The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-29
THEKANSAs SQUABBLE.


caused fears TO be entrtained !: some quar-
tiers that disiurbanceslf serious nature may
happen in that Territey. 1t is regarded il
the light of coIision5etween the people o.
Kansas and the federalgovernment; and per
sons of gloomy habitpf mind look forward
to bloodshed, disorder, and perhaps civil war
rs IFS natural consequences.
This, says the Herald is not in accordance
with the teachings o history. Without
searching carefully for very instance of q
conflict of authority between the States and
the federal government, I've instances of open
rupture between the tw, will occur to every
active memory. All of,hesc it may be said
appeared more Formidable i'll their inception
than this Kansas squabjlc, and all ended in
smoke.
The first is known in history as Shay's re.
bellion. 1t grew out of he reluctance, and,
in some degree, the incapcity of the farmers
of Massachusetts to pay he excise duties and
State tax required to pay pf the debt incurred
during the war. In September, 1886, mobs
assembled and threatened the Legislature OF
Massachusetts, and also of some of the neigh.
boring States. Congress alarmed at the phc.
nomenon, voted to enlist 1900 men to put
down the rebellion in Massachusetts, and TO
raise half million ofnoney to pay them
At this time the constitution had not been
adopted, the government was unsettled the
war was over certainly, but lis bad effects re.
manned, and there was 10 saying how far the
popular reputation principles of Shay might
spread, or where the proposed collision might
lend. The danger, boldly grapplcd with, soon
vanished Shay and his men were put down
by the Massachusetts, militia, and the appre-
hended collision nevertook place.
In the year 1904, aninsurrection took place
in the State of Pennsylvania, kuownin histo-
ry rs the Whiskey ina,rrecton. 1t was so
general and so well organized that for some
time it held command of the counties where
it arose. Governor Miflrn rather doubted his
own authority TO repress it; upon which
President Washington sent to Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, for n
body of 10000 men, whom he afterwards in
creased to 5000. People now said there
would be collision in earnest. Many com.
mendcd the cautious inertia OF the Governor,
and condemned the action of the President
rs rash, unconstitutional and ill-advised. The
Secretary of State, Randolph, was of opinion
that the appeal to force could not but lead to
q general CONFUSION, in which the national
prosperity and perhaps existence would be
gravey jcopardised Breckenridge offered to
prove that the rebels could defend themselves
against any force the general government
could send against them. Yet how did the
SOU; bible end! Not only was there no con.
vulsion, no national crisis, and no defeat, but
there was no fight at al-thc rebels gave in
without striking blow, and the expected
collision was again deferred.
Twelve years afterward, the minds of men
were aroused by a new prospect of collision
between the government of Mr.. Jefferson and
the supposed rrbrls, iIlbustcrs OF Ionarchi,,s
of the West and Southwest, under the com.
mand of Aaron Bur-. Letters from the Mis-.
sssippi announced the imminent prospect of
civil war. Ohio, and the territories on the
Mississippi were said to be ripe for rebellion,
and armed parties were already observed to
take possession Of River Island and other safe
spots. Mr.. Jefferson, not crediting the trea-
sohable designs imputed to the macontents,
issued proclamation warning all men against
flibustering expeditions. At the same time
private instructions were sent to the Cover
nors of Territories to arrest Burr, and TO the
commanders Of the United States troops to be
ready to act for the preservation OF the peace.
Assuredly, no one who is acquainted with the
molly character of the Mississippi settlers, or
the spirit Of the men who were leagued with
Burr, will deny that this was an occasion of
great peril. A very little might really have
plunged the territory into war-and such a
war! But, in fact, there was no declaration
of war, or fent of any such. Burr was quietly
taken, and his trial, acquittal and subsequent
life are matters of history.
Twenty years afterward, the ownership of
the Indian lands within the State of Geor-
gia had very nearly embroied the United
States with the people of that State. 1t does
not appear at the present day that the ques-
ton of the validity of the treaty with the
Creeks need have involved quarre! between
the United States and Georgia; and one can
not help ascribing n large share of the re-
sponsibity for the feud to the hot temper of
Gov. Troup. While it lasted, the dispute was
warm Arms, were distributed in Georgia, and
the old forts strengthened; people talked of
war confidently. President Adams was well
fitted to act ~ n damper to Governor Troup's
zeal the controversy was settled.
In 1882, collision between the general
government and the people again appeared
to be the inevitable consequence of the tar
ifs of IS24,-'2S and '32. They drove
South Carolina to the verge of rebellion, by
persisting thatthe proper office of government
of the United States was not TO tax the
whole peopel thereof for the benefit of the
Northern factories. This time the belief
that disruption of the Union was at hand
wasalmost universal. Yet it blew over with.