The Mirrour — Concord, N.H., 1794-12-12 00:00:00, page 1

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% CONCORD, (nEWHAMPSHIRE,) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BYfLl^Al^SSELljl^^ . .
[VOLUME III.™
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Congrefi of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NOV. 1,.
, THIS day at iz O'clock, THE PRESI
‘ DENT of the United States met both Hous
es of the Legislature, in the Hall of the
House of Reprefentatieves, and delivered the %
following : ;
>"ADDRESS.
Fellow-Citizens of tbe Senate,
andof tbe Houfeof Rtprefatatives,^
S7HEN we call to mind the gracious in
' diligence of Heaven, by which the
rican People became a nation; when we
survey the general prosperity of our country,
'and look forward to the riches, power and
happiness, to which if seems defined ; with
the deepest regret do,I announce to you, that
during your recess, some of the citizens of
the United States have been found capable of
an infurredion. It is due, however, to the
charader of our government, and to its sta
bility. Which cannot be shaken by the ene
mies of order, freely to unfold the course of
this event.
During the session of the year 1790, it was
expedient to exercise, the Legislative power
granted by the constitution of the United
tates, "to lay and colled excises." Ina
majority of the States, scarcely an objection
was heard to this mode of taxation. In
some, indeed, alarms were at firft conceived,
until they were banished by reason and pat
riotism. In the four weftern counties of
Pennsylvania, a prejudice, foftered and em
bittered by the artifice of men who laboured
for ah afeendeny over the will of others, by.
the guidance of their passions, produced
fyraptoms of riot and violence. It is well
known, that Congress did not hesitate, to
examine the complaints which were pres
ented, and to relieve them, as far as justice
dilated, or general convenience would per
mit. But the impression which this mode
ration made on the discontented did not cor
respond with what it deserved; the arts of
delusion were no longer continued to the ef
forts of designing individuals.,
The very forbearance to press prosecutions,
was misinterpreted into a fear of urging the
execution of the laws; and affectations ,
men began to denounce threats against the
officers employed. —From a belief mitt by a
more formal concert, their operation might
be defeated certain felf-created societies af
famed the tone of condemnation Hence,
;while the greater part of Pennfylvapia irfelf
were conforming themselves to the ads of
excise, a few counties were resolved Whuff
trate them. It was now perceived, that er
ery expectation from the tenderness which
had hitherto been pursued, was unavailing,
and that further delay could only create an
Opinion of impotency, or irrefohitibn in the
government. Legal process, was; therefore
delivered to the Marihal, against the rioters
and delinquent distillers.
No sooner was he anderftood to be engag
ed in this duty than the vengeance of armed
men was aimed at his perfob, and the per
sonal property, of the Infpe&)r pf the Re, ;
41m ,Tfo,frH upon the Marshal, arrested
him, and detained him for some time as a
" prisoner. He was obliged, by the jeopardy
of his life, to renounce the service of other
process, on the weft fide of the Alleghany
mountaini and a deputation was afterwards
lerit to him to demand a fufreader of that
> which he bad served. A numerous body ^
peatedly attacked the house of the lafpedor,
Grazed, his papers of office, and finally de
t ftroyed by fire his buildings and whatsoever
,'r they contained. Both of these officers, from
W a just regard to their fafety, fled to the feat
% of government ; It being avowed, that the
^" motives of fitch outrafcrwe^ to compel the
C refigpation of the Infpedor ; t<swi,hftand,by
ty#&@arms, the authority of the Unit
' ed States, and thereby to extort a repeal of
the liws bf excise, and an fy^railon in the
,conduct of government ^ I
Upon the teffimony of these fads, an as
sociate justice pfthe^preme court of the
" United States notified to me, that " in the
coantiWW Washington ahd Alleghany, in
Pennsylvania, laws of the United Stateswere
.oppo% and the execution thereof obftrud
ea bv combinations, too powerful to be sup
, preff^bv theordinary c^ofjudicial pro
ceedin^or by the powers verted ihMte Mar
&of the diftria."—On thß'caW momen
torii;l^tie &^ and weighed
what bilotfbM rdbdue ^ crisis. On the,
.one hand; thfyi&ry W^ pffiuriced ro
e'a'i^ very exigence
__/ _____ — ——- — — r — ——— — —
, F,R IDA Y, December 12, 1794. ______
tretß^^ret—tt^^^
control, the friends ofgovernment were in
sulted, abused, and overawed into fiience, or
an apparent acquiescence; and to yield to
the treasonable fury of so small a portion of
the United States, would be to violate the
fundamental principles of our constitution,
which enjoins, that the will of the majority
shall prevail. On the other, to array citi
zen against citizen—to publish the difhonour
of such excesses—to encounter the expence,
and other embarrassments of fodiftant an ex
pedition, were steps too delicate—too closely
interwoven with many effecting considera
tions, to 'teliglMlf i^pted.' I postponed
therefore, the Summoning the militia imme
diately into the field : But it required them
to be held in readiness, that if my anx
ious endeavours to reclaim the deluded, and
to convince the malignant of their danger,
should be fruitlefs, military force might be
prepared to aft, before the season should be
too far advanced.
