the unavoidable consequence of the unsettled and | judices against them; and partly owing to the first rude state of society and manners. In not less attempt at direct taxation by the British Parliament than four or five occasions, he was obliged, in self- over the colonies, the most prominent cause of the defence, to engage in personal combat; and thanks revolution, being an excise law. After the revoto a powerful muscular frame, and early training|lutionary war, the state being pressed for means, to athletic exercises, he came off victorious, except laid a duty on distilled spirits, to be collected from in one instance, when he received a treacherous the distillers, who were required to enter, or register blow with a club on the shoulder, but stood his their stills. This law was soon found to be exground until others interposed. tremely unpopular; the people would not distinguish Being in the habit of speaking contemptuously between a law of their own legislature, and the of the practice of duelling, and making rather light attempt to bind them in all cases whatsoever by a of the virtue of personal bravery, an idea prevailed legislative body in which they were not reprewith some that he was deficient in courage. In-sented. The enlightened statesman fixed his eye duced by this circumstance, perhaps, a man of a on the principle, "taxation and representation, inbullying character, to whom he had given offence, separable," while the great body of the people had a design of challenging him, in the hope that looked no higher than the excise, the odious name he would refuse, and by that means afford an op- of the law by which power was manifested to them. portunity of posting and degrading him in the estimation of the people. This person, consulting with a friend, to whom he communicated his design, was told that he must not count too confidently on what such a man as Brackenridge might do, or might not do, as he was one of those whose course no one could know until determined by circumstances, and that it might not be safe to rely on his not fighting, notwithstanding his contempt of the practice of duelling. He was, what Carlyle, in his grotesque style, calls a reality. The last of these adventures was with a person of the name of Simpson, who followed him into the back room of a tavern and drew a small sword; the assailant was instantly levelled with a chair-his sword dashed from his hands, and the "Scribe in blue" (as Mr. Brackenridge called himself in a humorous poem,) seized the "Wight in red" and placed him on the fire, from which he was not rescued without considerable injury to his garments.

The attempts made to enforce the state excise, only led to open resistance, which the state authority was too weak to put down. The opposition to it was expressed in the same manner as the patriotic opposition to the British Stamp Act; liberty poles were erected, and people assembled in arms, chased off the officers appointed to enforce the law, tarred and feathered some of them, and compelled others to resign. Their object was to compel a repeal of the law, but they had not the least idea of subverting the government. They did not stop to reflect that this was revolution, and not a constitutional mode of procuring the repeal of an odious law, by a lawful expression of public opinion. They only followed, as they supposed, the recent example of the American Revolution; and we should be guilty of great injustice if we were to judge their conduct by the more enlightened ideas on these subjects, which generally prevail throughout our country at the present day. In the Western parts of the state, the 'violence of opposition to the excise law rose to a higher pitch than in the Eastern, on account of their peculiar situation. Whiskey was almost the only article they could take to market, as they could not descend the Ohio, and there was nothing but a packhorse path across the mountains. The law was therefore partial and oppressive, even as compared to the portion of the state on the East of the mountains.

We now approach the most important epoch in the life of him, who is the subject of this notice, now in the forty-fourth year of his age. In the lives of most persons, there is a crisis, which, like the turning incident of the drama, fixes the denouement, or catastrophe. The epoch to which we refer is the Western, or Whiskey Insurrection, as it is called, in which Mr. Brackenridge took an important, dangerous, but honorable part, although Their state excise law, after remaining some his conduct at the time was misrepresented by his years a dead letter, was repealed, a circumstance enemies, and was, for a while, misunderstood. He, which was not likely to incline the people to submit however, finally triumphed, and lived to see the to a similar law, soon after passed by Congress, at clouds which lowered over his reputation, scattered the suggestion of Alexander Hamilton, Secretary and dispersed by truth and justice, although the of the Treasury. The people throughout the state, enmity of individuals, who shall not be named here, at least in the agricultural portions of it, were incontinued to attend him. He was not a man to be dignant, and once more raised their liberty poles. put down in personal conflicts of any kind, and no In the West, the popular indignation was such, one ever sent him an Oliver, without receiving a that no one, for sometime, ventured to stand up in Roland in return. favor of the law. There was a peculiar hardship Excise laws were particularly odious in Pennsyl- in their situation: almost every considerable farmer vania, partly owing to the number of emigrants was a distiller for himself and his poorer neighfrom Ireland, who brought with them strong pre- bors, as it was necessary that their surplus grain

