Life And Times Of Washington, Volume 2

It will be recollected that a request of the executive for the recall of Mr. Genet had been transmitted to the French government. During the time which

ed two expeditions, to be carried on from the territories of the United States against the dominions of Spain, and had, as minister of the French republic, granted commissions to citizens of the United States, who were privately recruiting troops for the proposed service. The first was destined against Florida and the second against Louisiana. The detail of the plans had been settled. The pay, rations, clothing, plunder, and division of the conquered lands to be allotted to the military and the proportion of the acquisitions to be reserved to the

ce of probability, was received, stating that the expedition against Louisiana

g a determination to adopt that measure, unless one or the other House should signify the opinion that it was not advisable so to do, when the business was arrested by receiving a letter from Mr. Morris announcing officially the recall of this rash minister. Mr. Fauchet, the successor of Genet, arrived in February (1794), and brought with him stro

uested the recall of Gouverneur Morris. With this request Washington, as we have

s of Kentucky, respecting the navigation of the Mississippi, was laid before the executive and each branch of the Legislature. The style of this paper accorded well with the instructions under which i

he subject demands, and will doubtless continue to be so pursued until the object shall be obtained or adverse circumstances shall render the further progress of the negotiation impracticable. That in the present state of the business it would improper for Congress to interfere, but, in order to satisfy the citizens of the United States more immediately inte

executive of the State of Kentucky, such part of the existing negotiation between the United States and S

ction of the House, that the executive was urging the claim of the United States t

lopments showed that they had a different object from that of o

by Mr. Jefferson to the governor of that State, with a request that he would use those means of prevention which the law enabled him to employ. This letter was accompanied by one from the Secretary of War, conveying the request of the President, that,

n-Chief of the proposed expedition; and that the Frenchmen alluded to in the letter of Mr. Jefferson had arrived, and, far from affec

ery singular views of his duty in the affair, de

ish a military post at Fort Massac, on the Ohio, for the purpose of stopping by force, if

e, for some time, carried on with considerable activity; and there is reason to believe

d the operations of General Wayne until the season for action had nearly passed away. After the total failure

circumstances of the war required. The negotiations with the Indians were not terminated till September, and it was then too late to complete the preparations which would enable General Wayne to accomplish his object. He, therefore, contented himself with collecting his army and penetrating about six miles in advance of Fort Jefferso

ucky loudly charged the President with a total disregard of their safety, pronounced the Continental troops entirely useless, declared that the Indians should be kept in awe

pper Canada, which were well calculated to increase s

ts, to justify a permanent detention of the posts on the southern side of the lakes, and to establish a new boundary line, whereby those lakes should be entirely comprehended in Upper Canada. Early in the

een the Secretary of State and Mr. Hammond, in which crimination was answered by recrimination, in which a considerable degree of mutual irritation was displayed, and in w

ve enemy peculiarly skilled in partisan war, unavoidably protracted the opening of the campaign until near midsummer. Me

e, where he threw up some works of defense and protection for magazines. The ric

about 1,100 mounted militia from Kentucky, commanded by General Scott, gave a decided superiority of strength to the army of Wayne. That the Indians had determined to give him battle was well understood, and the discipline of his legion, the ardor of all his troops, and the superiority of his numbers, authorized him confidently to expect a favorable issue. Y

that river, and on the 18th arrived at the rapids. Here they halted on the 19th, in order to erect

ly posted behind a thick wood

mounted volunteers, commanded by General Todd, was on the left; and the other, under General Barbee, was in the rear. A select battalion, co

rice received a heavy fire from a conce

ed almost inaccessible to horse by a quantity of fallen timber which appeared to have been blown up in a tornado. They were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other; and, as is

ly to allow them time to load after discharging their pieces. Soon perceiving the strength of the enemy in front, and that he was endeavoring to turn the American left, the general ordered the second line to support the first. The legion cavalry, led by Captain Campbell, wa

the enemy broken by it, and so rapid was the pursuit that only a small part of the second line and of the mounted volunteers could get into action. In

l-shot of it, were reduced to ashes. In the course of these operations a correspondence took place between General Wayne and Major Campbell, the commandant of the fort, which is stated by t

