Philadelphia, water from cellars on Dock street to be drawn off by pipes report of committee on Broad st. application from Kensington for ib Philadelphia, West Philadelphia canal company Philadelphia exchange company present plan for alteration of Dock 7 315 64. 315 72 174 288 ib ib 91 report of watering commitee on 412 412 412 Phillipsburgh, steamboat built at 272 letter from B. W. Clark in relation sewer authorized in Schuylkill fifth executors of J. Wills wish satisfac- tion entered direction of Wm. Penn 92 Pittsburgh, meteorological observations at 32 224 240 described by Judge Hall account of Gen. Boquets expedition new Presbyterian church at 89 92 101 92 110 94 reminiscence of, Mr. Wilkin's 115 manufactures of, described 142 285 236 100 Poor tax, statement of 1832 10 36 100 223 108 223 81 112 Post offices and masters in the state, list of Pottsville, increase of coal trade notice of aurora borealis at weather at accident in a coal pit Prisons, miserable state of in 1770 Proprietary claims, C. J. McKean's opinion in Rail roads-Westchester, car described Mauch Chunk 190 205 tobacco inspection, act for 220 sale of Market street property 223 first stage from, to Reading ib assent to decision of jury in case of Coates street 229 Water street as laid out anew re- corded in court of Q. S. 230 two swans presented by capt. Gir- 231 254 organization of new councils B. Duncan, sheriff, enters on duties standing committees taking down old engine house commerce of Broad-st., proceedings of council relat- experiments on Baltimore and Ohio New Castle and Frenchtown, trip on Columbia Germantown and N. first trial of a lo- 72, 173, 287 75 174, 336, 387 247 282 304, 386 450 409 222 of Schuylkill co. ib Rain water, phenomenon observed 265 Reports-Conestoga Navigation Company of the Education Committee of Cor- Drs. Jackson, Meigs, and Harlan, of sales of real estate proceedings relating death 293 Charles Carroll of C. 327 340 416 contract for ice breaker, purchase of lot &c. near Fairmount 327 report of committee on West Phila- 152, 166 delphia canal 339 report on city treasurer's office 340 digest of the ordinances ordered ib correspondence on death of Chas. Carroll 340 diary of the weather 1768 to 1772 230 St. John's Church, painting by Union Benevolent Association 249 Monachesi exhibited 365 of Library and Reading Room Com- alteration of the eastern front of pany of Northern Liberties 332 the city according to P. Beck's to councils on West Philadelphia canal, subscription proposed 340 366 geology of 307 of Pennsylvania Library of Foreign 341 32, 48, 115, 158, 173, 48 75 64 400 monument 13 39 list of officers slain at 14 39 53 Y 336, 351, 357, 358, 568, 383 Yellow fever in Philadelphia, some data re- dividing the state according to the no. of houses open and shut, deaths pecting 112 117 32 message proceedings at respect'g monument 13 38 anti-tobacco meeting at Wolf, governor's, proclamation for a fast day inaugural address of 265 Wyoming massacre, proceedings respecting REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. X.-NO. 1. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, JULY 7, 1832. From the new edition of Marshall's Life of Washington. WHISKEY INSURRECTION. NO. 236. patrick. Successful resistance to so great a force being obviously impracticable, a parley took place, at which the assaillants, after requiring that the inspector and all party in the house should march out and ground their arms. This being refused, the parley terminated and the assault commenced. The action lasted until the assaillants set fire to several adjacent buildings, the heat from which was so intense that the house could no longer be occupied. From this cause, and from the apprehension that the fire would soon be communicated to the main building, Major Kirkpatrick and his party surrendered About this time, (1794,) the seditious and violent re-his papers should be delivered up, demanded that the sistance to the execution of the law imposing duties on spirits distilled within the United States, had advanced to a point in the counties of Pennsylvania lying west of the Allegheny mountains, which required the decisive interposition of government. Notwithstanding the multiplied outrages committed on the persons and property of the revenue officers, and of those who seemed willing to submit to the law, yet in consequence of a steady adherence to the system of counteraction adopted by the Executive, it was visibly gaining ground, and The Marshal, and Colonel Pressly Nevil, were seizseveral distillers in the disaffected country, were obliged on their way to General Nevil's house, and detained ed to comply with its requisites. The opinion, that until two the next morning. The marshal especially, the persevering efforts of the administration would ul- was treated with great rudeness. His life was frequenttimately prevail, derived additional support from the ly threatened, and was probably saved by the interpopassage of an act by the present Congress, containing sition of some leading individuals who possessed more those provisions which had been suggested by the chief humanity, or more prudence, than those with whom of the treasury department. The progress of this bill, they were associated. He could obtain his liberty only which became a law on the fifth of June, could not have by entering into a solemn engagement, which was guarbeen unknown to the malcontents, nor could its proba- anteed by Colonel Nevil, to serve no more process on ble operation be misunderstood. They perceived that the western side of the Allegheny mountains. The a certain loss of a market for the article, added to the marshal and inspector having both retired to Pittsburg, penalties to which delinquents were liable, might gra- the insurgents deputed two of their body, one of whom dually induce a compliance on the part of distillers, un- was