Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-01-09

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treated them all. In a short time
however, after the whiskey wa.
drunk, some of them began TO mur
mur, and to say that the old rasca
was let M too easy, and that hi
ought to be set up as a target to b.
shot at; some were for tarring anC
feathering him, but others took hi,
part, and said he had acted manfully
and that after capitulating with him
they were bound by everything
sacred, TO treat him honorabiy. A
length they got TO fighting amongs
themselves. After this ii was pro
posed and carried, that Reagan
should be Court-martialed, and tha
they weuld march of, right away
to Ben. Wells, OF Faye:te county,
the excise officer there, and catek
him and try him and Reagan both
together. They set out accordingly
taking Reagan along, but when they
arrived at Wells house, he Yves not
there, so they set fire TO il and burn
ed it down, with all its contents
They left an ambush near the ruins,
in order, if they could, 10 seize Wells.
Next morning he was taken, but du-
ring the night, as Reagan had escaped,
and Wells was very submissive with
them, they let him off without fur
ther molestation.
The next attack was made on
Captain Webster, of Stoystown, the
excise officer for Somerset county,
by company of about one hundred
and fifty men, from Westmoreland.
They took his commission from him,
and made him promise never again
TO act as collector Of excise. An
attempt was made by some OF the
party, TO fire his hay-siacks, but it
was prevented, by others of them,
before any injury was done. They
marched off homewards, akin g
Webster a few miles along with
them, and seeing him very submis-
sive, they ordered him TO mount a
stump, and repeat his promise, never
again TO act as a collector o. excise,
and to hurrah three times for Tom
the Tinker, after which they dismis-
sed him. This Tom the Tinker
was a new God added TO Mythology
at this time, and was supposed to
preside over whiskey-stills, and still
houses. Whoever hurrahed stoutly
for Tom the Tinker. was of unques-
tionable loyalty with the whiskey
boys; whilst those who would not
were branded as traitors to this new
Deity, and to their country.
Now, fellow citizens, ipresume
that many ofyou may wish TO know
what part / took in that unhappy
affair. | confess frankly that it was
with reluctance, / Iremained neutral
spectator. Had it not been for the
good advice Of my venerable father,
whose counsel | followed, rather
than my own inclination, | should
most likely have taken an active part,
with those that were outraging the
laws of their country. Through his
instrumentality, ] was fortunately
saved from course of conduct, that
must, on reflection, forever after,
have given me uneasiness. II was
shortly before this time, that the
Jacobin spirit had overthrown the
French government, and drenched
the nation in blood; and many good
and rejecting men began TO fear,
that under the spurious names Of
democracy and liberty, the same
evil spirit was about to take posses
sion Of our people. Affairs had noy
arrived at such a crisis, that either
the government or the people must
submit, and tor the government 10
have done so, under the circumstan-
ces, would have been an end Of the
government. Nothing now could
restore order, but the strong arm of
the nation. The President called
out the Militia from the eastern
part Of Pennsylvania. J erse
and Virginia. Upwards
of five thousand men. consisting of
infantry, cavalry, and a few COM
panies Of artillery, promptly obeyed |
the call Of the President. The Penn
sylvania and Jersey troops, came up
through Somerset, and halted in three
divisions on this side Of the chestnut
ridge. The advance division came
on to where this town. now stands;
the second division, encamped on
Colonel Bonnet's farm, and the rear
division, remained at Lobingier's
Mills. They remained in their en-
campments for the space Of about
eight days; during which time, the
cavalry, conducted by the excise of
icers, were oet securing the country
in search of whiskey boys. But
chiefly all those who had taken an
active part in the late insurrectionary
had either fed, OF secre-
ed themselves, so that lew could be
;ouDd; | believe not more than one
lr two. The mart of the army in