The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-05-31


The alternative of subduing this oren and
forc bic resistance, or Of submitting to it,
was presented to the Administration. Wash
ington chose the former. On the 9TH of
August, 1894. he Issued his Proclamation,
three weeks; prohibiting all persons from
aiding or abeting the perpetrators of such
reasonable acts; and declaring his purpose
to "call forth the militia to suppress the
combinations aforesaid, and to cause the
laws to, be duly executed, in the most solemn
conviction that the essential Interests OF the
Union demand it. " On the same day,
requisition was made on the Governors of
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia, for twelve thousand militia, (af-
terward increased to fifteen thousaud) who
were to be Immediately organized and ready
to march at at moment S waning.
While steps were being taken to bring the
force into the field, last attempt was made
to render its employment unnecessary.
Three distinguished citizens were appointed
Commissioners to bear to the 'insurgent
general. amnesty for past offenses, on the sole
condition Of future obedience. Their in
structions, drawn up by Edmund Randolph,
Secretary Of State, clearly stipulated that
the excise law must be executed as pre-
hminaly to any arrangement; that process
against the ringleaders in the rebellion must
pot be obstructcd, and that the duties of
1894 must be paid although nothing would
be exactcd for the furmcr years.
Meanwhile, the Insurgents were using
every means to extend the circle Of di>affec-
tioh, and succeeded in drawing the neigh
boring counties of Virginia largely engaged
IN the dishllely interest, into the rebellion.
! he impression became general that the body
OF the people were ready to resist the Gov
emment by force Of arms, and many bclived
that the resistance THUS commenced would
spread through the Union, and bring about
revolution. Those who see through a
rose-coIorcd medium the fancicd peace and
security, and universal popularity of "the
great and good Washington" have little
conception OF the stormy times which, on
more than one occasion, bcset his admins
traton of public affairs. A great meeting
of insurgents was held at Parkinson Ferry
where liberty pole was erected, and on its
rcd flag foatcd the inscription, "Librg
and no ErciSci No 4&ytam for Traitors and
ComadS" At this meeting twelve com
missoners were appointed to confer with
those sent by the President On the Dist
day OF August the commissioners on both
sides met at Pittsburgh. After tedious
amount of paIaver, and an interchange of
communications and counter communica-
tons, now filing hundred pages Of print,
the conference separated, being unable to
agree upon any basis Of settlement which
came within the terms Of their inStruc-
tons. Meanwhile, the Federal Commission
crs were inaulted and even attacked by the
populace.
Hugh IT, Breckenridge, the eccentric
Pittsburgh Judge, and the author Of Mod
ern Chivahy, y was conspicuous in his warn
ings to the Federal authorities He wrote
thus,aftcr urging delay on the part of the
Government:
at will be said, this insurroction can be
easily SupproSSed; ii is but that of Il part of
four counties. Be assured it is that of the
greater part. and tho throe Virginia counties
this side Of the mountain, will fall in. The
first measure, then, will be the reorganiG;l-
ton of a new Government, compreheuding
the three Virginia counties, and those of
Pennsylvania to the Westward, TO what ex-
tent l know not. Should an attempt be
made TO suppress these people, am afraid
that the question will not be whether you
will march to Pittsburgh, bat Whcihsr they
Wttt WCtFCN 10 iWtEittt(IftH. I)lACkCEl-
ridges letter to Tench Coke August s,
1894.
These implied threats of secession and
disunion, sound strangely from the pen OF
man who atterward denounced the whisky
insunecction," inno measured terms. ut
is proved, says Hamilton, in letter to
Washington, that Breckenridge did not
subscribe until after the day, and that he
E,,,, I'll ct Ill Il,
Democratic politician contrivcd to be admit
ted to the confidence Of the commissioners,
and was made use Of as a means of qucl-
ing the tumult of the people, Brackinridge
himself writes aferwsrd: 81 was received
by Hamilton with that countcnance which a
man will have, when he sees person with
regard to whom his humanity and sense of
justice struggles. He would have him saw
ed, but was afraid he must be hanged. -
His final appeal having failed, the Presi-
dent determined to vindicate the authority
of the Government by the argument of last
resort. lie issued a third proclamation,
September rs, setting forth his attempts to
pacily the excitement by miIdmeasurcS, an d
their utter failure; declaring his resolution
ito reduce the refractory to due subordi-
nation to the law exhorting all men to
Contemplate with abhorrence those crimes
which produce this military colision;" and
declaring that ''the Government is set at
defiance, the contest being whether a small
portion Of the United States shall dictate to
the whole Union, and, at the expense of
those who desire peace, indulge a desperate
ambition. The militia were put i'll motion
Immediately. Governor Miff'lin, of Penn
sylvania who had at first hesitated when
called on by Washington, now became zeal
Gus in the war, and to save the delay Of
draft, he made q personal tour through the
eastern counties to secure volunteers, and
by the exercise of his extraordinary gifts of
popular cloqucnc6, soon caused the ranks to
be filled up The New Jersey and Penn
syysnia troops we're to rendezvous at Bed
ford; those Of Maryland and Virginia, at
Cumberland. Marshall relates, in his Life
of Washington, that some feeble attempts
were made to paralyze the arm of the Gov
ernment by
Declaring that the representatives of the
people ought 10 be assembled before civil
war was commenced; and that the Presi-
ident could not lowfully call forth the mill
tia of any other State, until actual expert
ment had aScertained the insuf1ciency of
that Of Pennsylvania. But these insidious
suggestions were s1lencea by the general
sense of the nation. which loudly and
strongly proclaimed that the Government
and laws must be supported, The officers
displayed an unexampled activity; and in
telligence from every quarter gave full as
surance that, with respect to both numbers
and time, the requisition Of the President
would be punctually observed
The President, in person, visited the di-
visions of the arlny at Carlisle, Cumberland
and Bedford; and addressed the troops; but,
being confident that the force under arms
was adequate to overawe oil opposition, he
left the Secretary Of the Treasury General
Hamilton), to accompany it, and returned
to Philadelphia, then the seat Of the Fsdet-
al Government, to attend to the public
business. From Cumberland and Bedford,
the army marched in two divisions, under