The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-09

Of the State mht seize the in the federal arsenal
the government Under pretencs Of raising troops
against the Northwestern Indians Congress voted 70 enlist
thirteen hundred men TO sustain the state OF Massacnu
sets special requston Of about half million Of dol
lars was made upon the Ststes for the sup
port OF these troops on the credit Of which loan
was authorized, being understood that wealthy
men Of Boston would advance the money The insured
tioD however, had already broken out before these
Daniel Shays late q captain in the Continental army
the 9th Of December l7S6, took possession Of wor
cester and enectuay prevented the session Of the gu
preme Court IN that town. AT the head Of another
smaller body he repeated the operation at Spring
field but beyond preventing the sessions Of the courts
Governor Bowdoin 1t once called ont four thousand
militia 70 serve for thirty days, under the command Of
General , Lincoln tho necessary mesns 70 sustain sustain which
In the depth OF Of the severest Of winters, the
10Th Of January the quotas Of the eastern counties
on their way to Springfield to relieve General Shepard
who was guarding the federal arsenal there at the head
had appeared in that the number OF
two thousand in three bodies under three different
leaders, Of whom shays was the principal the Others
west OF the river. Shays demanded possession Of the
arsenal, and approached from Wibraham to take it.
Shepard pointed pieces OF cannon at the advancing
column and when the insurgents persisted in approach
ing be the order TO fire. The first discharge was
their heads when the pieces leveed at their
ranks cry Of murder arose from shays men, who
then broke and fed in confusion leaving three killed
and one wounded.
gents retreated towards Amherst They were fol-
lowed, but made good their retreat TO Pelham,
inaccessible by reason Of the snow fhe weather was
very severe and Lincoln turned aside at Hadey to put
surgents offered to dispense condition Of general par
don; but Lincoln had authority to make such pro-
mise. While this negotiation was still pending the in
surgens hard pressed for PROVISIONS broke up their
camp and retreaed to Petersham, on the borders Of
Worcester county. AZ soon as Lincoln was informed OF
this movement, at six O'Clock the evening, he
started in pursuit. Pushing all night through drv
ing northeast snow storm, he accomplished . march
snd entered Peersham the next to the
utter establishment Of the insurgents OF whom one hun
bred and fifty were made prisoners The rest, having
had few minutes warning fed hastily by the northern
road. Most Of the leaders escaped into New Hamp-
SHIRE The insurgents east Of the Connecticut being thus
dispersed, Lincoln moved into Berkshire, the extreme
western county, where the macontents were still more
numerous
Meanwhile the General Court had been called together
declaration Of rebellion put forth, and the neigh
boring States called upon to assist in arresting
and dispensing the insurgents who urked in their
borders, whence they made plundering ncursions
into Massachusetts, proceeding far kidnap
some Of their most obnoxious opponents About eighty
Of these punderers from New York. after attack on
Stockbridge intercepted by many militia the
road and action ensued in which two killed and
thirty wounded. New Hampshire, Connecticut and New
York responded promptly TO the request OF Aassachu
sets, but Vermont and Rhode Island were more
backward Seine Of the leaders fled TO Canada.
The trouble finally settled in this manner-A free
pardon laying down their and taking the oath Of
allegiance, was offered TO all who had served
among
as non commissioned officers, with deprivation,
however for three years of the right TO vote to
as jurymen or 70 Dc employed as scnoomassers inn.
taken subject TO the decision Of commission ap
pointed for their disposal OF those taken and tried four
teen found guilty OF treason and sentenced to death
Many others were convicted Of sedition. None how
ever, executed. Indeed the punshments inflicted
and the terms imposed by the commission above men
toned of whom hundred and ninety persons took
the BENEFIT In general very moderate. Harsh
would not have been eae AT least third OF the
lat hons tn or W
insurgents and the slight penalties imposed
not inflicted without serious opposition At the ensuing
general election the prevalence Of these sentiments be-
very apparent The energetic Bowdoin dropped
and Hancock reinsated Governor while many those
their places in the General Court Thus happily ter
minated difficulties which at one time wore the most
aspect and seemed about 70 result h n the
so much blood and treasure to establish.
THE wHIsKEY TNsURRECTION-l79l2-3 -4.
According to the calculations in $780, OF Alexander
Hamilton then the Secretary Of the Treasury, there
required to meet the charges growing out Of the assump
of the State debts additional annual
$500 o0o This he proposed to raise by
NJ the dutios imported spirits, and tax by way Of
excise those produced at home. Accordingly, in
1871, Congress enacted laws imposing upon all imported
spirits duty varying from twenty to forty cents gal
Ion. The excise to be collected domestic spirits
varied with their strength, from nine to twenty five
cents per gallon those distilled from grain and from
eleven thirty when the material was moasscs or
der imported product thus allowing q considerable
discrimination in favor Of the exclusively home pro
duct. .
For the collection OF these duties each State was made
inspection district with supervisor and each dis
trct subdivided into surveys Of inspection each
with It's inspector. All distllers required to enter
their diseries at the nearest ONCE OF inspection, with
complete description of all the buildings, which build
ngs to be subject the constant examination OF an
inspector appointed for that purpose who to guage
and brand the casks the duties to be paid before the
mova Of the spirits from the dstlery. But save
expense and trouble TO both parties Of this
sight, the small country stills not situated any
village pay annual rate Of sixty per gal
Ion the capacity Of the STILL All casks containing
sprits not properly branded and certified liable to
forfeiture.
From the very commencement OF the operation
OF these laws combinations formed In the
them and violent acs were repeatedly committed The
insurgents followed, ms they supposed the example OF
e hcE - 40 escss law p
said that IN Pennsylvania alone the number Of private
stills not less than Eve thousand. Rye. their prnc
ains, and having market for It. they obliged 70
convert 1t into the easily transported article OF
ssis, sugar and iron They had cultivated their lands
for years at the peril OF their lives, with
lite or no protection from the feeders. government and
grain 10 meet their expenses Of living, they
tered with law which forbade them doing they
pleased with the fruits Of their abors In eject II was
bad government tax wheat would be at the pre-
sent day TO the Western farmer.
The Indignation Of the people consequently univer
sal Public meetings held, composed Of the most
Influential mep, denouncng the law, and resolutions
parsed recommending the public 70 treat al persons hold
Ing the Office Ct collector Of the with contempt They
were consequently subjected to all sorts OF ndgnties.
IN september i7e1 Robert Johnson the Collector for Al
eghany and Washington waSway laid his hair and
he tarred and feathered The next month named
WILSON AIKEN from his bed by persons In Disguise,
carried several miles 10 blssksmth's shop stripped
naked burned with redh hot iron, and covered vfth
ooas Of tar and feathers Others met with siilar
msnt.
m May, 17o2, Congress parsed material notifications TO
tho law but al 70 purpose The excitement increased
and not only collectors visited with violence, but
also those disers who complied with the law Barns
were burned houses torn down, and ddh threatened
those who should disclose the names Of the adverrs
Of the law 80 strong the public feeling that one
word In favor Of the act was enough 70 ruin any
was considered . badge OF toryism. No clergyman,
physician lawyer or merchant was sustained by the