should be distilled; and besides, as the delinquency | was such as might be expected on such an occaof the distillers was only cognizable in the federal sion. court of Philadelphia, a single suit was enough to The reader can readily imagine the state of the sink a man's plantation. It was with some diffi- country, which followed those lawless acts of vioculty that any one could be found to accept the lence, and the exaggerated accounts which traoffice of inspector in the Western district, on ac-velled across the mountains. The peaceful citicount of the unpopularity of the law, and of which, zens in the towns were alarmed; in the country the representatives in Congress had been instructed generally the people became infuriated, as is usually by the state legislature to procure the repeal.* the case where blood has been shed; all regular occuIn this inflammatory state of the public mind in pation might be said to be at an end, and the course the West, all that was necessary was to apply the of law completely arrested. Yet nothing like torch to kindle a blaze. The first outbreak was direct treason against the government possessed in the harvest-field, after the marshal had served their minds; they thought only of the bad law, his last process against the delinquent distillers. and, as they believed, the bad men who lent their He was driven off and fired upon; an unpremedi-aid to enforce it. Their attachment to the governtated rising took place for many miles around, and ment of the state, and of the union, was not imthe next day, early in the morning, a mob, led by paired; they had no idea of any thing further than a man of little note, of the name of Holcroft, (the procuring a repeal. author of some manuscript pasquinades, stuck up Meetings were held over the whole of the four at cross roads, signed "Tom the Tinker,") appear-Western counties, and some of the adjoining couned before the residence of the inspector, seven ties of Virginia. But the popular phrenzy had not miles from Pittsburg. They were fired upon from yet found a leader to give it the form of rebellion, the negro houses, some of them killed and wounded, or insurrection, to use the milder phrase adopted on which they retreated. The day following, a at that period. At length a lawyer of the name great number of persons assembled at a place called of Bradford, who resided at Washington, came Couch's Fort, some miles from the scene of action. forward in this character. He was a shallow, vain The venerable clergyman of the neighborhood, Mr. man, with some talent for popular declamation, Clark, attempted to dissuade them from acts of but without forecast, without definite plan or object, violence, but such was the state of exasperation or capacity to lead and organize; he was merely which prevailed, that no attention was paid to his actuated by the foolish vanity of being for a time exhortations, although, on other occasions, they a popular idol. were accustomed to show the utmost deference to Mr. Brackenridge, thus far, had taken no part their spiritual counsellor, as is the case with the in the cause, except in the way of his profession Scotch Irish in general. About five hundred then in suits in court; he held, and freely expressed, marched to a second attack, under the command the same opinions with the people generally, on of a Major McFarlane, who had been an officer of the subject of the excise laws. On the 21st of the revolution, and of good standing and character. July, (1794,) four days after the burning of the inIn the meantime, a reinforcement of twelve men spector's house, he received a note, inviting him had arrived at the inspector's from the Pittsburg to attend a meeting, to be held at the Mingo meetgarrison, under Major Kirkpatrick, formerly of the ing house. He tore it up, and threw it into the army. A deputation was sent with a flag to de-fire-place. Next day, Col. Neville, the son of the mand the commission of the inspector; and this inspector, who might be regarded as the officer, seemed to be the object of the assemblage, under called and inquired, whether he had not received a the notion, that if deprived of the commission, the note of invitation to the meeting. Yes, and here officer would be compelled to cease to act as such. are the fragments, producing them from the grate. The commission was refused, and the attack com-"Do you go?" "No; I look upon such meetings, menced, and continued but fifteen minutes, when it after the recent acts, as treason, at least on the was thought that a flag had been exhibited from part of those who encourage opposition." The the house, on which Major Mc Farlane stepped out with a white handkerchief on the end of a stick. He was mortally wounded by a shot from the house. The attack was renewed with fury, and the property burnt down and destroyed, but no one was injured after the surrender; the soldiers, and the volunteers in defence of the place were dismissed, although the conduct of some among the mob,

inspector declared that he wished him to go; it might do good; he might restrain the people from further excesses; he might point out to them the impropriety of their conduct. He yielded to these and other solicitations, but on condition that he should be accompanied by four or five of the citizens, the Chief Burgess among the rest, in order to bear witness of his words and actions. This being arranged, he went to the meeting, in the * The gentleman who did accept, had been highly popu- sincere desire of being able to do something to lar; but lost his popularity in consequence, as he had been previously opposed to the law, and it was alleged that he check the progress of violence and disorder. Here had accepted on account of the emoluments of office. was a large assemblage; there seemed to be a

