WHISKY INSURRECTION. The term pop ularly applied to the organized opposition among the farmers and distillers of the four western counties of Pennsylvania in 1794 to the enforee ment of the Federal law of March, 1791, impos ing an excise tax on whisky. The law was ex ceedingly unpopular in this part of the country, where whisky was the chief article of manu facture. and from which, by reason of the remote nes; of the country, grain could not well be shipped to the East except in the more portable form of whisky. The frontier inhabitants re garded the law as an unjust discrimination against them, and vigorously opposed its en forcement. The Government at once instituted prosecutions against sonic of the chief offenders, but when the marshal undertook to serve the necessary processes he was compelled by a body of armed men to desist. In pursuance of an act passed by in May, 1792, President Washington issued a proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse, and warning others against abetting them. On August 14. 1794, a convention of more than 200 delegates, represent ing the western counties of Pennsylvania and one county in Virginia, assembled at Parkinson's Ferry on the Monongahela, with Albert Gallatin (q.v.) as .eeretary of the meeting. Three coin ‘‘ lin had been appointed by the Presi denttogether with commissioners appointed by the Governor of Penn-ylvania, appeared at the eon vent hm. and offered a general amnesty, conditioned upon submission to the laws, but no promises or (mild be ..cenred from time convention. The commissioners thereupon returned to Philadelphia, don the basis of their report the Pre,ident is sued a s proelamation on September 25th, con marling submission and announcing the morel' I. this .?•?•no ()f disturbances of a force of
milit in. a for 15,000 milit iamen having already bei n made upon the Governors of Pennsyl vania, New dersev. Virginia, and Maryland. Upon the approach of the troops the ardor of the insur gents was sun cawhal dampened, and David Brad ford. the prime mover in the insurrection, fled to New Orleans. Meantime another convention assembled at Parkinson's Ferry and passed reso lutions pledging submission and obedience to the laws. 'Thereupon Governor Henry Lee of \ irginia, who was acting as commander of the militia, issued a proclamation of amnesty, re quiring an oath of allegiance to the United States, and ordered the arrest of those offenders who refused to make a declaration of submission. A number of suspected persons were seized. Some were dismissed for want of evidence, and others were bound over to appear for trial. Two were convicted of treason, but were pardoned by the President. As a precautionary measure, 2500 troops under the command of General Morgan were retained in the disaffected community throughout the winter to serve as a. police force. The real significance of the disturbances, which never rose to the dignity of an insurrection, was that it was the first instance in which the strength of the new Federal Government to main tain domestic tranquillity and enforce laws was put to the test. The promptness with which the resistance was put down won respect for the Government and established valuable precedents with regard to its power and duty on similar occasions in the future.