University of Virginia Library

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.