Excise, first.
The first bill to impose a tax on liquors was introduced into the
Congress at the beginning of 1791, on the recommendation of
Alexander Hamilton, then
Secretary of the Treasury.
As finally passed, it imposed upon all imported spirits a duty varying from 25 to 40 cents per gallon, according to strength.
The excise to be collected on domestic spirits varied with their strength from 9 to 25 cents per gallon on those distilled from grain, and from 11 to 30 cents when the material was molasses or other imported product; thus allowing, especially when the duty on molasses was taken into account, a considerable discrimination in favor of the exclusively home product.
There was much opposition to this law in and out of Congress.
The details of the working of the law for securing a revenue from this source were very stringent, yet very just.
The most violent opposition appeared in western
Pennsylvania soon after its enactment, and when steps were taken for its enforcement.
The law was disregarded, indictments were found against a number of distillers, and thirty warrants were issued, which the marshal of the district undertook to serve.
He had served twenty-nine of them, when he and the inspector of the district were fired upon by some armed men and compelled to fly for their lives.
They assailed the inspector's house, and an appeal to the militia was in vain.
A small detachment of soldiers was obtained from the neighboring garrison of
Fort Pitt (
Pittsburg). The next morning (July 17, 1794) 500 assailants appeared.
One man was killed, the buildings were burned, and the officers of the law were driven out of
Pittsburg and compelled to flee for their lives down the
Ohio River.
The mob were led by
John Holcroft, who assumed the name of Tom the Tinker.
Leading politicians took part in a public meeting at Mingo Creek Meeting-house (July 23), who were disposed to make common cause with the rioters.
They finally agreed to call a convention of delegates from all the townships west of the mountains, and from the adjoining counties of
Maryland and
Virginia, to meet in three weeks at Parkinson's Ferry, on the
Monongahela.
A few days afterwards the mail from
Pittsburg to
Philadelphia was intercepted and robbed.
Two leading politicians—Bradford and
Marshall—concerned in this robbery forthwith addressed a circular letter to the officers of the militia of the western counties, stating that letters in the rifled mail revealed important secrets, which made it necessary for the military to act, and called upon the militia to muster, on Aug. 1, at Braddock's Field, with arms and accoutrements and provisions for four days. Fully 7,000 men appeared at the appointed rendezvous.
The leaders in the insurrection were elated.
The meeting at Parkinson's Ferry was an armed convention.
Colonel Cook, one of the judges of
Fayette county, presided, and
Albert Gallatin (afterwards
Secretary of the Navy) acted as secretary.
Bradford assumed the office of majorgeneral and reviewed the troops.
It was his design to get possession of
Fort Pitt and the arms and ammunition therein, but finding most of the militia officers
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unwilling to co-operate, he abandoned the project.
The excise officers were expelled from the district, and many outrages were committed.
The insurrectionary spirit spread into the neighboring counties of
Virginia.
The reign of terror was extended and complete, when
President Washington, acting with energy, sent an armed force and quelled the insurrection.