solemnity on every countenance; uneasiness, dis- ended, Mr. Brackenridge advanced nearly to the trust, distance and reserve-and with the most middle of the house, and opposite the Chairman, prominent actors in the late riots-anger and des- and began his speech, slowly and irregularly, for the peration, expressed in their looks. There appeared current of the people's prejudices seemed to be to be two distinct classes of people, or rather por-strongly against him. He first opened the reasons tions; those already involved by participating in why the few persons from Pittsburgh came there; the acts of violence, and those not involved. The they were not instructed, nor had they any delegated first, would naturally seek to involve the whole powers to agree, or disagree, on any proposition, county, for their own security, at least in order to that might be made; they came only to hear and lessen their own offence, by implicating a greater report. He then took various methods of divertnumber. Col. Cook, a gentleman of fortune, and ing the attention of the audience from the speech high standing, was chosen Chairman, and Craig that had preceded his. Sometimes, he would Richie, Esq., of Cannonsburg, Secretary. Brad-give a sarcastic stroke at the excise, and the inford, and a person of the name of Marshall, who ventors of it; and then, tell some droll story thereto had been active at other meetings, had at first re- relating, in order, as I apprehend, to unbend the fused to attend, but were threatened with vengeance if they did not, after having encouraged the people in the course they had pursued. They were, in fact, not leaders of the mob, but driven before it. The chair was addressed by Benjamin Parkinson, an active leader at the destruction of the office, a man who was for no half-way means. "I wish to know, said he, "whether what we have done is right or wrong, and whether we are to be supported or left to ourselves."

mind of the audience from the serious tone to which it had been wrought up. He viewed the subject before him in various lights; and then entered warmly on his main arguments, which was to dissuade the audience from the first proposition. He told them in direct words, "that he hoped they would not involve the whole country in a crime, which could not be called less than high treason; that this would certainly bring the resentment of the general government on us, and there would be Such an issue was entirely unexpected by Mr. none to intercede. The audience seemed petrified Brackenridge, and he felt an agony of mind; for if and thunderstruck with such observations; and he voted on it, he might involve himself in the when he had done speaking, not a person seemed guilt of treason; or, in the present exasperated desirous of renewing the argument. Silence enstate of the people, if in a minority, he might not sued for some time, and then the company broke live to return home. Besides, even if these dan-up; some went to drink at the spring, and others, gers did not stare him in the face, if he ventured in little knots, or clubs, were scattered over the to oppose the majority, his popularity would be ground." sacrificed, of which he could not be insensible, es- The foregoing graphic sketch, which gives but pecially as he was at that time, before the people a very imperfect outline of the speech, exhibits the as a candidate for Congress, with almost a cer- genuine orator, and a real occasion for the display tainty of being elected. He was also attached to of that rare talent. It was no stump speech, nor the people among whom he had risen to distinc-occasional display; but the fate of the country, and tion; he saw among them many personal friends, and he was distressed at the perilous situation in which he saw them placed.

of the speaker himself, depended upon it. His object was to check the progress of the insurrection in the bud, by drawing at once the line between those Bradford followed in support of Marshall's reso- who were committed, and those who had yet done lation, in a violent and intemperate speech; jus- no criminal act. He acted powerfully on the fears tified all that had been done, and called on the of the latter, by withdrawing the curtain which meeting to pledge themselves in its support. After concealed the gulph before them; he held them up he sat down, a dead silence ensued. There seemed as mediators for their fellow-citizens with the genebut a moment between treason on the one hand, ral government, and dwelt upon the certainty of an and popular odium on the other. Every eye was amnesty, or oblivion of the past, by a suitable appliturned to Mr. Brackenridge, who was expected to cation to the President, who had uniformly pursued speak. We shall here use the words of an eye- this course, in preference to putting down opposiwitness, Mr. Semple, one of the gentlemen who tion to the laws by military force. He ended by had accompanied him from Pittsburgh. "Brad- recommending a meeting of delegates from every ford began a most violent and inflammatory ora- township, which should represent the whole Western tion, in support of Marshall's motion. I observed country, and urged the propriety of arresting at this Mr. Brackenridge, who was seated at the west point, all further display of forcible resistance to the end of the church, and opposite to the principal laws, until the whole West should be consulted. part of the Pittsburghers, (seated by the members There were many who were gratified at the at the east corner,) in great agitation, often throw-course which things had now taken, although no ing his head down on his hand, in the attitude of one was willing to acknowledge it; while those study. At length, Mr. Bradford's speech being who had participated in the recent acts of violence,

