The Coolidge examiner., 1934-07-27

Iukes OF ChaFt1eTb In The little town
og woodville. Pa. Is a stone that ls
rich In historic association IL was
brouEh; 10 the United States from
:. : !: !: !. ! !: :: : ! {
- I'll SulErnre Manor In Sorthamptonshire
hk England the ancestral home OF the
IkI4I Washington family. How this relic
RS0I from across the Atlantic happens TO
I'm be 10 a church In western PennSyl-
- vAnia 10 explained By n memorial tab
le; which iA attached 10 II and which bears this
inscription George Washington and John
Neville. united In their ideals OF an orderly gov
ernment. eo-workers In suppresslng the whiskey
insurrection. the only armed conflict OF which
occurred on a hll adjacent 20 this church on
July II. 1874
Thus 10 recalled 10 visitors 20 the church OF
today an ailbut-forgotten chapter IN American
history. the story OF what has been called "the
nrs, American civil war" which was running It's
course 10 years ago The reason for placing
the memorial tablet In ST Luke's OF CHARTERS
Is that this church. which is the oldest west OF
the Allegheny mountains. was only a log cabin
when u was founded IN i765 by General Neville
who was lts FIRST senior warden. and u was
burned TO the ground By the insurrec;ionls,s
during the whlskey rebellion.
The whskey rebellion had It's genesis In the
passage OF law by congress in ITal placing a
small tar on whiskey to help pay OF debts in.
Cured during the Revolution and 10 provide
funds for the costs OF the federal government
The law vas suggested by Alexander Hamilton
then secretary OF the treasury and In presenting
his plan for excise tar on liquor he argued
that such tax was not new but that IL had
been levied by various states before that time
What be neglected 10 tell congress however was
that the states had found IL virtually impossible
10 collect such tar and that this would be
severe test imposed upon the power OF the new.
and nonetoo-strong federal government They
were soon 10 End out Just how unpopular such
legislation would be generally and more par.
ticuiarly In the counties of Washington West
moreland. Allegheny and Fayette In western
Pennsylvania where the hardy froniiersnen had
long been accustomed 20 making all the whlskey
they wanted and 20 using II at stores and trad.
Ing posts In lieu Of money.
When the bin levylng the tax. which was
passed In March. 1921. was up for consideration
In congress. the state legislature OF Pennsyl-
vania. then In session. went on record In very
strong terms opposing the tax and urging
Pennsylvania senator's and representatives TO
vote against a. The two congressman from
Western Pennsylvania voted against the bin and
denounced II at every opportunity and such a
notable Albert GaIlatin then a resident OF
Faye,te county and later secretary OF the treas
ury under jefferson and Madison. advocated
opposition 10 the law by all constitutional meth
DDS.
The last OF the public meetings In protest OF
the law held in August. 1890: the Insur-
rection did not break out until 1894 but In the
Intervening time there we're i've or slx uncon-
nected riots. assaults on collectors. In differ.
ent parts OF the western country on account OF
the excise"
In some cases federal revenue officers were
tarred and feaihered. their commissions torn up
their records seized and by threats compelled
sk.mf.
rette IL law-ablding farmer gave Information
10 the location OF stills bis harm would be
burned.
Early In the disturbances President Washing
ton issued a proclamation condeinning lawless
acts and warning all the malconteats TO return
TO their allegiance and assuring them that II
was his intention TO enforce the law "at all haz
ards" This was without effect In fact II
seemed only TO fan the flames. and organized
rebellion began to be talked about
An insurgent leader. David Bradford. sprang
TO the front and called upon the free whIskey
forces 10 organize and defend their cause with
force OF arms. II necessary. Although congress
had indorsed washIngtons proclamation, the
whiskey forces began 10 arm themselves here
and there. Congress tried 10 allay the bitter
by reducing the tax and providing for
monthly payments but there seemed to be no
abatement OF the fury.
In July, 1T94. armed detachment OF the
Insurgents attacked the home 81 General Neville
who was inspector In westmoreland county.
He had called to his nd small detachment
from the garrison az Fort Pitt which then con-
sisted OF but II men under the command OF Mai
Abraham Kirkpatrick The major refused 10 al
low the insurgents TO search the home OF Neville
for papers and the insurgents then withdrew TO
cover and opened brisk fire upon the house
which was returned by the troops
Bradford determined TO ag.ravate the disturb
anCe, stopped the mail at Greensburg on the
road between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and
robbed IL of letters, some OF which he published
on July 2S circular signed by Bradford and
one or two others sent out summoning TO
personal service the militia OF the county and
calling for volunteers to rendezvous at Brad
docks field. eight miles south Of Pittsburgh.