a justice of the peace, to demand that the former less they could, by a systematic and organized opposi- should surrender all his process, and that the latter tion, deprive the government of the means it employed should resign his office; threatening, in case of refusal, for carrying the law into execution. to attack the place and seize their persons. These de mands were not acceded to; but Pittsburg, affording no security, these officers escaped from the danger which threatened them by descending the Ohio, after which they found their way by a circuitous route to the seat of government. On the part of the Executive, this open defiance of the laws and of the authority of the government, was believed imperiously to require, that the strength and efficacy of those laws should be tried. Against the perpetrators of some of the outrages which had been committed, bills of indictment had been found in a court of the United States, upon which process was directed to issue, and at the same time, process was also issued against a great number of non-complying distillers. The marshal repaired in person to the country which was the scene of these disorders, for the purpose of serving the processes. On the 15th of July, while in the execution of his duty, he was beset by a body of armed men, who fired on him, but fortunately did him no personal injury. At day break, the ensuing morn ing, a party attacked the house of General Nevil, the inspector; but he defended himself resolutely, and obliged the assailants to retreat. Knowing well that this attack had been preconcerted, and apprehending that it would be repeated, he applied to the militia officers and magistrates of the country, for protection. The an. swer was that" owing to the too general combination of the people to oppose the revenue system, the laws could not be executed so as to afford him protection: that should the posse comitatus be ordered out to support the civil authority, they would favor the party of the rioters." The perpetrators of these treasonable practices, being desirous to ascertain their strength, and discover any latent enemies who might remain unsuspected in the bosom of the disaffected country, despatched a party which stopped the mail from Pittsburg to Philadel phia, cut it open, and took out the letters which it contained. In some of these letters, a direct disappro bation of the violent measures which had been adopted was avowed; and in others, expressions were used which indicated unfriendly dispositions towards them. Upon acquiring this intelligence, delegates were deputed from the town of Washington to Pittsburg, where the writers of the offensive letters resided, to demand the banishment of the offenders. A prompt obedience to this demand was unavoidable; and the inhabitants of Pittsburg, who were convened on the occasion, engag ed to attend a general meeting of the people, who were to assemble the next day at Braddock's Field, in order to carry into effect such further measures as might be deemed advisable, with respect to the excise and its friends. They also determined to elect delegates to a convention, which was to meet on the fourteenth of AuOn the succeeding day, the insurgents re-assembled gust, at Parkinson's ferry. The avowed motives to to the number of about five hundred, to renew their at these outrages were to compel the resignation of all of tack on the house of the inspector. That officer find-ficers engaged in the collection of the duties on distilled ing that no protection could be afforded by the civil au- spirits; to withstand by force of arms, the authority of thority, had applied to the commanding officer at Fort the United States; and thereby extort a repeal of the Pitt, and had obtained a detachment of eleven men law imposing those duties, and an alteration in the confrom that garrison, who were joined by Major Kirk-duct of government. VOL. X. 1 Affidavits attesting this state of things, were laid before the President. The opposition had now reached to a point which seemed to forbid the continuance of a temporizing system. The efforts at conciliation, which, for more than three years, the government had persisted to make, and the alterations frequently introduced into the act, for the purpose of rendering it less exceptionable, instead of diminishing the arrogance of those who opposed their will to the sense of the nation, had drawn forth sentiments, indicative of designs much deeper than the evasion of a single act. The execution of the laws had been at length resisted by open force, and a determination to presevere in these measures, was unequivocally avowed. The alternative of subduing this resistance, or of submitting to it, was presented to the government. The act of Congress which provided for calling forth the militia, "to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions," required as a prerequisite to the exercise of this power, that an associate justice, or the judge of the district, should certify that the laws of the United States were opposed, or their execution obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals." In the same act, it was provided, "that if the militia of the state where such combinations may happen, shall refuse, or be insufficient to repress the same, the Presisident may employ the militia of other states!" The evidence which had been transmitted to the President was laid before one of the associate justices, who gave the certificate, which enabled the chief magistrate to employ the militia in aid of the civil power. The executive being now authorised to adopt such measures as the crisis might require, the subject was again seriously considered in the cabinet, and the governor of Pennsylvania was also consulted respecting it. To avoid military coercion, if obedience to the laws could be produced by other means, was the universal wish; and