My proclamation of the 7th of August
last, was accordingly issued, and accompani
ed by the appointment of commissioners who
were charged to repair to the feene of infur.-
reftion. They were iaftru&ed to be candid
and explicit in stating rhe sensation Which
had been excited id the Executive, and his
earnest with to avoid a resort to coercion;
to represent however, that without submis
sion, coercion must be the resort ; out tQ
invite them, at the fame time, to return to
the demeanor of faithful citizens by {<,&•
Icommodations as lay within the sphere of the|
:executive power—pardon, too, was tendered
!to them by the government of the United
States, and that of Pennsylvania ; upcin no
other condition, than a fatisfaftiory assurance
of obedience to the laws.
Altho the report of the Commissioners,
marks their firmriefs and abilities, and must
unite all virtuous men by shewing that the
means of conciliation have been exhausted;.
all of those who had committed, or abetted
the tumults, did not fubferibe the mild form,
I which was proposed as the atonement ; and
the indications of a peacable temper were
neither fufficiently general, nor conclusive
to recommend or warrant a further fufpen
fioh of the march of the Militia.
„% 'be painful alternative could
not be difearded. 1 ordered the mili
tia to march, after once more admon
i/bin^tbe insurgents, in m, proclama
tion of the 25th of September last,
It was a toft, too difficult to ascer
tain with precision, the towe, degree of
force competent to th, quelling of the
i^furreflion. From a r?fpsß. indeed,
to economy and the ease of m, fellow
citizens belonging to >be militia, it
would have gratified me to accompafe
such an effimate M, very great re
luQance to ascribe too much,, impor
tance to the opposition, b d its extent
fan accurately,feen, would have been
a decided inducement to the fmaUe, ef
jicient numbers. In this uncertdtity,
therefore, ! put into motion ftteen tb>u
fund men, as being an atmyfybicb^dc
bonding to all human calculation, would
be prompt and adequate in every fob,
and might, perhaps, by rendering ojffi
ante defeerate, prevent the efafion of
blood: Quotas bad tan aligned toJbe
States of Nrojerfey, Pennsylvania, Ma
ryland and Virginia the. Governor of
Pennsylvania having declared on this
occasion an opinion which juftifed a re
quisition to the other States.
!As Commander in Chief of the Mili
tia, whet called into tie a^ual service
'of the United States, I have visaed the
places of general rendezvous, to obtain
more ma information; and to dirffl
a plan for ulterior movements. Had
Sre ta, team for , fewfuafion that
ftams were^eedfy from obftrtflion---
that the civil Magi/lrate was able to
bri'^ to iufiice fueb of the moss culpa
ble as have not embraced the proffered
: ttfms of amnefy, and may be deemed
, frotya, of etopte; that the friends
of fe and good government were not
in ^ of that aid and countenance
which they ought always to receive, and
I trifl ever will receive, against the
vicious and turbulent, I fooidd have
caught with avidity the opportunity of
refaring the militia to their families
and home. But Speeding intelligence
has tended tomanifeft the necessity of }
what has been done , it being now con- i
feffed< by those who were not inclined;
to exaggerate the ill condua of the in- 1
fargras, that their malevolence was
not pointed merely to a particular law -,
but that a spirit, inimical to all order, j
has actuated many of the offenders. If j
the fate of things bad afforded reason
for the continuance of my pre/ewce wilb
the army, it would not have been witb
bolden ; but ever, appearance offering
jueb an issue as will redound to the red
putation and firength of the U.States —|
I have judged it mess proper to resume
my duties at the feat of government,
leaving the chief command with the
Governor of Virginia.
Still, however, as it is probable that,;
!in a commotion like the present, wbatfo-!
ever ma, be the pretence, the purposes '
l of mischief and revenge may not be laid;
aside, tbe flattening of a small force for l
a certain period in the four weftern
counties of Pennfylv nia, will be indif
penftble, whether we contemplate the fit
nation of those w& are con,elled with
the execution of the laws, or of others,
who ma, have exposed themselves by an
honourable attachment to them.
Thirty days from the commencernty
of this f&n, being the legal limitation
of the employment of the militia, Con
gress cannot be too early occupied with
this Jubjea.
