers 12elc1li;ly to the Whiriskey I~tsurrecliun; Peiziwylcu~riaArclcives, 'Ld conscic~itiouslyopllused to tile use and ~n:i~~~~t;~cturt.or wl~iskey, and SVI-~VS,vol. iv. pl~. 191. 190, nntnr:~llgsided :t,rriinst tl~~.iu~nrg~!~ts.TI~'scitn~ed tl~(.u~ to regnrd 11in1 Less concili:~torybnt nmc curious was the reply of the Ollio County as n for, :~ndIll? cnnlit~\Y:is ic~c.ca-eil 1~ya rrn~:~r.kvl~icl~ Ile I~ndn~nde (V:!.) com~l~itteeto the Utrited St:~ti.scon~n~isioners, viz.: concerning the 1ner.ting :kt I'i~rl~i~tsc~n'sFerry, calling it :r "scrrtb con- "P~~~zsvacn,Ang. 03.1704. gres.s.(' It WIS fur this U~~'CIISCtl1:tt tho Jlucltly C~wlinwn ncnv visited "CESTL.-Ilaving Conci

170 'HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. -- -- ~ppositionas ever, and so strong an influence did tliis up011 the terms proposed by the Con'osln~issionersoj' the exert, even on the leaders \vlio knew that tlie cause L51 ited States ;"' was hopelesi, that they dared not opelily and fully The persons appointed to form the committee under avow tlieir sentin~entsancl place tliemse!ves on record. these resolutions mere John Probst, Robert Dickey, " Such was the Sear of the popular frenzy tliat it was Jolin Nesbitt, Herman Husband, John Corbly, John with difficulty that a rote could be lid at tliis nieet- 31:~rslial,David Phillips, John Heaton, John McClel- ing. No one would vote by standing np. Sone land, 1Villi:lm Ewing, George Wallace, Samuel Wil- would write a yea or nay, lest his liand\vriting should son, :II~Ricliard Brown. be recognized. At last it was deter~ninedtliat yea The meeting continued in session at Brownsville and nay slioulcl be written by the secretary on the for two days, ancl adjourned on the 2'3th of August. saine pieces of paper, and be distributed, lea~ingeach It was the last meeting of the kind held during tlie member to chew up or destroy one of the words wliile insnrrection, and virtually marked its close, as the he put tlie other ill the bos," thus giving each Inem- meeting lielcl at the same place three years before ber an opportuuity of concealing his opinioa, and of (July 27, 1791) had marked its opening, that being sheltering himself from the rescntlnent of those ftom the first public meeting held in opposition to the ex- whom violence was to be apprel~endetl,or wliom he cise law. Thus it may be said that tlie famous insur- wished to avoid ofencling. In this way a balloting rection was born and died at Redstone Old Fort, in was had, and in the adoption of the resolutions by a Fapette County. vote of thirty-four to twenty-fire. 1Vlien this vote was declnred, so strongly in opposition to l~isviews, Thc coininittee appointed at the Broivnsrille meet- Col. Bradford \vicl:drew from the lrieeting in anger ing inet tlie commissioners of the United States and and disgust. thos of Pennsylvania in conference at Pittsburgh It mas by tlie meeting "Resolred, That in the on the 1st of September, at which meeting "it was opinion of tliis Committee it is the interest of the greed that the assurances required from the citizens people of this Country to accede to the proposals of the Fourth Survey of Pennsylvania [tlie four west- made by the Commissioners on the part ofthe United ern counties] should be given in \vriting, and their States. Resolved, that a Copy of the foregoing reso- seme ascertained in the following nimner : lution be transmitted to the said Commissioners." " Thxt tlie citizens of the said survey (Allegheny But instead of giving the assurances required by County exceptedg)of the age of eightecn years and the comn~issioners,tlie Committee of Sixty she\\-cd a upwards, be required to assemble on Thursday, tlie disposition to temporize, and in the hope of obtaining 11th instant, in their respective to\vnsllips, at the better terxhs they further " Resol\-ed, That a Com- usual place for holding township meetings, and that mittee be appointed ' to confer with the Commission- bctween the hours of twelve and seven, in the after- ers on the part of tlie United States and of tlie State noon of thc same day, any t~voor Inorc of the nmn- of Pennsylvania, with instructions to the said Corn- bers of the meeting who assembled at Parkinson's mittee to try to obtain from tlie said Cominissioners Ferry on the 14th ultimo, resident in tile to~vnsliip, such further modification in their proposals as they or a justice of the peace of said townsliip, do openly think will render them more agree:hle to the people propose to the people assembled tlie following ques- at large, and also to represent tlie necessity of grant- tions: Do you now engage to submit to the Ian-s of ing further time to the people behe tlieir Bnal deter- the United States, and tliat you will not hereafter, mination is required . . . That the said Committee directly or indirectly, oppose the execution of the shall publish and communicate throughout the sev- acts for raising tlie revenue upon distilled spirits and eral counties the day at wliich the sense of the people stills? And do you also undertake to support, as far is expected to be taken. That on the clay thus pub- as the laws require, tlie civil authority in afiirding lished the following question be submitted to tllc citi- tlie protection due to all officers and other citizens? zens duly qualified to vote, according to the eltctioii Yen or my? . . . That a minute of the number of law of tlie State, of the Counties of Westmoreland, yens and naps be made immediately after ascertaining Washingtoc, Payette, Allegheny, and that part of tlie same. That a written or printed dechration of Bedford which lies west of the Akll~gllcnymonntains, such engagement be signed by all those who vote in in Pennsylvania, and of Ohio County, Virginia,-- tlie affirmative, of the following tenor, to wit: 'I do Will the people submit fo the laws of the United States soleini~lypromise henceforth to submit to the laws of I the United States; tliat I will not, directly or indi- 1 The following letter from the cliairmnnof the mectingwas addressed rectly, OppOSe the 'esecution of the acts for raising a to the United States committee: 1 revenue on distilled spirits and stills; and that I dill " BRO~VSSVILLE,29th AII~IS~,1704. c'G~x~~.~~~~s,-Diffi~~ltie~having arisen wit11 us, ve have tllonglit it support, so far as the law requires, the civil authority necessary to appoint acon~n~itteeto confer wit11 yon in order to procure. in afording the protection due to all officersand other if possible, some farther time, in order tlist the people may haye leisure ----- to reflect upon tl~eittnle situntion. 2 Tllc citizens of Alle,~l~cnyCounty were rcqnircd to "me

THE WEISREP INSUXRECTION.