therefore, all concurred in advising the appointment of commissioners from the government of both the Union and the State, who should warn the deluded insurgents of the impending danger, and should convey a full pardon for past offences, upon the condition of future submission. But, respecting ulterior and eventual measures, a difference of opinion prevailed. The act already mentioned, made it the duty of the President previous to the employment of military force, to issue his proclamation, commanding the insurgents to disperse within a limited time. The Secretary of State, (and the Governor of Pennsylvania, is understood to have concurred with him,) was of opinion, that this conciliatory mission should be unaccompanied by any measure which might wear the appearance of coercion. He was alarmed at the strength of the insurgents, at their connexion with other parts of the country, at the extensiveness of the prevailing discontents with the administration, and at the difficul ty and expense of bringing the militia into the field. The governor of Pennsylvania having declared his opinion, that the militia of that state, who could be drawn forth, would be incompetent to enforce obedience, the aid of the neighboring states would consequently be necessary. The secretary of state feared that the militia of the neighboring states would refuse to march, and that, should he be mistaken in this, their compliance with the orders of the executive might be no less fatal than their disobedience. The introduction of a foreign militia into Pennsylvania, might greatly increase the discontents prevailing in that state. His apprehensions of a failure, in the attempt to restore tranquillity by coercive means, were extreme; and the tremendous consequences of a failure were strongly depicted. From the highly inflamed state of parties, he anticipated a civil war, which would pervade the whole Union, and drench every part of it with the blood of American citi zens. The secretary of the treasury, the secretary of war, and the attorney general, were of opinion, that the President was bound by the most high and solemn obligations to employ the force which the legislature had placed at his disposal, for the suppression of a criminal and unprovoked insurrection. The case contemplated by congress had clearly occurred; and the President was urged by considerations the most awful, to perform the duty imposed on him by the constitution, of providing, "that the laws be faithfully executed." The long forbearance of government, and its patient endeavors to recall the deluded people to a sense of their duty and interest, by appeals to their reason, had produced only increase of violence, and a more determined opposition. Perseverance in that system could only give a more extensive range to the disaffection, and multiply the dangers resulting from it. Those who were of opinion that the occasion demanded a full trial of the ability of the government to enforce obedience to the laws, were also of opinion, that policy and humanity equally dictated the employment of a force which would render resistance desperate. The insurgent country contained sixteen thousand men able to bear arms; and the computation was, that they could bring seven thousand into the field. If the army of the government should amount to twelve thousand men, it would present an imposing force which the insurgents would not venture to meet. It was imposible that the President could hesitate to embrace the latter of these opinions. That a government entrusted to him should be trampled under foot by a lawless section of the Union, which set at defiance the will of the nation, as expressed by its representatives, was an abasement to which neither his judgment nor his feelings could submit. He resolved, therefore, to issue the proclamation, which, by law, was to precede the employment of force. On the same day, a requisition was made on the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, for their several quota of militia to compose an army of twelve thousand men, who were to be immediately organized and prepared to march at a minute's warning. While steps were taken to bring this force into the field, a last effort was made to render its employment unnecessary. Three distinguished and popular citizens of Pennsylvania were deputed by the government to be the bearers of a general amnesty for past offences, on the sole condition of future obedience to the laws. It having been deemed advisable that the executive of the state should act in concert with that of the United States, Governor Mifflin also issued a proclamation, and appointed commissioners to act with those of the ge neral government. Meanwhile, the insurgents omitted nothing which might enlarge the circle of disaffection. Attempts were made to embark the adjacent counties of Virginia in their cause, and their violence was extended to Morgantown, at which place the inspector resided, who saved himself by flight, and protected his property by advertising on his own door, that he had resigned his office. They also made similar excursions into the contiguous counties of Pennsylvania, lying east of the Allegheny mountains, where numbers were ready to join them. These deluded men, giving too much faith to the publications of democratic societies, and to the furious sentiments of general hostility to the administration, and particularly, to the internal taxes, with which the papers in the opposition abounded, seemed to have entertained the opinion, that the great body of the people were ready to take up arms against their government, and that the resistance commenced by them would spread throughout the Union, and terminate in a revolution. The convention at Parkinson's ferry had appointed a committee of safety, consisting of sixty members, who chose fifteen of their body, to confer with the commis |