The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-01-19
sHAYs, RESURRECTION,


late, affording parallel to the course ex
pected from South Carolina. But there
is, in fact, little Of no parity IN the case
In Massachusetts, the insurrection was
quelled by the State. authorities; while in
South Carolina, it Is the State authorities
themselves, who are leading the incipien,
rebellion. Shays had neither office mol
power to make his influence felt, nor tai
ents to delude or guide the multitude
He attained the rank of Captain in the
army of the Revolution; but he acquired
no laures in that honorable service, and
voluntarily resigned his rank in the army,
and retired to private life, before the OBJ
jects Of the war were achieved.
When peace was proclaimed, the fran
ces Of the State were in confusion, and
the affairs Of individuals embarrassed
The debt OF Massachusetts alone was
$500, 900, and taxation Of course heavy.
The number OF debtors was so great, that
lin 1882 the legislature had been reduced
to resort to the empirical expedient cf an
Act, requiring creditors to receive in pay
ment for their debts, cattle and other spe-
ciic articles Of property, rendered by the
debtors. This Relief quackery only ex-
asperated the disease, and the law was
suffered to expire in year. Discomfort
ed debtors then held Conventions, and
soon resolved to resort to Stop Law meas
ures; they prescribed Shcrifis, Lawyers,
Judges and Courts. The disa1ected sue
ceeded in their attempt to exclude law
yers from their seats in the General Court,
still the Legislature were unable to re-
dress the iancied grievances of the dis
contented. In autumn of 1885 the mall
contents assembled in muittudes at the
shire towns, and by force prevented the
-sittrgs of the courts of justice.
Daniel Shuys appeared at the head Of
1000 armed men at Springfield, to prevent
Il e sitting of the Supreme Court. Gen.
WIN. Shepard, however, with GOO men,
had pre-occupied the Court House, and
Shays retired. When the Legislature
assembled, an act passed to suspend the
privilege of Habeos Corpus, and the Gov
ernor (Bowdoin) was authorized to arrest
by State Warrant, any sed.ious insur-
gent, and imprison him without bail or
manprise. Shays and other insurgent
chiclians marched to Worcester and
Concord, to stop the courts. The Gov
ernor despatched parties ofvolunteer cav
airy from Boston to Worcester and Mid
dlesex Counties in November, and Job
Shattuck and several others were arrest
ed and confihed in Boston Jail. Shays
exclaimed with an oath that he would
have done it, had it not been for that Coun-
IN of Esser. Essex was almost the only
county that was perfectly loyal and unin-
lec,ed. In old Hampshire, Shays with
300 of his followers took possession ofthe
Court House at Springfield, and prevent
ed the sitting Of the-Court. 80.
Tho Governor finding the Posse CONT
fatus was too weak to resist such violence,
ordered detachment Of 440O rank and
file of the militia to be raised, to be ready
to act by the 9th of January, 1887, un-
der Major General Benjamin Lincoln
A body of militia reached Worcester on
the 22d, and the Court was protected
Gen. Shepard, with another detachment
of militia, Of 100 men, were stationed at
Springfield to protect the Arsenal. The
rebels under Daniel Shays, Luke Day,
and Ell Parsons, soon gathered force in
that vicinity Of 2OOOmen, ard on the 2eth
of January advanced in menacing aitit-
ude towards the arsenal. Gen. Shepard
sent an Aide-de-camp TO inquire into the
design of the movement, and to warn
Shays of his danger. The answer was
that they ,rould hare possession Of the
barracks; and they Immediately marched
to within $50 yards of the arsehal. They
were again warned that if they approach
ed nearer, they would be fired on; still
they approached. Gen. S. ordered two
shots to be fired over their heads; still
they advanced. He then ordered the ar
tillery to be pointed at the centre of their
column. Tho cry of murder then arose
from the rear of the insurgents, and the
whole were struck with panic and confus-
ion. Shays lost all control over them,
they fed precipitately, ten miles, leaving
three dead and one wounded. Gen. Lin
coin arrived OH the 9th, and commenced
pursuit of the rebels, which continued
iii the principal part wero dispersed.
Those who held together on the Sd oi
February, marched TO Petersham. Gen.
Lincoln with his forces, commenced the
pursuit at eight o'clock tho same evening,
and made forced march of thirty miles,