citizens.' This shall be signed in the presence of the " Uz~oxrows,Srpteluber 16,1794. said members or justices of the peace, attested by him "We, thc subscribers, having, according to reaolu- or them, and lodged in his or their hands. tions of the committee of to'wnsllips for the county of " TIint the said persons so proposing tlie questions Fayette, acted as judges on the 11th instant at the stated as aforesaid do assemble at the respectire meetings of the people of said county, respecti\dy county court-houses on the 13th inst., and do ascer- convened at the places in the first, second, and third tain and make report of the numbers of' those who clection districts n:11ere the general elections are voted in the aErmatire in the respective townships usu:dly held (no judge or member of the com~nittee or clistricts, and of the number of those who voted in attending from the fbnrth and last district, 1~11icli the negative, together with their opinio:~ whether consists of the townships of Tyrone and Bullskin), there be such a general submission of the peoplc in do hereby certify tlint five hundred and sisty of the their respective counties that an office of inspection people thus convened on the day aforesaid did then may be immediately and safely establislied therein ; and there declare their determination to submit to tlle that the said report, opinion, and witten or printed laws of the United States i11 the manner expressed by declarations be transmitted to the co~nmissionersor the commissioners on the part of the Uni~nin their any one of them at Uniontown on or before the 16th letter dated the 2" day of August last ; tlie total inst:~nt." number of those who attended on that. occasion being- On the part of the United States, tlie comnlissioners only seven !iui:drecI and twenty-one,-that is to say, agreed that if the assurances should be given in god something less than one-third of the number of citi- faith, as prescribed, no prosecution for treason or any zens of the said three districts. And :ve do further other indictable offense against the United States com- certify that from our pre~iousknowledge of the mitted in this surrey before the Pld of August, 1'79-1, disposition of the geneml body of the people, and should be commenced before the 10th cf July, 1795, from the anxiety since discovered by many (who against any person who sliould, within the time lim- either from not liaving had notice, or from not hxv- ited, subscribe such assurance and engagement, and ing understood the importance of the question, did perform the same, ancl tlist on the 10th of July, 1795, not attend) to give siniilar assurances of submis- there sl~oulclbe granted "a general pardori and ob- sion, we are of opi~iionthat the great majority of livion of all the said offenses ;" but excluding there- those citizens who did not attend are disposed to be- from el-ery person refusing or neglecting to subscribe ha\ e peaceably and with due submission to tile law. the assurances and engagement, or who liaving so sub- " ALBERTGALLATIX. JOHNJACKSOS. scribed, should violate the same, or wilfully obstruct " ~VILLIAM ROBERTS.AXDREW RABB. the execution of the excise lams. On belinlf of tlie "JAMESWHITE. THOJIAS PATTCRSOS. State of Pennsylvania, the com~nissioners,JIcIiean " GEORGEDIEUTH [DEARTH 11." and Irrine, promised that if the proposed assurances But notwithstanding the favorable report of the should be given and pcrformed until July 10, 1795, judges of election, it appears that the United States there should then be granted (so far 3s the State was commissioners regarded the proceedings in Fayette concerned) "an act of free and general pardon and County as being peculiarly unsatisfactory. In their oblivion of all treasons, insurrections, arsons, riots, and report to the President' they said, "The county of other offenses inferior to riots committed, counseled, Fayette rejected the mode of ascertaining the sense or suff'ered by any person or persons within the four of the people which had been settled between the western counties of Pennsylvania" subsequent to the undersigned and the last committee of conference at 14th of July, 1794, but excluding from its operation Pittsburgh (September 1st). The standing committee every person refusing or neglecting to subscribe to of that county directed those qual$ed by the Zaws qf such agreement, or riolating it after subscribing. Ilw State3 for votiq af elections to assemble in their The Pennsylvania commissioners left Pittsburgh on election districts' and vote by ballot whether they the 3d of September, and Messrs. Yeatcs and Brad- would accede to the proposals made by the commis- ford, United States comrniasioners, proceeded east sioners of the United States on the 22d of August soon afterwards. Both bodies mere requested by the or not. The superintendents of these election districts Governor ancl the President respectively to remain report that five hundred and sixty of the people thus until after the announcement of the result of the convened had ~otedfor submission, and that one hun- popular vote;' but for some reason they did not dred ancl sixty-one had voted against it; that no judge comply, and only James Ross remained to carry the signatures to Philadelphia. 2 Papers Xel;~tingto tl~cWhiskey Insurrection; PR.Archives, Series On the day appointed, September Ilth, elections 2, vol. iv. 111'. 267, 255. 8 The agreemcr~tttf the committoe with the commis~ionerswas, not were held in (nearly) all the townships or election tllet r/ttnl@ed coten* th.. Imo of Pesr~agtca~~iaalone should Tote OII tile districts of the four counties. The result in Fayette proposition, but thtthe qlle%tiollshould be submitted to"tlre cilketu of rras announced as follows : !he aoid swceg n.f the rrge of eighteen years and ~ipioards." 4 It \\.as ill hll~.glleuyCounty rtlo~lethat the agreement with the cnm- missior~crscontemp1;rtcil rotit~gbg election did?-icls. Iu Rrj-ette, Wwh- 1 See Pa. Archi\ es, 2d Series, vol. ir. pp. BGO,?Gl. ington, nl~d\Vcstmorelaud Ihey were required to vote by tmmlriys.

IIISTORP OF FAPETTE COUNTY, PENXSTLVBNIA. - 3r member of their committee had attended from the . to be to submit, and a great many are now signing the Fourth District of tlie county to report the state of the proposals of the commissioners, not only in the votes there, and that they are of opinion that a great neighboring counties, but even in this, where we had majority of the citizens who did not attend are dis- not thought it necessary. We have therefore thought posed to live peaceably and with due submission to the moment was come for the people to act with more the laws. But it is proper to mention that credible ! vigor, and to shorn something more than mere passive nnd certain information has been-received that in the ' obedience to the lams. and we have in consequence Fourth District of that county (composed of the town- ( (by the resolutions of this day herein inclosed, and ships of Tyrone and Bullskin), of which the standing which, we hope, will be attended with salutary effects) committee have given no account, six-sevenths of recommended aisociations for the purpose of preserv- those whovoted were for resistance. . . . The written ' ing order, and of supporting the civil authority, as assurances of submission which haw been received ' whatever heat esisted in this county was chiefly by the commissioners are not numerous, nor were they owing to what had passed in the neighboring coun- given by all those who espressed a willingness to obcy I ties." tlie laws. In Fayette County, a different plan being ! The resolutions referred to in the letter were those p~~rsued,no wriften asszuames .weregiceiz in the manner , passed at a meeting of the township committees of required." Fayette County, held on the 17th of September, at I11 regard to the non-compliance \?it11 the methods Uniontotvn, and of which Edward Cook was chair- prescribed by the commissioners, the failure in Fay- ' man. As stated by JIr. Gallatin, they recommended ette County to signifl the subtnission of the people township associations in this and adjoining counties by individual subscription to the terms, and the very to promote submission to the law, and in their pre- . light vote cast here, Mr. Gallatin, in a letter'to Gov- amble recited that "It is necessary to shew our fel- ernor Mifflin,' dated Unionto\vn, September lith, wid, I low-citizens throughout the United States that the "It was un effort too great, perhaps, to be expected , character of the inhabitants of the western country from human nature that a people should at once pass is not such xs may hare been represented to them, from an arowed intention of resisting to the signing but that on the contrary they are disposed to live in a test of absolute submission, and to n promise of : n peaceable manner, and can preserve good order giving active support to the laws. The change would 1 among themselves without the assistauceof a military bc operated only by degrees; and after having con- / force.'' Evidently the opponents of the law had at vinced the understanding of the more enlightened, it j last begun t,o realize that successful resistance to the x-as not so easy a task to persuade those whose preju- government TJ-asllopeless, and that voluntary submis- dices were more deeply rooted and means of informa- ; sion was better than that enforced by infantry, cac- tion less'estensive. The great body of the people, / dry, and artillery. But the knowledge came too late which consists of moderate men, were also for a time, / to prevent the esercise, or at least the menace, of the from a want of knowledge of their own strength, afkaid , military power. Upon a full knowledge of the result to discover their sentiments, and were in fact kept in of the meetings held on the 11th of September in the awe by a few :-iolent men. This was one of the prin- 1 townships and election districts of the disaffected cipal reasons 11-hich prevented SO many from attend- counties, the United States comn~issionersreported to ing tlie general nleeting on the day on which the sense the President', narrating the events connected with 01 the people aas taken, to \vhich may be added, in 1 their mission, and coneluded by saying that although this county, the unconcern of a great number of mod- i they firmly believed that a considerable majority of ente men, who, hnving follo\ved peaceably their oc- the inhabitants of the four counties were disposed to cupations during the whole time of the disturbances, i submit to the esecntion of the laws, "at tlie same time did not think themselves interested in the event, and they [the commissioners] conceive it their duty ex- \Yere not sufficiently aware of the importance of the i plicitly to declare their opinion that such is the state

