form in their opposition to all the measures of Government; in short to every Act, either of Executive or Legislative Authority, which seemed to be calculated to defeat French usurpations and to lessen the influence of that Nation in our Country, hang upon & clog its wheels as much as in them lye—and with a rancor & virulence which is scarcely to be conceived;-Torturing every act, by unnatural construction, into a design to violate the Constitution-Introduce Monarchy-& to establish an aristocracy-And what is more to be regretted, the same Spirit seems to have laid hold of the major part of the Legislature of this State, while all the other States in the Union (Kentucky the child of Virginia, excepted) are coming forward with the most unequivocal evidences of their approbation of the measures which have been adopted by both, for self preservation. In what such a spirit, and such proceedings will issue, is beyond the reach of short sighted men to predict, with any degree of certainty.-I hope well-because I have always believed and trusted, that that Providence which has carried us through a long and painful War with one of the most powerful nations in Europe, will not suffer the discontented among ourselves to produce more than a temporary interruption to the permanent Peace and happiness of this rising Empire-That they have been the cause of our present disquietudes, and the means of stimulating (by mis-representing the sentiments of the mass of citizens of this Country) the Directory of France to their unwarrantable

Acts-not from more real affection to the nation than others possess, but to facilitate the design of subverting their own government-I have no more doubt than that I am now in the act of writing you this letter- *

4. THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION

TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

SIR,

MOUNT VERNON, 7 September, 1792.

The last post brought me your letter of the 1st instant, with the enclosures respecting the disorderly conduct of the inhabitants of the western survey of the district of Pennsylvania, in opposing the execution of what is called the excise law; and of the insults which have been offered by some of them to the officers, who have been appointed to collect the duties on distilled spirits agreeably thereto.1

Such conduct in any of the citizens of the United

1 Among Hamilton's financial measures enacted in 1791 was the excise law levying a tax of twenty-five cents a gallon on whiskey. The tax excited great opposition, partly because it was one to which the people were not accustomed and partly because it bore with considerable hardship on the people of western Pennsylvania, who were far removed from the ordinary channels of commerce and who produced only one commodity of considerable value in small bulk. While the disturbance was not in itself very serious, its suppression was of great political importance, since it was one of the first demonstrations by the new government of its right and of its ability to enforce its laws.

States, under any circumstances that can well be conceived, would be exceedingly reprehensible; but, when it comes from a part of the community for whose protection the money arising from the tax was principally designed, it is truly unaccountable, and the spirit of it much to be regretted.

The preliminary steps taken by you in ordering the supervisor of the district to repair to the survey, where these disorders prevail, with a view to ascertain in person "the true state of the survey; to collect evidences respecting the violences that have been committed, in order to a prosecution of the offenders; to ascertain the particulars as to the meeting which appears to have been held at Pittsburg; to encourage the perseverance of the officers in their duty, and the well-disposed inhabitants in discountenancing such violent proceedings," are prudent and proper, and I earnestly wish they may have the desired effect. But if, notwithstanding, opposition is still given to the due execution of the law, I have no hesitation in declaring, if the evidence of it is clear and unequivocal, that I shall, however reluctantly I exercise them, exert all the legal powers with which the executive is invested to check so daring and unwarrantable a spirit. It is my duty to see the laws executed. To permit them to be trampled upon with impunity would be repugnant to it; nor can the government longer remain a passive spectator of the contempt, with which they are treated. Forbearance, under a hope that the inhabitants of that survey would recover from the delirium and folly into which they were

plunged, seems to have had no other effect than to increase the disorder.

If it shall be the attorney-general's opinion, under a full consideration of the case (adverting, as I presume he will, as well to the laws and constitution of Pennsylvania, as to those of the United States), that the meeting, which appears to have been held at Pittsburg, was illegal, and the members of it indictable, and it shall further appear to you from such information as you may be able to obtain from a comparative view of all circumstances, that it would be proper to bring the matter before the circuit court to be holden at Yorktown in October next, you have all the sanction and authority I can give to do it. I am, Sir, &c.1

DEAR SIR,

TO BURGES BALL

GERMANTOWN, 10 August, 1794.

What (under the rose I ask it) is said

1 Acting on the advice of Hamilton, Washington issued a proclamation warning the rioters to desist from their unlawful acts and indicating the intention of the President to use all the means at his command for the enforcement of the laws. See Richardson, Messages and Papers of the Presidents, i., 124.

"I have no doubt but that the proclamation will undergo many strictures; and, as the effect proposed may not be answered by it, it will be necessary to look forward in time to ulterior arrangements. And here not only the constitution and laws must strictly govern, but the employing of regular troops avoided, if it be possible to effect order without their aid; otherwise there would be a cry at once, 'The cat is let out; we now see for what purpose an army was raised.' Yet, if no other means will effectually answer, and the constitution and

or thought, as far as it has appeared to you, of the conduct of the People of the Western Counties of this State (Pennsylvania) towards the excise officers? and does there seem to be a disposition among those with whom you converse to bring them to a sense of their duty, and obedience to law, by coercion, if, after they are fully notified by Proclamation and other expedients of the consequences of such outrageous proceedings, they do not submit to the Laws of the United States, and suffer the collection of the duties upon spirituous liquors and stills to be made as in other places? In a word, would there be any difficulty, as far as the matter has passed under your observation, in drawing out a part of the Militia of Loudoun, Berkeley and Frederick-to quell this rebellious spirit and to support order and good government? You will readily perceive that questions of this sort from me you and your answers, are for my private information, and to go no farther than ourselves.

to

DEAR SIR,

TO CHARLES M. THRUSTON

[PRIVATE]

PHILADELPHIA, 10 August, 1794.

Your favor of the 21st of June came duly to hand. For the communications contained in it I thank you, as I shall do for any other that is interesting to the community, and necessary for me to

laws will authorize these, they must be used as the dernier resort."-Washington to Hamilton, 16 September, 1792.