The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-09

military COLLISION, and kdeclaring that "the
government is set at defiance, the contest be-
ing whether small portion q the United
States shall dictate TO tho whole Union, and
ct the expense Of those who desire peace, in
dulge separate ambition" The militia were
put in motion Immediately. Gov. Mitlin, Of
Pennsylvanis, who had ct 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 procure volunteers, and
by the exercise of his extraordinary gifts of
popular eloquence, soon caused the ranks to
be filled up.
The New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops we're
to rendezvous at Bedford; those of Maryland
and Virginia, at Cumberland. Marshall relates,
in his life of Washington, that some feeble at
tempts were made to paialyze the arm of the
government by sdeclarng that the representa-
tives of the people ought to be assembled before
a civil war was commenced; and that the presi-
dent could not lawfully call forth the militia of
any other state, until actual experiment had
ascertaned the insuficiency of that of Pennsyl-
vanis." But these insidious suggestions were
sjlenced by the general sense of the nation,
which loudly and strongly proclaimed that the
government and laws must be supported. The
officers displayed an uDexampled activity; aud
intelligence from every quarter gave full assur-
ance that, with respect to both numbers and
time, the requisition of the president would
punctually observed.
The president in person visited the divisions
of the army at Carlisle, Cumberland and Bedford,
and addressed the troops; but, being confident
that the force under arms was sufficient to
overawe all opposition. he left the secretary of
the treasury General Hamilton) to accompany il,
and returned to Philadelphia, then the seat of
the federal government, to attend to public BUSH
ness. From Cumberland and Bedford, the army
marched in two divisions, under command OF
General Heary Lee, of revolutionary fame, then
governor of Virginia, and father of Robert Z.
Lee the rebel general. The FIRST rebellion, I'M
der our constitution, was thus to be quelled by
the father of the very man who was commander
in-chef of the insurgent armies in the last rebel
lion. Major General Morgan, SO distinguished in
the campaign of the Carolinas against Earl Corn
wallis, also commanded division. On the
rival of the troops in the country of the insur-
gents, the disaffected did not venture to assem-
BILE in arms. The greatness of the force prevent
ed the effusion of blood.
"All announces trepidation and submission"
wrote Hamilton to Washington. s'The left wing
is to be posted between the Youghiogheny and
Mononghela; the right between Budd's Ferry
and Greensburg. part of the troops will take
a circuit by Pittsburgh; for the more places
they can appear in without loss of time, the bet
ter. The commander in chief has concluded to
take hold OF all who are worth the trouble, by
to the Judiciary. But it is apparent that, for
some time to come, a military force i'll this coun-
ty is indispensable" IT
Under the wholesome influence of military
suasion a change of feeling was soon seen in the
western counties. Bradford, and Others of the
more violent insurgents, fed the country to es-
cape punishment. Resolutions OF submission
were passed, delinquents were recommended to
surrender for trial, and assurances were given
that the excise duties could be collected without
difficulty, if the troops were withdrawn. The
| army crossed the Alleghanies in heavy rain,
up to their knees in mud, and not withour severe
| suffering. Two of the inhabitants were killed,
and this the only blood shed during the ex-
petition. The two wings of the army formed a
junction at uuiontown, and as they advanced in
to the disaffected counties, the re-establshment
of the authority of the law became complete
Lee issued proclamation, offering amnesty to
all who had entitled themselves to it, and calling
upon all the people to take the oath of allegiance
to the United States. At the same time a gen.
erafarrest took place OF persons supposed to be
| criminaIly concerned. Judge Breckenridge was
| among those bound over for trial, but instead
| OF being tried, he used as witness against
the others.
The rebellion put down, but body of
$500 men remained through the winter encamp-
ed in tie district. The excise was contins ed
without opposition, and revenue collected under
it until the year 1905, when it was repealed.
And no@ comes on the trial of the prisoners at
| Philadelphia. Unfortunately the more guilty of
the insurgents had fed the country, but five per-
sons fully indicted for high treason, in levy
| ing war against the United States. These ndict.
ments were tried in April, 1895, before the grand
jury OF the United States district court of Penn.
sylvania, Judges Peters and Peterson being on
the bench. The accused were defended BY Will
liam Lewis Philadelphia lawyer in large prac-
tice, who had heretofore distinguished himself by
the iDtrepidity with which he undertook the de-
Tense of tie royaliss at the close of the war
HI was gifted with fine reasoning powers and
with much energy and terseness of diction. His
popularity with the Quakers was unbounded, and
he had saved many a loyalist Friend, who had
been guilty of disafection to the revolut ionary
cause, from verdict of guilty. 1t is said that
Lewis gave the whisky insurgents a plump opin-
ion that their offense did not amount to treason
and that if permitted to have his own way, he
would clear them all. On the other side there
were pitted against Lewis William Rawle, the
United States district attorney, a most profound
and skilhul advocate, and the author of a trea-
tse on the constitution, still in high repute and
Attorney General Bradford. The trials continu-
ed several days, causing much public interest,"
although the escape of the chief culprits, and
the entire reestablishment of the authority of the
United States in the disafected district had
materially lessened their Importance. One of
the defendants was found, by the jury not guilty
being proved another person than the one indict-
ed for levying war. Two others were discharged
| upon the insufficiency of the evidence, or other
technical grounds, and two-MitcheIl and Vigol
were found guilty of treason The president
however, judged it to be proper occasion for
the exercise of executive clemency, and accord
ingly pardoned both the criminals.
81. 'Incidents of the instruction in Pennsyl
vsnia in 1894. By Hugh Henry Breckenridge"
Svo, Philadelphia, 1895.
2. History of the insurrection in Pennsylva-
mia, in 1874. By VIM. Findlay." S2S pp.,
Svo Philadelphia, 1896.
History Of the western insurrection. By
Henry NJ Breckenridge" 336 PIP, svo, Pitts
burg, 1859.
Hamilton's works, vol. ", p. At.
Mr.. Trumbull said his amendment to the post
Office bill, denying pay to officers appointed by
the president during the recess of the senate,
''was not aimed at the president" Will any