The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-09
THE WHISKY RESURRECTION.
The First Trial for Treason i'm the
United States.

We are often told that the events we are
now passing through are utterly unprece-
dented in our history" Many assure US
that they are also without parallel or prece-
dent in the history of the world. Without
stopping to criticise this tendency, common
to all ages, to magnify present events and in-
terests, and conoeding fully the extrao.dina-
~ character of the times in which we live, it
Is at the same time pertinent to recall those
events in our history which have q bearing
upon the great questions which now arise
for settlement. 1t is probable that the trial
of the chief conspirator and traitor IN the
now vanquished rebellion will soon occur,
and ii becomes interesting to consider the
former trials for treason in our history, to re-
call the character and crimes OF the offenders,
and to mark the principles on which they
were decided.
THE WHISKY INsURRECTI0NIsTs.
What is commonly known as the whisky
insurrection," gave rise TO the first trials for
treason under the constitution Of the United
This rebellion upon small scale, as it would
now be considered, sprang up in the early
years of Washington's administration, and
has been honored with elaborate histories by
two cotemporaneous writers, and by one his
torian of modern days. 1t grew out of the
act of congress, of March 3, 1871, which i'm
posed duty on spirits distilled within the
United States. This measure, although nec-
essary to raise revenue toward canoeling the
heavy debt of the revolution, was violently
denounced in the middle and southern states
as burdsnsome and tyrannical. A portion of
North Carolina became seriously disafected,
and large meetings were held to depounce
the law. But 1t was in the western par: of
Pennsylvania, settled chiefly by the Scotch,
and Irish Presbyteriaus, that opposition to
the law was most determined. In the coun-
ties of Alleghaney, Washington Fayette and
Westmoreland, an agitation was started.
which, in two or three years. ripened into an
organized instruction, and involved It's lead
ers in the crime OF treason.
1t was the stroag motive of peouniarv in.
terest that led the people of these counties to
such lengths. The war of the revolution. by
cutting off importation, had stimulated these
rich grain growing regions to the manufacs-
ure of spirits until the most Of the United
States was supplied from this source, aud
the whole "Western Country" of Pennsylva-
MIA, as it was then called, swarmed with dis.
tilleries. The trade was lucrative, and whis.
ky was so valuable that, in the scarcity of
specie, it was used universally as currency,
thus becoming, in more senses than one, "a
circulating medium"
Those VINO are familiar with the fervld low
atty of Western Pennsylvania in tbs present
day will read, with surprise, of the wide
spread disafection which then obstructed the
laws of the federal government. and had pre-.
viously opposed the adoption of the federal
constitution. Public meetings were every
where held to denounce the law; the Pitts
burgh Gazette teemed with violent abuse of
the government and it's officers; petitions for
repeal were poured into congress the excise
officers were driven from their Offices. pro-
soribed, and, IN severrl cases, taTred and
fsathered; leagues OF distillers were formed,
pledged to non compliance with she law, and
the stills OF such as complied with it were
destroyed an association, called the ''Mingo |
Greek society, was formed, composed Of |
battalion OF militia, governed, absolutely, by
q president and council, and i.s members
sworn to secresy. These outrages were s.;no.
ulated by the forbearsnoe of the povernmant
inst as the failure of the government 70 ~,
forth it's strength. early in 1861, bronrhtp :.
;nto contempt with the rebels and sem;a,shois
~ the south. Congress, in 1892, modiGa5
tba law. somewhat, to paclfy the maloon. /
rants. but this had the opposite effect. The
v,olators of the law were encouraged by the |
hona of IMMUNITY, and the first mild procla-
!, at;on of the president Washington }. issued
m September, 1892. was utterly disregard
A. leneth congress awoke to the necessity
e .oms stringent Legislation, to enable sne
.x.cnt;ye 10 enforce the laws. and, IN june,
~ sct was passed providing for the tflal OF
.e.r... .rsinst the revenue laws, at the
~. t;r,e = rs determined, and instruc-