Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-06-30
American Rebellions-Past and
Present.


been six insurrections,or attempted insur-
rections, since the formation of the Fed
d eral Government. Some Of these out
breaks, We're rather riots, or bloodess de-
monstrations of popular discomfort but
they are generally called instructions,
and it is sufficient for our present purpose
to so consider them.
What is popularity known as Shay's
rebellion is the first instance Of organized
resistance to lawful government in the
;, United States. In 1886, Daniel Shay,
a citizen Of Massachusetts, became the
. leader of a party of malconients in the
Old Bay State, which had organized to
right such grievances as heavy State tax
alton, the high salary of the Governor,
the aristrocatic tendencies of the State
Senate, and other similar local grievances.
1t was entirely family quarrel, and the
State troops settled the difficulty by
killing three the insurgents and wound
) ing others. Shay and some of bis fellow
insurrectionists were captured and SUBJ
sequenly tried, convicted and sentenced
to death; but all were finally pardoned, |
and thus ended Shay's rebellion.
The Whisky Insurrection in Penn,
toward the close of the administration OF
President Washington, was more form I
idable outbreak. 1t arose from discon-
tent caused by the heavy excise tax i'm
posed by Congress upon distilled domes,
tic spirits This insurrection ended with
ont bloodshed, and, if we mistake not, a
name,ake and ancestor of the present
rebel Gen. Robert L. Lee held promi-
nent command in the troops sent to en-
force obedience TO the laws Of the United
States.
Burr's enterprise, in 1907, the precise
meaning Of which has never been clearly
made out, bat which is believed 10 have
/ been the intended invasion of Mexico,
and the formation of great Southwest
ern empire, was the next revolutionary
movement. In that case no overt act
Of treason was committed, and the trial :
of Bnrr, in Richmond, resulted in an
abandonment Of the prosecution by the I
government, and the acquittal of the {
accused. Notification in South Carolina t
in 1882 was, in its effects. a more mis- t
. t------ ---.-i-.';~,---s- - s.fT',rt than either
of those that had preceded it; but in this
case there was no bloodshed, no overt {
act of war, and no punishment inflicted Z
upon any Of the leaders. a
Doris rebellion in Rhode Island, near +
ly or quite quarter Of century ago fl
has frequently been referred to by South -
ern rebels, along with Shay's rebellion, a
the Whisky Insurrection & Burr's f4sc2, RI
by way Of excuse for secession, the main o.
actors in all these movements being II
northern men. But there is no parallel u
among any Of the cases spoken Off @,
Dorr found Rhode Island governed by r,
an old charter granted the State by q,
Charles H., as far back as 1868. He W
agitated its repeal, and upon a popular tn
vote its abrogation was ordained, and be le
was elected governor upon the reform al
ticket. Governor King ald the charter
party which he led refused to recognize
he act of the people, claiming that the co
charter was perpetual and unalterable,
bat it could not be amended or repealed, ba
md armed resistance was made TO the
Dorrites. John Tyler, then accidental
President, sent United States troops to be
i'd the State forces of Rhode Island in
heir anl-republican stand, and after a sct
Ioodless struggle (except that an limo au
ent cow was shot by mistake by pick
t) Governor Dorr was arrested, tried
nd sentenced to imprisonment for life.
lie was afterward pardoned, the record 50
t his sentence ordered expunged, and Dr
e lived to see the old monarchial charter
'gally abolished and republican con. tio,
tuition adopted. We
John Browns famous raid into Virginia do,
| 1859 comes next in the chronological o.
'der among recognized American out b;s
reaks. John Brown, crack Drained chi
with score of follow ers, made il r
ar upon Virginia, and, in pursuit of mi
lid project of freeing the slaves in the mo-
Id Dominion, he took possession of noo
nited States property at Harper's Fer t,r
, and be broke the laws of the Com tha
onwealth of Virginia. The State dealt tn,
It harsh justice to the offenders, and but ;nr
single soul of them escaped Those the,
40 were not killed in the unequal fight, wbf
murdered after they were made pris. the
ers, were hanged, and Virginia made wer
rself almost as ridiculous in her whole. Aft,
e sanguiDary settling of accounts with from
9 raiders, as she had before made her kn;f
{ by her childish fears and trepidation. and
The great rebellion which began in Pre-
81, and which now seems to be in its dan,
t gasp, is the next outbreak in order. the
'angely enough, the nearest parallel to vou
among all former American insur- s,nd
tions is the John Brown raid. There
5 bloodshed in the case of the latter.
.ry soul of the raiding party, except
- - 49, eo,, -; 80 D''iug lit
m the gallows. But John Brown 'no
De war upon what be honestly and ~
husiastically believed to be a wrong. se"y'
not in support of a crime. John u;ea. -"
,wn was not educated at the expense So 81.
Virginia he had never sworn special '@0
o support its constitution and its laws.
he never enjoyed high hOnors and w
,luments at the hands of the common singh
lth which be made war upon. Where the
q Brown was innocent, Robert Lee
niliy. He was educated at the cost w