qu-tion to the ~vholecounty. Although, l~omever,, of things in that survey that there is no probability all the aarmest persons attended, me had a \-ery that the act for raising a revenue on clistilled spirits large and decided majority amongst the voters, and a , and stills can at present be enforced by the usual great many of those who liacl come with an intention coime of civil authority, and that some more compe- of testifying their intention to resist, were convinced I tent force is necessary to cause the laws to be duly by the arguments made use of, though their pride ) esecuted, and to insure to the officers and well-dis- would not suffer them to make a public retraction on ' posed citizens that protection which it is the duty of the moment, and they went off without giving any go~ernmentto afi'orcl. This opinion is founded on the vote. ficts already stated [the accounts of the unsatisfactory " A Yery faror:lble and decisive change has taken result of the to~nshipand district meetings], and it place since, and has indeed been the result of the I is confirmed by that which is entertained by many event of that day. The general disposition nou intelligent and influential persons, officers of justice -. .-. ------.- -- - -' -.seems . .- - i and others, resident in the western counties, who have 1 ~rnnsj~vauia;\rcLi\.es, iv. 316. I lately informed one of the commissioners that what-

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTIOX. 173 -- ever assurances might be given, it was in their judg- The forces called out for the exigency amounted to ment absolutely necessary that the civil authority .bout fifteen thousand men, in four &visions, one should be aided by a military force in order to secure lirision from each of the States of Virginia, Maryland, a due execution of the laws." 'ennsylvania, and h'ew Jersey, as before mentioned. The commissioners' report caused the President Che Virginia and Maryland troops ',commanded to decide, unhesitatingly, to use the military power, espectively by Gen. Daniel Morgan, of the former and to extinguish the last vestige of insurrection at state, and Brig.-Gen. Samuel Smith, of Baltimore) whatever cost. In taking this course he had (as he 'ormed the left wing, which rendezvoused at Cumber- afterwards said to a committee from these counties) and, Md. The right wing (mhich mas rendezvoused two great objects in vigw : first, to sho~,not only to the ~t Carlisle, Pa.) nas composecl of the Pennsylvania inhabitants of the western country, but to the entire ,roops, commanded by Governor Mifflin, and those of Union and to foreign nations, that a republican gov- Yew Jersey, under Governor Richard Howell, of that ernment coilld and would exert its physical power to state. The commander-in-chief of the whole army enforce the execution of the laws where opposed, and xas Gen. Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia, the also that American citizens were ready to make every 'Light-Horse Harry" of Revolutionary fame, and sacrifice and encounter every difficulty and danger for hthcr of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the Confederate com- the sake of supporting that fundamental principle of nander in the war of 1861-65. government; and, second, to effect a fall and com- In his instructions from the President, the complete restoration of order and submission to the laws nnnder-in-chief was directed to " proceed as speedily in the insurrectionary district. In pursuance of this ts may be with the army under your command into determination the forces were promptly put in motion, ;he insurgent counties, to attack and as far as shall be and on the 25th of September the President issued a In your pon7er to subdue all persons whom you may proclamation, which, after n preamble, setting forth End in arms in opposition to the lam. You will that the measures taken by government to suppress march your army in two columns from the places the lawless combinations in the western counties had mhere they are now assembled, by the most convenient failed to have full effect ; that "the moment is now routes, having regard to the nature of the roads, the come mhere the overtures of forgiveness, with no convenience of supply, and the facility of co-opera- other condition than a submission to law, have been tion and union, and bearing in mind that you ought only partially accepted ; when every form of concilia- to act, until the contrary shall be fully developed, on tion not inconsistent with the well-being of govern- the general principle of having to contend with the ment has been adopted without effect," proceeds,- whole force of the counties of Fayette, Westmoreland, " Now, therefore, I, George Washington, President Washington, and Allegheny, and of that part of Bed- of the United States, in obedience to that high and ford which lies westward of the ton-n of Bedford, and irresistible duty consigned to me by the Constitution, that you are to put as little as possible to hazard. 'to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,' de- The approximation, therefore, of your columns is to ploring that the American name should be sullied by be sought, and the subdivision of them so as to place the outrages of citizens on their own government, the parts out of mutual supporting distance to be commiserating such as remain obstinate from delu- avoided as far as local circumstances will permit. sion, but resolved, in perfect reliance on that gracious Parkinson's Ferry appears to be a proper point Providence which so signally displays its goodness towards which to direct the march of the columns for towards this country, to reduce the refractory to a the purpose of ulterior measures. due subordination to the law : Do hereby declare and " When arrived within the insurgent country, if an make known that, with a satisfaction mhich can be armed opposition appear, it may be proper to publish equaled only by the merits of the militia summoned a proclamation inviting all good citizens, friends to into service from the States of New Jersey, Pennsyl- the constitution and Ia~s,to join the standard of the vania, Maryland, and Virginia, I have received in- United States. If no armed opposition exist it may telligence of their patriotic alacrity in obeying the still be proper to publish a proclamation exhorting to call of the present though painful yet commanding a peaceful and dutiful demeanor, and giving assu- necessity; that a force mhich, according to every rea- rances of performing with good faith and liberality sonable expectation, is adequate to the exigency is whatsoever may have been promised by the commis- already in motion to the scene of disaffection; that sioners to those who ha~ecomplied with the condi- those who have confided or shall confide in the pro- tions prescribed by them, and vho have not forfeited tection of government shall meet full succor under their title by subsequent misdemeanor. Of those the standard and from the arms of the United States; persons in arms, if any, whom you may make prisoners, that those who, having offended against the laws, leaders, including all persons in command, are to be hare since entitled themselves to indemnity, will be delivered to the civil magistrates, the rest to be dis- treated with the most liberal good faith, if they shall armed, admonished, and sent home (except such as not have forfeited their claim by any subsequent con- may have been particularly violent and also influen- duct, and that instructions are given accordingly, :. ." tial), causing their o\vn recognizances for their good 12

