The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-06

trlotlSm and good sense or the people must ultl-
mately triumph over all such demonstrations
A seditious newspaper in this country may be
able to stir up riot, but not to set on foot a
revolution.
| The Whiskey Insurrection-Washin on =
| Procismation-nndt the City OF Bosom.
| Some of the Democratic presses are clamor
Gus for proclamation from the PRESIDENT to
call the seditious of the North to a sense OF
their legal and constitutional obligations. No
thing will answer but proclamation TO
reach their case but, unless we are marvel
lously in the wrong, these same journals have
arraigned both the late and the present admins
trations for similar proceedings in the case Of
the Cuban invasion and of the menaced rebel
lion in Texas. Thus it is with the Opposition
If q proclamation is issued in public exigen-
cy. the Administration is condemned if it is
withheld where there is no earthly call for it,
the Administration is alike condemned.
| Our interrogative and advising contemporary
Of the Union calls upon Mr.. FILLMORE to initiate
the example of General WASHINGTON, in the
| case of the Whiskey lnsurrectiOn in Pennsyva-
MIA. He seems to think that the present state Of
| things in the Northern States is a parallel to
that which existed in the Keystone State in
| 1894. He ought to know but if there is any
| resemblance between the exigency which called
| for President WAsHINGToN's proclamation and
| the present, there is no reliance to be placed on
| history.
| That we may not do injustice to our worthy
contemporary, we copy from the Union Of yes
| terday the following paragraph:
"We are glad to see that spirit of energy ami
| mates the executive proceedings in this Boston
| affair We hope there is no misunderstanding in
l the business. We also learn that two additional
| companies have been ordered to Boston from the
lake frontier. This looks as if the President was
l in earnest. We still think he should issue a pre-
! cautionary proclamation-such, in the general
| tone and purpose, as that of President Washing
ton, issued the 7th of August, 1874. 1t is sin
gular 10 observe, upon reading this proclamation,
hoto eraetIy similar the circumstances tcere IN that
case 10 those ersfing Boston. II would only re-
qure the alteration of few names and place.,
| and the title of the law assaled, to make that
| proclamation suit the present exigency. There
| is another reason why such a step should be
promptly adopted, and that is the fact that simi-
| lar combinations Of insurgents, on a smaller
scale, exist in other places, and win be likely to
create trouble and bloodshed, unless they are
dispersed and overawed We again most respect
| fully urge this the attention Of the
| Executive as an act Of prudence and moderation
| which would probably remove all distractions in
the way Of executing process, if the rioters and
insurgents were required TO disband forthwith
and desist from further menaces and outragcs
The celebrated poet once said that discretion is
/ the better part of valor.' In such emergency
as the present the ma kim should be reversed an
would be more emphatiealy true if it read that
vaior ~ the better part Of dscretion. Vigor now
will cave the Union-the want Of II put IL in icop-
| ardy."
The act which led to the consequences that
| required the Executive proclamation of August,
1874, was an act which imposed duty upon
spirits distilled within the United States, and
was passed by Congress on the Sd Of March,
1871. Ii produced at once great opposition,
both in Congress and among the people 1t
was stigmatized as an ercise, term odious to
the people from associations connected with the
former expressions Of the British government.
The Legislatures of Maryland, Pennsylvania.
Virginia, and North Carolina, united in decla-
rations Of dislike and resistance, which in the
| last mentioned State bordered on notification
But the most violent opposition was excited in
the western parts Of Pennsylvania and Viz
GINA, and more particularly in the counties Of
| Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and West
moreland, in Pennsylvania.
The law went into operation in June, 1891
In the following month a public meeting was
held at RedstOne Old Fort, which appointed
committee to meet at Pittsburg to draft peti-
ton 10 Congress for its repeal, and 10 CORE
spond with citizens Of other parts Of the coun-
try who might be disposed to join in such pc
tition. Various meetings were soon held. Of
committees and citizens, which declared any
man who accepted Office under the law an
enemy TO his country, and advised the citizens
TO treat him with contempt, and TO refuse all
kinds Of intercourse with him. The intern
perate language INDUCED on those occasions
innamed the spirit Of popular resistance, which
on the 9th Of September broke out into open
violence. On that day a collector OF the reve-
nue for the counties Of Allegheny and Wash
| ington was seized by body of armed men, was
stripped tarred and feathered. and robbed Of
his horse and money. A complaint was en-
| tered in the district court Of Pennsylvania.
| and process issued for the arrest Of three of the
persons engaged in the outrage. The deputy
marshal, to whom the process was committed.
was threatened with personal violence, and the
person who undertook to serve il was seized.
tarred and feathered, deprived of his horse and
watch, and left blindfolded and tied in the
woods.
In October of the same year an unfortunate
lunatc Of the name of WILSON, who imagined
that he was collector OF the revenue, men
toned that he was engaged in an important in
quiry respecting the excise, and that he was to
ascertain and report 20 Congress the names of
those who had not entered their stills, A few