Glaize by easy marches, destroying on its route all

d were Captain Campbell, who commanded the cavalry, and Lieutenant Towles of the infantry, both of whom fell in the first c

hole country was laid waste, and forts were erected in

ion of the President to prevent a settlement which Pennsylvania was about to make at Presque Isle seemed rather to suspend the commencement of hostilities than to establish permanent pacifi

r. Scarcely was the feeble authority of the government competent to restrain the aggressions of the former, or the dread of its for

n spirits distilled within the United States had advanced to a point in the counties of Pennsylvan

lls of indictment were found against the perpetrators of certain outrages, and process wa

in the execution of his duty, he was beset on the road by a body of armed men, who fired on him, but fortunately did him no personal injury. At daybreak

county for protection. The answer was that, "owing to the too general combination of the people to oppose the revenue system, the laws could not be execute

d by Major Kirkpatrick. Successful resistance to so great a force being obviously impracticable, a parley took place, at which the assailants, after requiring that the inspector and all his papers should be delivered up, demanded that the party in the house should march out and ground their arms. This being refused, the parley terminated an

ife was frequently threatened, and was probably saved by the interposition of some leading individuals, who possessed more humanity or more prudence than those with whom they were associa

his authority, and that the latter should resign his office, threatening, in case of refusal, to attack the place and seize their persons. These demands were not acceded to, but Pittsburghh

ions of disapproval of their proceedings. The writers of these letters they caused to be banished. They next held meetings on

e, and the alterations repeatedly introduced into the act for the purpose of rendering it less exceptionable, instead of diminishing the arrogance of those who opposed their will to the sense of the nation, had drawn forth sentiments indicative of designs much deeper than

the judge of the district, should certify that the laws of the United States were opposed, or their execution obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers ve

one of the associate justices, who gave the certificate, which enabled

n, Knox, and Bradford were in favor of employing military force. These members of the Cabinet were also of opinion that policy and humanity equally dictated the employment of a force which would render resistance desperate. The insurgent country c

oot by a lawless section of the Union, which set at defiance the will of the nation, as expressed by its representatives, was an abasement to which nei

anized and prepared to march at a minute's warning. The force was ultimately increased to 15,000. While steps were taking to bring this force into the field, a last essay was made to render its employment unn

concert with that of the United States, Governor Mifflin also issued a proclam

ce of the offer of amnesty to the people. This reference only served to demonstrate that, while a few persons were disposed to

which the lenient propositions of the government had been received, and declaring his fixed determination, in obedience to the high and irres

ginia at Cumberland, on the Potomac. The command of the expedition had been conferred on Governor Lee, of Virgi

must look down all resistance, he left Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, to accompany it, and

rce prevented the effusion of blood. The disaffected did not venture to assemble in arms. Several of the leaders, who had

lainly that the disposition to resist had only sunk under the pressure of the great military force brought into the country, but would rise again should that force be w

of a single grievance, is among those political phenomena which occur not infrequently in the course of human affairs, and which the statesman can never safely disregard. When real ills are felt there is something positive and perceptible to which the judgment may be directed, the actual extent of which may

our mission, it would be unnecessary for me to touch upon any of them in this letter were it not for the presumption that the insurrection in the western counties of this State has excited much speculation and a variety of opinions abroad, and will be represented differently, according to the wishes of some and the prejudi

stern disturbances admits of no doubt in the mind of anyone who will examine their conduct, but, fortunately, they precipitated a crisis for which they were not prepared, and thereby have unfolded views which will, I trust, effectuate their annihilation sooner than it might otherwise have happened, at th

came to the place of rendezvous and found no command for them in that grade, turning into the ranks and proceeding as private soldiers, under their own captains; and of numbers, possessing the first fortunes in the country, standing in the ranks as private men, and marching day by day with their knapsacks and haversacks

a distance, were boasting of their strength and wishing for and threatening the militia by turns, intimating that the arms they should t

nd abroad will hear of the insurrection, and will read the speech, that may know nothing of the documents to which it might refer, I conceived it would be better to encounter the charge of prolixity by giving a cur

ctive of good consequences. They have dispelled a cloud which lowered very heavily in the northern hemisphere (the Six Nations), and, though we have received no direct advices from General Wayne

on of the western rebellion was the fatal blow it

cal subjects, ought never to be confounded with permanent self-appointed societies, usurping the right to control the constituted authorities and to dictate to public opinion. Whil

cene of action. The command in chief was confided to Gen. Henry Lee, Washington's old f

The British o