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

b~haviourto be taken in the cases which it may be In the mean time, after the departure of the Ron. deemed expedient. . . . When the insurrection is James Ross, United States commissioner, from Pitts- subdued, and the requisite means have been put in burgh and Uniontomn, carrying vith him to Phila- execution to secure obedience to the laws, so as to delphia the reports of the elections of the 11th of render it proper for the army to retire (an event which September, the people of the four counties began to you will accelerate as much as shall be consistentwith realize that the results of those elections might very the object), you will endeal-or to make an arrangement probably be regarded as unsatisfactory by the govern- for attaching such a force as you may deem adequate, ment, and that very unpleasant consequences might to be stationed within the disaffected counties in such ensue by the ordering of the military forces into this a manner as best to afford protection to well-disposed region. Upon this a general feeling of alarm became citizens and the officers of the revenue, and to sup- apparent, and spread rapidly. A meeting of the Com- press, by their presence, the spirit of riot and opposi- mittee of Sixty (otherwise termed the Committee of tion to the laws. But before you withdraw the army Safety) was called and held at Parkinson's Ferry on the vou shall promise, on behalf of the President, a gen- 2d of October, Judge Alexander Addison being their eral pardon to all such as shall not have been arrested, secretary. At this meeting William Findley, of West- with such exceptions as you shall deem proper. . . . moreland, and David Redick, of Washington County, You are to esert yourself by all possible means to mere appointed a committee to wait on the President of preserl-e discipline among the troops, particularly a the United States aud to assure him that submission scrupulous regard to the rights of persons and prop- and order could be restored without the aid of military erty, and a respect for the authority of the civil mag- force. They found the President on the 10th of Oc- istrates, taking especial care to inculcate and cause tober at Carlisle, where he had come to review the to be observed this principle,-that the duties of the troops of the right wing of the army, as before men- army are confined to attacking and subduing of armed tioned. They fhere had several interview with him, opponents of the laws, and to the supporting and aid- in which they informed him of the great change that ing of the civil officers in the execution of their func- had taken place ; "that the great body of the people tions. who had no concern in the disorders but remained " It has been settled that the Governor of Pennsyl- quietly at home and attended to their business had vania will be second, and the Governor of New Jersey become convinced that the violence used would ruin third in command, and that the troops of the several the country; that they had formed themselves into States in line on the march and upon detachment are associations to suppress disorder, and to promote sub- to be posted according to the rule mhich prevailed in mission to the laws." In reply to this, the President the army during the late war, namely, in moving said that as the army mas already on its way to the towards the seaboard the most southern troops will western counties, the orders could not be counter- take the right, in moving towards the north the most manded, yet he assured the delegates that no vio- northern troops will take the right. . . ." lence would be used, and that a11 that was desired In addi~iocto his military duties as commanding was to hare the inhabitants of the disaffected region officer of the espeditionary forces, Gen. Lee was also come back to their alle,'Vlance. charged to give countenance and support to the civil This reply was final and ended the mission of the oEcers in the execution of the law, in bringing committee. They returned and made their report at offenders to justice, and enforcing penalties on de- another meeting of the Committee of Safety, which linquent distillers, and "the better to effect these was held at Parkinson's on the 84th of October, and purposes" the judge of the Cnited States District of which Judge James Edgar was chairman. Bt this Court, Richard Peters, Esq., and the attorney of the "meeting of the committees of townships of the four district, William Rawle, Esq., accompanying the western counties of Pennsylvania and of sundry other 'army . citizens7' it mas resolved, " First,--That in our opinion President Washington, with Gen. Henry Knox, Sec- the civil authority is now fully competent to enforce retary of War, and Gen. Alexander Hamilton, Secre- the laws and punish both past and future offenses, in- tary of the Treasurj-, left Philadelphia on the 1st of asmuch as the people at large are determined to sup- October, and proceeded by may of Harrisburg to the port every description of civil officers in the legal dis- headquarters of the right wing of the army at Car- charge of their duty. lisle. From that place, on the 11th he went to Cham- "Second,-That in our opinion all persons who bersburg, and thence by may of Williamsport to Fort may be charged or suspected of having committed any Cumberland, where he arrived on the 14t11, and where offense against the United States or the State during he reviewed the Maryland and Virginia troops, corn- the late disturbances, and who have not entitled posing the left wing; after which lie proceeded to themselves to the benefits of the act of oblivion, ought Bedford, Pa. (mhich was then Gen. Lee's headquar- immediately to surrender themselves to the civil au- ters), reaching it on the 19th, and remaining there thority, in order to stand their trial; that if there two or three days, then returning east, and arriving be any such persons among us they are ready to at Philadelphia on the 28th. surtender thenlselves to the civil authority accord-

