Whiskey insurrection, the
Resistance to the excise on domestic spirits appeared in various places with more or less strength.
In the region of the regulators and Tory stronghold in
North Carolina during the Revolution there was very strong opposition, but resistance far more formidable was made in the four counties of
Pennsylvania west of the
Alleghany Mountains.
These counties had been chiefly settled by the Scotch-
Irish, who were mostly Presbyterians, men of great energy, decision, and restive under the restraints of law and order.
A lawless spirit prevailed among them.
They converted their rye crops into whiskey, and when the excise laws imposed duties on domestic distilled liquors the people disregarded them.
A new excise act, passed in the spring of 1794, was specially unpopular; and when, soon after the adjournment of Congress, officers were sent to enforce the act in the western districts of
Pennsylvania they were resisted by the people in arms.
The insurrection became general throughout all that region, stimulated by leading men in the community.
In the vicinity of
Pittsburg many outrages were committed.
Buildings were burned, mails were robbed, and government officers were insulted and abused.
One officer was stripped of all his clothing, smeared with warm tar, and the contents of a feather bolster emptied upon him. The local militia formed a part of the armed mob, at one time numbering between 6,000 and 7,000 men.
The insurgent spirit spread into the neighboring counties of Virginia, and
Washington and his cabinet perceived with alarm this imitation of the lawlessness of French politics.
The situation was alarming and needed immediate attention.
Washington observed that the leaders in the insurrection were connected with the
Democratic secret societies under the influence of the
French revolutionists.
How wide-spread and insidious was this conspiracy against the laws of the country he knew not, but he was satisfied that only the leaders of these societies were aware of a traitorous plan; for he believed, with justice, that the great body of the
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insurgents were patriotic citizens.
He took prompt measures to suppress the insurrection.
Governor Mifflin refused to call out the militia of
Pennsylvania, and
Washington resolved to act with vigor.
He issued a proclamation requiring the insurgents to desist; and under his authority as
President of the
United States he called upon the governors of
Pennsylvania,
New Jersey,
Maryland, and
Virginia for a body of 13,000 men, afterwards raised to 15,000.
The insurgent counties could bring 16,000 fighting men into the field.
The troops were placed under the command of
Gen. Henry Lee, of
Virginia, and their movement was fixed for Sept. 1.
Meanwhile three commissioners were sent to the insurgent counties with discretionary authority to arrange for a submission to the laws.
Two other commissioners were appointed by the
State of Pennsylvania.
The two boards crossed the mountains and found the leading insurgents in convention at Parkinson's Ferry.
Near by stood a liberty-pole, with the legend “Liberty, and no Excise!
No asylum for cowards and traitors!”
A committee of sixty was appointed, and a committee of fifteen met the commissioners at
Pittsburg.
Among them were the leaders—
Bradford,
Marshall,
Cook,
Gallatin, and
Brackenridge, a lawyer of
Pittsburg.
Terms of submission were agreed to, to be ratified, however, by the votes of the people.
There was still opposition, but the alacrity with which the
President's call for militia was responded to settled the matter.
The troops were moving, and complete submission was the result.
A final convention at Parkinson's Ferry (Oct. 24, 1794) passed resolutions of submission to authority, that excise officers might safely proceed to their business, and that all excise duties would be paid.
Gallatin, in the Assembly of Pennsylvania, in an able speech (December, 1794), admitted his “political sin” in the course he had taken in the insurrectionary movements.
The government was strengthened by it. The cost of the insurrection to the national government was fully $1,500,000.
