1794-10-23
[1]
Alexander Hamilton was at this time in western Pennsylvania accompanying the
United States troops sent west to put down the Whiskey Rebellion that had
erupted in the fall of 1794 in the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette,
Washington, and Allegheny. The insurrection was precipitated by the Excise
Act of 3 March 1791 that imposed substantial duties on domestically
distilled spirits and provided an elaborate system for efficient collection.
Violence against the collectors of the duties in July 1794 and by September
had become so widespread that President George Washsington decided to send
federal troops to deal with the insurgents. Secretary of the Treasury
Hamlton, an outspoken critic of the opponents of the excise, accompanied the
troops and the president himself accompanied them as far as Carlisle.
[2]
John Jay (1745-1829), at this time chief justice of the United States
Supreme Court, was in England to negotiate a treaty with Great Britain to
settle outstanding differences between that country and the United States.
Thomas Pinckney (1750-1828) was United States minister to Great Britain.