THE KHISIiEP ISSUREECTIOX. 1 i5 ingly, and that we will unite in giving our assistance own, at 1~1iichplace Gen. Lee arrived on the last to bring to justice such offenders as shall not sur- iay of October, and the main body of the left ming render. :ame up and encamped there the same evening. " Third,-That in our opinion offices of inspection The committee-men, Findley, Redick, Douglass, nlay be immedi-ately opened in the respective coun- tnd Morton, who, as before mentioned, had been met; ties of this survey, without any danger of violence tt Greensburg mith the intelligence of the departure being oGred to any of the officers, and that the dis- )f the President from Bedford, which decided them tillers are ~villingand ready to enter their stills. :o wait the arrival of the army, went to the head- " Fourth,-That William Findley, David Redick, luarters of the right wing at Bennett's farm on the Ephrainl Douglass, and Thomas Morton do wait on 30th of October, and presented the resolutions of as- the President with the foregoing resolutions." surance to Secretary Hamilton, who accompanied the The four committee-men appointed by the meeting livision of Go\-ernor hlifflin. The secretary examined to carry the renewed assurances to the President met ;hem and returned them to the committee, mith there- at Greensburg p~eparatoryto setting out on their nark.that, " for the sake of decorum, it would be best to mission, but at that place they received intelligence present them to the commander-in-chief." This was that the President had already left Bedford for Phila- what the committee had intended to do, and learning delphia, and that the army was moving towards the that Gen. Lee was then at or near Uniontown they Jlouongahela, and thereupon they decided to await immediately left for that place, and arriving there on the arrival of the forces, and to report the actio:~of the 31st of October, laid the business of their mission the meeting to the commander-in.chief, as the Presi- before him, he having full power to act in the name dent's representative. 3f the President. Secretary Hamilton also came over from the right wing, and arrived at Uniontown on There was no delay in the movement of the army. the same evening. The New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops, composing Gen. Lee received the committee with great polite- the right ming, marched from Carlisle on the 22d of ness,' and requested them to call on him on the follow- October, and proceeded by way of Bedford, across that ing morning. At the appointed time he gave them county and Somerset, and aloug the road skirting the his reply, which they embodied in their report, dated northeastern part of Fayette, to what is now Mount Uniontown, Nor. 1, 1'i94.3 It was as follows : Pleasant, in Westmoreland, at which place the ad- "GEXTLEMEN,-T~~resolutions entered into at vance brigade arrived and encamped on the 29th. The the late meeting of the people at Parkinson's Ferry, centre corps (of this wing) encamped on the farm of with the various papers declaratory of the determina- Col. Bonnett, in Westmoreland, near the line of tion of the numerous subscribers to maintain the Fayette County, and the rear went into camp at Lo- civil authority, manifest strongly a change of senti- bengier's Mills on the 30th. At these places they re- ment in the inhabitants of this district. To what mained encamped about one meek. Following is an cause may truly be ascribed this favorable turn in extract from a letter1 written from the rear brigade, the public mind it is of my province to determine. dated Jones' Mill (in Westmoreland, near the north- Yourselves, in the conversation last evening, imputed east line of Fayette County), Oct. 29, 1784: " I am it to the universal panic which the approach of the distressed at the ridiculous accounts scmetimes pub- army of the United States had excited in the lower lished in our papers. I assure you that there has not orders of the people. If this be the ground of the been a single shot fired at our troops to my Hnowl- late change,-and my respect for your opinions will edge. The whole country trembles. The most tur- not permit me to doubt it,-the moment the cause is bulent characters, as we advance, turn out to assist us: removed the reign of violenceand anarchy will return. supply forage, cattle, etc. From Washington we hear "Whatever, therefore, may be the sentiments of of little but fear and flight; a contrary account as to the people respecting the present competency of the one neighborhood (Pidgeon Creek) has been sent civil authority to enforce the laws, I feel myself ob- down, but no appearance of an armed opposition, and ligated by the trust reposed in me by the President this the only part of the country where the friends ol of the United States to hold the army in this country government are not triumphant. Our army is healthy until daily practice shall convinse all that t.he sover- and happy; the men exhibit unexpected fortitude in eignty of the Constitution and laws is unalterably es- supporting the continued fatigues of bad roads and tablished. In executing this resolution I do not only bad weather." The left wing of the army moved from Fort Cum. The committee, however, were not very well pleased with their re- berland on the 22d of October, and took the rout( ceptlon by Gerr. Lee. One of their uuniber, 3Ir. Findley, said (in 111s 'I Histoly of the Iusurrection," p. 190), " Inde~d,thoughwe uwre treated marched orer by Gen. Braddock thirty-nine years be. politely iu other respects and employed to assist in the fixing of neces- fore, to the Great .tleadows, and from there to Union- saries for the army, and consulted about the gmund on which it should encamp whenit advanced fal-zher into the country, yet we did not meet with that candour and frankness with which we had been treated by the IPapemRebting to the Whiskey Insurrection; Pennsylvnnia .4rchhc.a President at Carlisle." 2d Series, vol. iv. p. 433. 3 Pa. Archi~es,!2d Series, vol. iv. p. 437.

176 HISXORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

consult the dignity and interest of the United States, sill advance in two columns, composed of tho respective wings. mhich will always command my decided respect and l'he right column will take the route by Lodge's to Budd's preferential attention, but I also promote the good Ferry, under the cotun~nndof his Excellency Governor Mifflin, who will please to take the most convenient situation in the of this particular district. vicinity of that place for the accom~nodationof tKe troops and "I shall, therefore, as soon as the troops are re- wait further orders. The left column will proeccd on the route freshed, proceed to some central and convenient to Peterson's, on the east side of P.~rliinson's Ferry, under the station, where I shall patiently wait until t,he com- ~rdersof major-General 1lorg.m; they will march by the left petency of the civil authority is experimentally and In the following manner : Light corps, cavalry, artillery, Vir- unequivocally proved. No individual can be more ;inis brigade, Maryland brigade, the baggnge to follow each solicitous than I am for this happy event, and you :orps, and the public stores of every kind in the rear of the may assure the good people whom you represent that \'irgiuic brigade. On the first day the light corps and artillery every aid will Be cheerfully contributed by me to will march to Washington Bottom, fourteen miles; the Vir- ginia brigade to Peterson's farm, twelve miles; the cavalry hasten the delightful epoch. under Major Lewis will move with the commander-in-chief; "On the part of all good citizens I confidently the bullocks to prccedc the army at daylight. On the second expect the most active and faithful co-operation, iay the column will proceed to the camp directed to be marked which in my judgment cannot be more effectually ~utbetween Parkinson's and Budd's Ferries. given than by circulating in the most public manner "Should Brigadier-General Smith find the second day's the truth anlong the people, and by inducing the rna.rch rather too much, he mill be pie-ased to divide the same various clubs which hare so successfully poisoned the into two days. The quartermaster-general will immediately minds of the inhabitants to continue their usual meet- take measures for the full supply of forage and straw at the lifferent stages. The eom~uibsargmill place the necessary ings for the pious purpose of contradicting, with their supply of provisions at particular intermcdixtc stages where customary formalities, their past pernicious doctrines. issues nil1 be necessary; guards over the straw as soon as the A conduct so candid should partially atone for the ran rcnehcs the ground, and to scc the same fairly divided injuries which in a geat degree may be attributed to amongst the troops. [Here fo1lon.s the nssignment of straw to their instrumentality, and must have a propitious each brigade, to the cavalry 2nd artillery, and directions for influence in administering a radical cure to the esist- making out the pay-rolls for one month's pay from the coming disorders. mencement of service.] The inspector and muster-master-gen- wale of the respective linc will also make pay-rolls for the " On my part, and on the part of the patriotic army geneml staff, to be countersigned by the comrnnudcr-in-chief I have the honor to command, assure your fellow-cit- previous to payment. IIEJRYLEE." izens that we come to protect and not to destroy, and " By the Cornulaudcr-in-Chicf. that our respect for our common government, and *' G. H. TAYLOR,Aide-tle- Camp." respect to our own honor, are ample pledges for the pro- priety of our demeanor. Quiet, therefore, the appre- Under these orders the left wing marched from hensions of all on this score, and recommend univer- Uniontown, and the right wing from its camps at sally to the people to prepare for the use of the army Xount Pleasant, Bonnett's, and Lobengier's, at the whatever they can spare from their farms necessary appointed time, ancl moving to the vicinity of the to its subsistence, for mhich they shall be paid in cash MonongahelaandYoughioglieny Rivers, inwestmore- at the present market price; discourage exaction of land County, went into cnmp at the place designated, every sort, not only because it mould testify a dispo- between Parkinson's and Budd's ferries. From his sition very unfriendly, but because it mould probaily headquarters, " near Parkinson's Ferry," on the 8th of produce very disagreeable scenes. It is my duty to h'orember. the commander-in-chief issued an address take care that the troops are comfortably subsisted, or proclamation to the inhabitants of certain connties and I cannot but obey it with the highest pleasure, lying west of the Laurel Hill, in the State of Penn- because I intimately know their worth and excellence. sylvania," the tone of mhich was a little after the "I have the honor to be, gentlemen, manner of a conquering chieftain addressing the peo- " Your most obedient servant, ple of a subjugated province. "You see," he said, " With due consideration, " encamped in the bosom of your district a nunierous

