Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-01

MAY ~, 1ooz.
The Revolutionary war was scarcely
over when there began to be heard
mutterings of discomfort with existing
authority. A full analysis of the causes
which led to the outbreak now COM
monty styled "The Shays Rebellion Z"
there is not space, in this resume of the
lecture, to give in full. But this may
be said. The eight years war burdened
the people beyond any experience which
the country has had either before or
since. That struggle, besides reducing
the resources of the people, left them
with enormous public and private in
debtedness, and with nothing, IN the
way of currency, but the continental
paper money which was almost worth
less. Business was, therefore, nearly
PROSTATE, there being no standard of
value. Taxes were high and difficult of
collection. We produced little TO ex-
port, and imported SO much that the
balance of trade was heavily against us.
Thus there was a constant drain upon
the little reserve of money. Harsh legal
measures were then in vogue for col
lection of debts and taxes. There was
no bankrupt act. The claims of credi-
tors were satisfied in full, by legal pro.
cess, in the order of the attachments
placed upon the property. Hence a
creditors only chance was to get an
early legal hold Therefore, if any sus-
picion as to mans credit arose, his
property was sure to be covered by at
tachments. Litigation throve under
these circumstances. Much property
was sacrificed by sheriff's sale, and the
jailu were rapidly filling with debtors.
Many held the State responsible for
this state of things, and the more they
talked about it the worse they felt.
The earliest outbreak occurred CEN
fury ago last month in Northampton.
It was fomented by Samuel Ely, a
deposed clergyman, who came into old
Hampshire County from Somers, Conn,
and lost no opportunity to air his sedi-
tious sentiments. In April, 1882, he
melted mob, which disturbed the ses-
sion of the Court of Common Pleas at
Northampton. For this offense he was
imprisoned in Springfield. He was,
however, released by a mob, three of
whose leaders were taken and confined
in Northampton Jail. A party of 800
insurgents under Cap. Dickinson,
gathered at Hatfield TO secure their re.
lease. General Porter, OF Hadley, the
high sheriff, called ont the militia, 1900
of whom responded. Not to tell the
whole story, 1t may be said that the
three were conditionally released and
the rioters were pardoned by the Gen.
eral Court. This occurrence was on
June 18th, 1882. A year later an attempt
| TO prevent the session of the court in
| Springfield was unsuccessfully made.
Soon after, conventions of the dis
affected began to be held, which dis
cussed the situation and usually put
forth a bill of grievances. Sept. 2o.
1888, one was held in Deerfield, which
among other things called q general
convention of the county at Hatfield,
| Oct 20. To this convention Amherst,
IN town meeting, sent Elijah Baker.
These conventions served not to allay
but to aggravate dlscoptent. The bust
ness of lawyers being good, the nun
bers of the profession increased. As
they were the instruments If the tax
gatherer and the creditors they became
odious in the popular eye, and when the
htRlSidtufo WIS eleCtSu III the spring OF
17s6 scarcely a lawyer was returned TO
either House. Those who wanted to
pay their debts in cheap currency
clamored for the issue Of an irredeem-
able currency which should be deprecia-
ated legally year by year at a fixed
rate until it should become worthl, SIS.
When that point was reached the public
debt would thereby be extinguished.
This measure, however, was never
made law. The Senate stood in the
way Of many wildcat schemes and
hence it became grievance to the peo.
pie. There was demand for revision
of the Constitution There was not
wanting those of tory proclivities who
would have been glad to break down
the experiment of Republicanism alto
gether. These aided the seditious move.
ments.
Aug. %. 1856, the famous Hatfield
convention was held. Fifty towns OF
old Hampshire were represented.
Belchertown by Elijah Parker, Jacob
Wilson and John Cowls. They put
forth a full score of grievances and de
manded immediate redress. Though
they advised against violence, their ac-