Conference on the Whiskey Rebellion
Item
Type
Printed Document
Title
Conference on the Whiskey Rebellion
Description
Conference concerning the insurrection in western Pennsylvania. Washington begins the conference by stating that the "most spirited and firm measures" are necessary to counteract the Whiskey Rebellion because it threatens the very existence of the Constitution. That said, Washington insisted that the federal government not overreach beyond the bounds of the Constitution, and to work with the Pennsylvania government. Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, warned that "the employment of military force, at this period, would be as bad as anything that the Rioters had done - equally unconstitutional and illegal." If left to the courts, McKean argued, the rioters could be prosecuted and punished without resorting to military force. Secretary Hamilton, naturally, "insisted upon the propriety of an immediate resort to Military force."
year created
1794
month created
08
day created
02
author
recipient
in collection
in publication
note
Those present at this conference were George Washington, Edmund Randolph, Henry Knox, William Bradford, and the following officials from Pennsylvania: Thomas Mifflin, governor; Thomas McKean, chief justice; Jared Ingersoll, attorney general; Alexander J. Dallas, secretary of the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd ser., IV, 144-146
Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd ser., IV, 144-146
created note
In the Pennsylvania Archives this document is dated the 9th [2d?] August, 1794.' Internal evidence indicates that August 2 is the correct date.
notable person/group
George Washington
Edmund Randolph
Henry Knox
William Bradford
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas McKean
Jared Ingersoll
Alexander Dallas
governor
John Neville
Presley Neville
David Lenox
Thomas Butler
Francis Mentges
Post Rider
Judge Wilson
Attorney General
militia
rioters
magistrate
Alexander Hamilton
Judge Addison
military
notable location
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Allegheny County
notable item/thing
insurrection
Whiskey Rebellion
Constitution
mail
letters
Pittsburgh Gazette
newspaper
revolt
document number
1794080200000
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Cabinet | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Unknown Recipient | [unknown] | [n/a] |