I' HEXRYLEE.'' and well-appointed army, formed of citizens of every This reply, or address to the people, was printed description from this and the neighboring States of and circulated extensively in every part of the four New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, whom the vio- counties. lated laws of our common country have called from After a stay of a few days at Uniontown and Mount their homes to vindicate and restore their authority. Pleasant respectively, the two columns of the army . . . The scene before your eyes ought to be an in- rr,oved on in obedience to the general orders of the structive one; it ought to teach many useful truths, commander-in-chief, as follows : which should, for your own happiness, make a deep and lasting impression on your minds. . . . Those <'HEADQUABTEBS, " Usron (BEESOX'S)TOWN, XOT. 2,liN. who have been perverted from their duty may now '

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION. 171 their confidence are the men by whom, for personal he eastern part of Washington County. All the and sinister purposes, they have been brought step by ~risone~staken by the army excepting three were step to the precipice from which they have no escape aken in that county and Allegheny, under Gen. but in the moderation and benignity of that very gov- Jee's special orders: issued for that purpose to Gen. ernment which they have vilified, insulted, and op- rvine and other officers in command of cavalry. posed. The friends of order may also perceive in the The time indicated in this order (Thursday morn- perils and evils that have for .some time surrounded ng, November 13th) was the time when most of the then] how unwise and even culpable is that careless- nests were made by the military. ness and apathy with which they have permitted the The commander-in-chief, at Uniontown, on the 1st of gradual approaches of disorder and anarchy." Tovember, had announced his intention "to hold the The general then proceeded to recommend to the rrmy in this country until daily practice shall convince people to manifest their good intentions by taking and 111 that the sovereignty of the Constitution and laws is subscribing an oath (the form of which he prescribed) inalterably establislled." In a fern days after his forces to support the constitution and obey the laws, and narched northward from Uniontown he became so by entering into associations to protect and aid :onvinced, and at once began to make arrangements all government officers in the execution of thei~ br the return of the army. The notification of the duties. We further recommended to all men ablc -eopening of the inspection-offices mas made on the and willing to do military duty, and truly attached 10th; and they mere accordingly reopened ten days to their government and country, "to array them. mt the damned mcals in the cellar, to tie then1 back to buck, to ninke selves into regiments, one for each county, and tc I fire fur the guard, but to put the prisoners back to the fnrther erld of place themselvss under such officers as may bt :he cellar, and to give then1 neither rictnds nor drink. The cellar was selected by the Governor of the State, known to bc ivet and mndcly, and the night colJ; the cellar extended the vhle leogth under a large new log Ilonae, \vllicll was neither floored nor the firm friends to order and right, upon the express con ~pminpbetween the logs daubed. They were kept there until Satnr- ditions of holding themselves in constant readiness tc lay morning,nnd then marclied to the town nf Washington. Ou the act in defense of the civil authority whenerer callec oxtrch one of the prisoners, who was suldect to courulsions, fell into a fit, but whrn some of the troops told Geu. White of llis situation he or- upon, receiving for their services the same pay an( [lered them to tie the damned meal to a horse's tail and drng Iiim along subsistence as is allowed to the militia of the Unitec with them, for he 11nd only feigned having the fits. Some of his fellmv- States when in actual service." He then concludec prisoners, Ilowevcr, who had a Ilorsc, dismonnted and let the par nlan ride. He 11nd another fit before lie reached \\-as!~ington. This mnrck his proclamation as follows : "In pursuance of th~ nus about twelve n~iies. T11e poor mnn who had the fits had bren in authority vested in me by the President of thl the American senice during almost the vhole of the war with Great United States, and in obedience to his instructions,I dc Britain." Fiudlry relates many other instances of barbarous treatment moreover assure all who may have entitled themselve inflicted on prisoners by thsoldiery, but it is not improper to say 1h:lt his statements nlny hare bern n good deal exaggerated, ns there is to be to the benefit of the amnesty proffered by the com seen through a11 his narrative an unmistalinble disposition to place in missioners heretofore sent by him to this district, an( the norst possible ligllt every occurrence or act done by the arm)'. par- who may not ha\-e forfeited their title by sllbseqnen ticnlarly all \vhicll could by any awumption be snppwcd to Ilaw been authorized, encouraged, or countennnced by Secretary Iiamiltou or ex- misconduct, that the promise mill be faithfully an( ecuted by 'Sng.-Gen. White. liberally observed, and that all possible endeavor 2 The follo\ving arc? extracts from Gen. Lee's orders to Gen. William will be used to prevent injury to the persons or prop Irvine: "BEAD Qnae~~nsXEAE Panarssos's FERRY, erty of peaceable citizens by the troops, whose sol "No~ember9th) li94. province it is to subdue those, if any there should be "SIR,-From the delays and danger of escapes wbicll attend the pres- hardy enough to attempt an armed resistance, and tl ent situation of judicinry investigations to estnblish pre1imin:~ry yro- cesses agninst offenders, it is deen~edndvisnl~le to proceed in a snnlmaly support and aid the civil authority as far as may b nlanner in the most disaffected scenes agniust those who have notori- required. To the promulgation of these, my orders, onsly committed treasonuble acts; that is, tu enlploy the militaryfur the with pleasure add my assurances that every exertioi purpose of apprehending and bringing such persons before the judge of the district [Judge Peters], to be by him examined and dealt with ac- will be made by me-and, from my knowledge of th cording to law; to you is comrnitted the execution of this object within officers and soldiers of the army, I am persuaded wit1 tllnt part of Allegheny County to wl~icbyoil are advancing. . . . The full success-to carry these wise and benevolent view persong apprehended olrgl~tto be leading or inflnenthl characters or ~lnrticularlyviolent. You will find a list (So. 3) ;this paper con~prehellds of the President into complete effect." \vitnesses. The individuals are to be brought fonvnrd and treated as The entire army remained in the neighborhood c such. Direct all who may be apprehended by yon to be conveyed to Parkinson's Ferry for several days, afcer which th )-onr carup until further orden. Send off your parties of horse with good main part of the troops moved down the Mononga gnide8,and at such n period as to make tbe snrpris~ql~o\x~ererdlst:mt or near, at the same moment, or intelligen~cwill precede then1 and sonlo hela River, and on the 15th of Kovember a detach of the culprits will escrlpe. I presume the proper hour will be at dux- ment mas marched from the vicinity of Parkinson' break on Tliursday morning, and havo therefore desired the operation to the town of Washington, accompanied by Secretar to be then performed in every quarter. "I have tho honor to be, sir, Hamilton and Judge Peters, and taking with them '' With great respect, large number of prisoners1 which had been taken i "Your most obedient servant, '' HESEY LEE." 1 "On Thursday. the 13th of Nuvember," says Findley, in his "Histol 3 "The announcement by Inspector Neville wns as follows: of the Insurrection," "there were ahnt forty persons brought to Far1 "Notice is herehy given tlnt on Tllo~sdny,the 20th instant, an ofice inson's house, by order of Cen. IVhite [of New Jersey]. Be directed of inspection will be opened at firtsburgh for the county of Allegheny,st