Minong the difeaffions which may a
rise from this aJpebl of.our affairs, and
from the doraments which will be sub
mitted to Congress, it will not escape
their ob/arvati<& that not only the in
fpcaor of the Revenue, but other officers
l of the United States, in Pennsylvania,
I tae. from tWtf fiaiity in tbe difebarge
j of their fanatons, fuflained material
| injuries to their property. The obliga-
J@ 4^ policy of indemnifying them
l are fe,Q and obvious. It m, mlfemff-
[ it amnion, whether policy will not en
largi this provijion to the retribution of
our citizens, who,'though not under, the
tie> of office; mo, bave juffered dam
age by their generous exertions for up
h^^rng the constitution and the laws.
The amount, even if all the injured
were included would not be great; and<
on future emergencies,, the govromtet
would be amply 00# by the influence
of an example that be, who incurs a loss
in its defence, (ball find a recompense in
its liberality.
While there 'is cause to lament that
occurrences of this nature should have
di/graced the name, or interrupted the
tranquility, of toy part of our comm,
tit, or foodd have diverted to a Inew
application, an, portion of the public
resources, there are not Wanting real
and (übflanti^t consolations for tbe mif
fortune. Wt ta&emonfttated that our
pro/peril, reffs on solid foundation ;by
furnifang an additional proof; that
m, fellew-citizens undyrjland the true
principles of government and liberty ;
tbat tbe, feel their infepar able union ;
that; notwithflading all the devices
that have been made u/e of to (way
rafrom tbur i^reft and dw, %
OTt UTO ^ read, ta m fon the an-
Qof the &«& tantiow in.
iflnUfeeu&CTiiX'O ^Maio. .mi;%tah ^Qm^&t&foetrcp&awmro
vafions, as they, were to defend their
rights against usurpation. It has been
a jpeaacle, displaying to tty bigbeft ad
vantage the value of republican govern
went, to behold the most ana leaf, weal
\ tb, of our citizens landing in the fame
I ranks as private foldws: pre eminently
\ diftmgui/bing by being th : army of the"
I conft^utton - ,undeterred by a march of
I 300 miles over ragged mw&ains b) the
approach of an indent fea/on, or by
an, other discouragement. Nor ought I
j/o omit to 'acknowledge the efficacious
,and patriotic co operation which I have
' experienced from the Chief Magifirates
of the States to which m, requijitions
have been addressed,
To ever, description, inaeed, of citi
\zens, let prafe begven ; but let them
j perfroere m tbe r affefl onate valence
over that prec out depoJitor, of Ameri
can bapppejs, tbe Confltut on of the
United Stated. Let them cberijb it,
too, for tbe fake of those, who, from
;ever, clime, are daily feek.ng a dwell
,ing ix our land. And when, iz tbe
I calm moments of reflea on, tbe, Jhall
Ihave1 have retraced the or gin and progress
of tbe/n/urrefl an. let them determ ne
wbetber it has not been fomented by
comb nat ons of men, who, careless of
consequences, & d /regard ng the uner
ring truth, that those who rouse, can
not appe se a cwd convulsion, have
dominated, from an ignorance or per
verjion of faas, fufptoons, jeatoufas,
and accufofion of the whole government.
Hq^ing thus fulfilled tbe engagement which I
ttek when lettered too cff.ce, '' to the heft °f m ,
ability to preftrue, proted and defend the Consti
tution of tbe United States," onjou, gentlemen,
and tbe people by wbomjou are deputed, I rel, for
ftpport.
In tbe arrangements to which the poffibilit, of
a similar mting&ic, will naturally draw ,our
attentive, it ought not to he forgotten, that tbe
militia laws have exhibited fueb diking defeat,
as could not baroe been Jupplied but b, tbe zeal of
our citizens. Befidu the extraordinary expence,
, and waste which are not tbe leaf of tbe de/eas:
ever, appeal to tbojt laws is attended with a doubt
on its Juccefi.,
The devifip.g and eftahlilhing of a
well regulated militia, would be a gen
uine source of legislative honor, and a
perfect title to public gratitude. I
therefore "entertain a hope, that the
present session will not pafe, without
carrying to its full energy, the power
of organizing, arming and ' disciplin
ing the militia; and thus providing,
in the language of the cpriftitution,
for calling them forth to execute the
laws of the Union, fupprefi infurrec.
tion, and repel invafibn.
A, auxiliary to the state of our de
fence ro which Congress cannot too
;frtqofo(ly recur, they will not omit
to inquire whether the fortifications
which have been already licensed by
law, fe commensurate with our ex
igencefy
The intelligence from the army un-
Ider the command of Gen. Wayne, it
a happy presage to our military ope
ration! against the hostile Indiana'
North of the Ohio. From the ad
vices which have been forwarded, the
advance he has made must have dam
ped the ardor of the favlges, and
weakened therr obilinacy in waging
war against ^ United States, and
yet, even at thiflate hour, when bur
oower to Dunifh them cannot be
^^'a ^fc
of candor, equity, and good neigh
bou'hood# ~•
[number 112.]