should be distilled; and besides, as the delinquency | was such as might be expected on such an occaof the distillers was only cognizable in the federal sion. court of Philadelphia, a single suit was enough to The reader can readily imagine the state of the sink a man's plantation. It was with some diffi- country, which followed those lawless acts of vioculty that any one could be found to accept the lence, and the exaggerated accounts which traoffice of inspector in the Western district, on ac-velled across the mountains. The peaceful citicount of the unpopularity of the law, and of which, zens in the towns were alarmed; in the country the representatives in Congress had been instructed generally the people became infuriated, as is usually by the state legislature to procure the repeal.* the case where blood has been shed; all regular occupation might be said to be at an end, and the course of law completely arrested. Yet nothing like direct treason against the government possessed their minds; they thought only of the bad law, and, as they believed, the bad men who lent their aid to enforce it. Their attachment to the government of the state, and of the union, was not impaired; they had no idea of any thing further than procuring a repeal.

Meetings were held over the whole of the four Western counties, and some of the adjoining counties of Virginia. But the popular phrenzy had not yet found a leader to give it the form of rebellion, or insurrection, to use the milder phrase adopted at that period. At length a lawyer of the name of Bradford, who resided at Washington, came forward in this character. He was a shallow, vain man, with some talent for popular declamation, but without forecast, without definite plan or object, or capacity to lead and organize; he was merely actuated by the foolish vanity of being for a time a popular idol.

In this inflammatory state of the public mind in the West, all that was necessary was to apply the torch to kindle a blaze. The first outbreak was in the harvest-field, after the marshal had served his last process against the delinquent distillers. He was driven off and fired upon; an unpremeditated rising took place for many miles around, and the next day, early in the morning, a mob, led by a man of little note, of the name of Holcroft, (the author of some manuscript pasquinades, stuck up at cross roads, signed "Tom the Tinker,") appeared before the residence of the inspector, seven miles from Pittsburg. They were fired upon from the negro houses, some of them killed and wounded, on which they retreated. The day following, a great number of persons assembled at a place called Couch's Fort, some miles from the scene of action. The venerable clergyman of the neighborhood, Mr. Clark, attempted to dissuade them from acts of violence, but such was the state of exasperation which prevailed, that no attention was paid to his exhortations, although, on other occasions, they were accustomed to show the utmost deference to Mr. Brackenridge, thus far, had taken no part their spiritual counsellor, as is the case with the in the cause, except in the way of his profession Scotch Irish in general. About five hundred then in suits in court; he held, and freely expressed, marched to a second attack, under the command the same opinions with the people generally, on of a Major McFarlane, who had been an officer of the subject of the excise laws. On the 21st of the revolution, and of good standing and character. July, (1794,) four days after the burning of the inIn the meantime, a reinforcement of twelve men spector's house, he received a note, inviting him had arrived at the inspector's from the Pittsburg to attend a meeting, to be held at the Mingo meetgarrison, under Major Kirkpatrick, formerly of the ing house. He tore it up, and threw it into the army. A deputation was sent with a flag to de-fire-place. Next day, Col. Neville, the son of the mand the commission of the inspector; and this inspector, who might be regarded as the officer, seemed to be the object of the assemblage, under the notion, that if deprived of the commission, the officer would be compelled to cease to act as such. The commission was refused, and the attack commenced, and continued but fifteen minutes, when it was thought that a flag had been exhibited from the house, on which Major Mc Farlane stepped out with a white handkerchief on the end of a stick. He was mortally wounded by a shot from the house. The attack was renewed with fury, and the property burnt down and destroyed, but no one was injured after the surrender; the soldiers, and the volunteers in defence of the place were dismissed, although the conduct of some among the mob,

called and inquired, whether he had not received a note of invitation to the meeting. Yes, and here are the fragments, producing them from the grate. "Do you go?" "No; I look upon such meetings, after the recent acts, as treason, at least on the part of those who encourage opposition." The inspector declared that he wished him to go; it might do good; he might restrain the people from further excesses; he might point out to them the impropriety of their conduct. He yielded to these and other solicitations, but on condition that he should be accompanied by four or five of the citizens, the Chief Burgess among the rest, in order to bear witness of his words and actions. *The gentleman who did accept, had been highly popu- sincere desire of being able to do something to This being arranged, he went to the meeting, in the lar; but lost his popularity in consequence, as he had been previously opposed to the law, and it was alleged that he check the progress of violence and disorder. Here had accepted on account of the emoluments of office. was a large assemblage; there seemed to be a