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. . - later without opposition at the pri'ncipal towns of tlie "The Virginia Cavalry will take the route by Morgan Town, four counties. The withdrawal of the army mas an- from thence to Winchester by Romney's; the commandant mill nounccd, and the order of its return march directed, receive particular instructions as to their time and manner of in orders by Gen. Lee, dated " Headquarters, Pitts- march. "The right column will receire their pay (still-due) at Bed- : burgh, Nov. 17, 1794," riz. ford, the Maryland Line at Fort Cumberland, and the Virginia "The complete fulfillment of erery object dependent on the Line at Winchester. . . ." erorts of the army makes it the duty of the eominander-in- chief to take measures for the imlnediate return of his fai:hful The army moved on its return in accordance with fellow-soldiers to their respective homes, in csecution of which these orders. The right column marched from Pitts- no de!ay will bk perrnittcd but that which results from the con- burgh, by way of Greensburg, Ligonier, and Stony sultation of their comfort. Creek, to Bedford, and thence by may of Fort Lyt- "On Toesdny morning, at the hour of eight, the Pcnneyl- tleton, Strasburg,and Shippensburg to Carlisle. The vania C:tvalry will bc rend\- to accompany his Excellency Gov- troops of the left column returned by different routes, ernor MiWin, whose official clatics renders his presence neces- the Virginians marching up the Monongahela Valley sary at the scat of government. "On the nest day the first division of the right column, into their own State, and passing on by way of Mor- consisting of the Artillery and Proctor's Brigade, under the gantown to Winchester; and the Maryland brigade orders of Maj.-Gen. Irvine, will commence their march to Bed- starting from its camp at Pierce7s Ferry, thence mor- ford, on the routc commonly called the Old Pcnneylvnnin road. ing southeast~~ardlythrough Fayette County and its " The following day at the same hour the Xem Jerscy Line county town, to the Great Crossings of the Youghio- mill motre under the command of his Excellency Governor gheny, and from there to Fort Cumberland by the lIowell, who mil! be pleased to pursue froin Bedford such routes same route over which it had advanced. as he inay find convcnicnt. The corps left, under command of Gen. Morgan, to "On the subsequent day at tlie same hour the residue of the Pennsylvnni:~Line now on this ground mill march under the remain in this region through the winter for the pres- command of Brig.-Gen. Chambcr~,taking thc route heretofore ervation of order, and to assist, if necessary, in the ruentioned, and making the sa.me stages as shall have been execution of the laws, was placed in camp at Bentley's, nude by the leading division. Miij.-Gen. Frelinghuysen, with on the southwest side of the Monongahela. This force the Elite Corps of the right column, mill follow the next day mas composed in part of troops who had come from and pursue the same route. the East under Gen. Lee, and partly of men enlisted "Brig.-Gen. Smith, with the Maryland Line, mill move to in the western counties, as advised in the proclamation Uniontown, a.greeably to orders heretofore communicated to of the commander-in-chief of November Sth, and him, and from thence to proceed on Braddock's r0a.d to Fort authorized to the number of two thousand five hun- Cuinbcrland, where he will adopt the most conrcnicnt measures in his power for the return of his troops to their rcspective dred rneu b> an act of Assembly of the 29th of the co.unti:s. same month. Of those who were thus enlisted, Find- "Brig.-Gen. Matthews mill move on Wcdnesday nest to ley, in his " History of the Insurrection," ' says that Morgan Town, froln thence to Winchester by may of Frank- many of them mere reported to have been among the fort. From Winchester the troops mill be marched to their re- most troublesome of the insurgents; that the people spective brigades under the cornmanding officers from each in the neighborhood complained ((thatmany of them, brigade. for some time at first, demanded free quarters and 'tinued."- will consider t11emi;elves as in thc bosom of their friends, $ that they Penns~I~aniaArchive, iv., pp. 449, 451. will via with ench other in promoting tho love and esteem of their fel-

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION. 173 troops under his command, and the well-known char- apprehend and bring to justice, to wit : [Here follows acter of that general in the matter of the enforcement the list of excepted persons, given below.] of discipline, render it probable that the above state- " Provided,-That no person who shall hereafter' ments of Mr. Findlep, like many others made by him n-ilfully obstruct the execution of any of the laws of in disparagement of the army and its officers, ought the United States, or be in anywise aiding or abetting to be received with some degree of incredulity. therein, shall be entitled to any benefit or advantage Gen. Morgan's forces continued in their canton- of the pardon hereinbefore granted; and provided, ments at Bentley's Farm (with small detachments at also, that nothing herein contained shall extend or Pittsburgh and Washington) until the following spring, be construed to extend to the remission or mitigation xhen, order being fully restored and established, the of any forfeiture of any penalty incurred by reason last of the troops marched eastward across the Alle- of infractions of, or obstructions to, the lams of the ghenies, and the western counties mere left in full pos- United States for collecting a revenue upon distilled session and exercise of their former rights and powers. spirits and stills. Gen. Lee remained in the West for a considerable " Given under my hand, at Head Quarters in Eliz- time after the departure of the main body of the army, abeth Town, this twenty-ninth day of November, and on the 29th of November, in pursuance of author- 1794. HEXEYLEE. ity delegated to him by the President, he issued a " By order of the commander-in-chief. " proclamation of pardon" as follonrs : " G. K. TAYLOR,Aid-de- Camp." "By HESRY LEE,Governor of the Commonwealth The names of the persons excepted by the terms of of Virginia, Uajor-General therein, and Commander- this proclamation were in-Chief of the Militia Army in the Service of the Benjamin Parkinson, George Parker, United States. Arthur Gardner, William Hanna, John Holcroft, Edward Magner, Jr., " A PROCLAMATION. Daniel Hamilton, Thomas Hughes, ':By virtue of the powers and authority in me vested Thomas Lapsley, David Lock, by the President. of the United States, and in obedi- William Miller, Ebenezer Gallagher, ence to his benign intentions, therewith communi- Edward Cook, Peter Lyle, cated, I do by this, my proclamation, declare and Edward Wright, John Shields, make known to all concerned that a full, free, and Eichard Holcroft, William Hay, entire pnrdon (excepting and providing as hereafter David Bradford, William McIlhenny, mentioned) is hereby granted to all persons residing John Mitchell, Thomas Patton, within the counties of Washington, Allegheny, West- Alexander Fulton, Stephenson Jack, moreland, and Fayette, in the State of Penusyll-anla, Thomas Spiers, Patrick Jack, and and in the county of Ohio, in the State of Virginia, William Bradford, Andrew Highlands, guilty of treason or misprision of treason against the of the State of Pennsylania. United States, or otherwise directly or indirectly en- William Sutherland, .John Moore, and gaged in the wicked and unhappy tumults and dis- Robert Stephenson, John McCormick, turbances lately existing in those counties, excepting William RlcKinley, nevertheless from the benefit and effect of this pardon of Ohio County, Va. all persons charged with the commission of offenses With referexice to the cases of those who mere made against the United States, and now actually in cus- prisoners by the cavalry, as well as of many pro- tody or held by recognizance to appear and answer scribed but not captured, formal investigations were for aH such offenses at any judicial court or courts, made under the direction of Judge Peters, in the excepting also all persons avoiding fair trial by aban- course of which it was made apparent that informa- donment of their homes, and excepting, moreover, the tion had been made against many who had really following persons, the atrocity of whose conduct ren- been guilty of no offense against the government. ders it proper to mark them by name, for the purpose Many of those arrested were taken to Pittsburgh. Some of subjecting them with all possible certainty to the mere released through the interposition of influential regular course of judicial proceedings, and whom all friends, while others less fortunate were sent to Phil- officers, civil and military, are required to endeavor to adelphia, where they were imprisoned for some months. lon;citizens, and pointedly aroid crery species of spoliation on the Of those who were arrested while the army was in property of the inhabitants. this region, one, and only one, was of Fayette County. "The officers comn~nnrliugfatigue partics are particularly directed not to suffer the sngar or other trees producing fruit or comfort to tl~e This was Caleb Mounts. He was taken East with the farmer to be cut down for building, or any other purpose whatever. forces of the right wing, but it mas afterwards found The burning of fencing, where there is such an abundance of fuel so that he mas innocent, having beenin Kentucky at the easily procured, is strictly forbid,and a violence offered to the person or time when the riotous proceedings occurred. In re- dppredation on the property of any indiridod Ily the soldiery will be punished in the most exemplary and summary manrrer. gard to the takiug of this person, Findley says, " DASIELXOUG.~N." "Isaac Meason, a judge of Fayette County, followed

EISTORP OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENSSTLVAKIA.

Judge Peters near forty miles into Bedford County, Capt. James Whaley, of Connellsville, raised and and offered himself and Judge Wells, of Bedford, :ommanded a company which left the county in Sep- both of them acknowledged friends of the government, ;ember of the same year. On the day of their de- :IS bail for the prisoner, but was absolutely refused. ?arture from Connellsville they were entertained at As Mr. Ncason knew that the prisoner mas guilty of ;he public-house of David Barnes (afterwards the no crime, which evidently appeared to be the case by page House), where they were addressed in a patriotic no bill being found against him on his trial, he and strain by Father Connelly, and after the conclusion Mr. Wells complain of the judge ior not admitting ~f these ceremonies moved across the river to a camp him to bail on their application. Judge Peters being .n the limits of the present borough of New Haven. well known to be a man of feeling and humanity, his rhence they marched to Pittsburgh, where they were conduct in this and several other instances can only nustered into the service Oct. 2, 1812. The company- be accounted for from his apprehension that it was 3eing assigned to duty under Col. Robert Patterson, necessary that a considerable number of prisoners nloved from Pittaburgh to Fort Meigs, and was incor- should be brought down in order to prevent the in- porated with the forces that fought in the campaign flammatory part of the army from committing out- mder Gen. William H. Harrison, afterwards Presi- rages at leaving the country." This last remark of 3ent of the United States. Fiudley seems too clearly absurd to require contra- Capt. Andrew Moore, of Wharton ton-nship, raised diction. Only two prisoriers were taken by the army xnd commanded a company, which was mustered on in Westmoreland County. One of these was after- the 2d of October, 1812, and served under command wards discharged for the reason that no bill was found 3f Brig.-Gen. Richard Crooks. against him. The other, a very ignorant man of most Capt. Joseph Wadsmorth's company mas raised in violent temper, and said to be subject to fits of tempo- Fayette County, and mustered into service at the rary insanity, was found guilty of setting fire to the same time as Moore's and Whaley's companies, and house of the Fayette County collector, Benjamin served with the latter under Col. Robert Patterson. Wells, and was sentenced to death, but mas reprieved, Capt. Peter Eertzog, of Spring Hill township, com- and finally pardoned by the President of the United manded a company recruited by him in Fayette States. The principal witness against this man on County. It was mustered into service Oct. 2, 1812, his trial was said to have been a chief leader of the and was assigned to duty mith the forces of Gen. rioters who attacked Wells7 house, but one of those Richard Crooks. included in the pardon of the conm~ander-in-chicf. A company of light dragoons was raised by Capt. Iu August, 1795, general pardons to those who had James McClelland, and mustered into service for one been implicated in the insurrection and who had not year on the 5th of October, 1818. This company subsequently been indicted or convicted mere pro- formed part of a squadron under conmand of Lieut.- claimed by President Washington and Governor Col. James V. Ball. Mifflin, in pursuance of the agreement made in the Capt. John NcClean commanded a company of in- previous year at Pittsburgh by the United States and fantry raised in E'ayette County and vicinity in 1812. Pennsylvania commissioners. Its principal service was at Erie, Pa. The companies of Capt. William Craig and Isaac Linn went from ~ayetteCounty in the early part of 1813. These companies, with that of Capt. McClean, were in the force of one thousand militia conlmanded CHAPTER XVI. by Col. Rees Hill, and stationed at Erie, Pa. Volun- FAYETTE COUKTY IS THE WAR OF 1S13-15 AND teers from this command were engaged on Commodore MEXICAN WAR. Perry's squadron at the t,ime of the battle of Lake Erie and capture of the British fleet, in consideration IMMEDIATELYafter the declaration of mar by the of which service the Legislature passed a resolution United States against England, in 1812, recruiting directing the Gorernor to present a silver medal, en- was commenced in Fayette County for the formation graved mith such emblematic devices as he might of companies to take the field in the government ser- think proper, to each man (if a citizen of Pennsyl- vice. The fir& company completed mas that of vania) who so volunteered. Thomas Collins, of Uniontorrn, which marched from Capt. James Piper, of Uniontown, raised and com- the county-seat in August of that year. The service manded a company of Fayette County volunteers, of this company mas performed at Oswego, Ssckett's who served with the Fifth Detachment Pennsylvania Harbor, and other points along the lake frontier in Militia, under Col. James Fenton, at Buffalo, K. Y., Northern New York, under Maj. John Herkimer. in 1814. A company raised and commanded by Capt. John Capt. Valentine Giesep, of Brownsville (who had Phillips was completed, and left the county at about been first a sergeant, and afterwards a second lieu- the same time as Capt. Collins', and served in the tenant in Capt. Joseph Wadsmorth's company), raised same command under Maj. Herkimer. a company numbering one hundred and eighteen

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