solemnity on every countenance; uneasiness, dis- ended, Mr. Brackenridge advanced nearly to the trust, distance and reserve-and with the most middle of the house, and opposite the Chairman, prominent actors in the late riots-anger and des- and began his speech, slowly and irregularly, for the peration, expressed in their looks. There appeared current of the people's prejudices seemed to be to be two distinct classes of people, or rather por-strongly against him. He first opened the reasons tions; those already involved by participating in why the few persons from Pittsburgh came there; the acts of violence, and those not involved. The they were not instructed, nor had they any delegated first, would naturally seek to involve the whole powers to agree, or disagree, on any proposition, county, for their own security, at least in order to that might be made; they came only to hear and lessen their own offence, by implicating a greater report. He then took various methods of divertnumber. Col. Cook, a gentleman of fortune, and ing the attention of the audience from the speech high standing, was chosen Chairman, and Craig that had preceded his. Sometimes, he would Richie, Esq., of Cannonsburg, Secretary. Brad-give a sarcastic stroke at the excise, and the inford, and a person of the name of Marshall, who ventors of it; and then, tell some droll story thereto had been active at other meetings, had at first re- relating, in order, as I apprehend, to unbend the fused to attend, but were threatened with vengeance mind of the audience from the serious tone to which if they did not, after having encouraged the people it had been wrought up. He viewed the subin the course they had pursued. They were, in ject before him in various lights; and then entered fact, not leaders of the mob, but driven before it. warmly on his main arguments, which was to disThe chair was addressed by Benjamin Parkinson, suade the audience from the first proposition. He an active leader at the destruction of the office, a told them in direct words, "that he hoped they man who was for no half-way means. "I wish to would not involve the whole country in a crime, know, said he, "whether what we have done is which could not be called less than high treason; right or wrong, and whether we are to be sup- that this would certainly bring the resentment of ported or left to ourselves." the general government on us, and there would be Such an issue was entirely unexpected by Mr. none to intercede. The audience seemed petrified Brackenridge, and he felt an agony of mind; for if and thunderstruck with such observations; and he voted on it, he might involve himself in the when he had done speaking, not a person seemed guilt of treason; or, in the present exasperated desirous of renewing the argument. Silence enstate of the people, if in a minority, he might not sued for some time, and then the company broke live to return home. Besides, even if these dan-up; some went to drink at the spring, and others, gers did not stare him in the face, if he ventured in little knots, or clubs, were scattered over the to oppose the majority, his popularity would be ground." sacrificed, of which he could not be insensible, es- The foregoing graphic sketch, which gives but pecially as he was at that time, before the people a very imperfect outline of the speech, exhibits the as a candidate for Congress, with almost a cer- genuine orator, and a real occasion for the display tainty of being elected. He was also attached to of that rare talent. It was no stump speech, nor the people among whom he had risen to distinc-occasional display; but the fate of the country, and tion; he saw among them many personal friends, and he was distressed at the perilous situation in which he saw them placed.

of the speaker himself, depended upon it. His object was to check the progress of the insurrection in the bud, by drawing at once the line between those Bradford followed in support of Marshall's reso- who were committed, and those who had yet done lution, in a violent and intemperate speech; jus- no criminal act. He acted powerfully on the fears tified all that had been done, and called on the of the latter, by withdrawing the curtain which meeting to pledge themselves in its support. After concealed the gulph before them; he held them up he sat down, a dead silence ensued. There seemed as mediators for their fellow-citizens with the genebut a moment between treason on the one hand, ral government, and dwelt upon the certainty of an and popular odium on the other. Every eye was amnesty, or oblivion of the past, by a suitable appliturned to Mr. Brackenridge, who was expected to cation to the President, who had uniformly pursued speak. We shall here use the words of an eye- this course, in preference to putting down opposiwitness, Mr. Semple, one of the gentlemen who tion to the laws by military force. He ended by had accompanied him from Pittsburgh. "Brad- recommending a meeting of delegates from every ford began a most violent and inflammatory ora- township, which should represent the whole Western tion, in support of Marshall's motion. I observed country, and urged the propriety of arresting at this Mr. Brackenridge, who was seated at the west point, all further display of forcible resistance to the end of the church, and opposite to the principal laws, until the whole West should be consulted. part of the Pittsburghers, (seated by the members There were many who were gratified at the at the east corner,) in great agitation, often throw-course which things had now taken, although no ing his head down on his hand, in the attitude of one was willing to acknowledge it; while those study. At length, Mr. Bradford's speech being who had participated in the recent acts of violence,