USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the commonwealth period. 1775-1820 v. III > Part 24
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On the appointed day, the troops were posted, and the jus- tices assembled, prepared to attend to the duties of their office ; but the insurgents appeared in equal, if not superior, numbers, under the leadership of Daniel Shays, formerly a captain in the army of the revolution, who had resigned his commission from causes not known, and who was the principal personage,
1 Worcester Mag. No. 25, for Sept. 1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 33, 47; Bradford, ii. 257, 267.
Worcester Mag. No. 28, for Oct. 1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 48; Bradford, ii. 264; Holland's
Western Mass. i. 245; History of Berkshire, 128. From the state- ments of Holland it appears that only about 300 of the militia were mus- tered at the opening of the court.
233
CHARACTER OF DAY.
or at least the most prominent, in opposing the government CHAP. and resisting its authority. The character of Shays was VI. marked by no qualities which entitled him to distinction, nor 1786. was he eminent for courtesy, talent, or principle. Brave though he may have been while in a good cause, he had not the courage which shrinks from dishonorable acts ; bankrupt in fortune as well as in virtue, he was ready to "embark on the flood of any desperate adventure," in the hope of improv- ing his outward condition ; and, destitute of qualifications for high military command, there were others who were leagued with him far more competent and formidable than himself.1
Luke Day, of West Springfield, was, without doubt, the master spirit of the insurrection ; the precedence of Shays was the result of mere accident. Day had served as a captain in the revolution, and returned home poor, but with honor, and a major by brevet. Unfortunately, however, for himself and for his country, the cacoethes loquendi had taken possession of him ; and, as a good declaimer, his bar-room harangues were frequent and fervent. The meetings of the malcontents had been held for some time at a noted tavern in his native town rejoicing in the cognomen of " the Old Stebbins Tavern ; " and there he was accustomed to spend his evenings, in the company of his " fellow-sufferers," who were inspired by his eloquence to imagine themselves " of all men most miserable." As his popularity increased, his converts multiplied, and they were drilled by him daily on the West Springfield Common. Their arms, at first, were hickory clubs, and their hats were adorned with sprigs of hemlock ; but, as the hour of action approached, those who could afford it provided themselves with muskets. Applied to a good cause, the talents of Day might have been of some service ; but in his present position, he was entirely mistaken in supposing that the applause of vulgar minds -
1 On the character of Shays, see Shrewsbury, 115-117 ; Holland's Lincoln's Worcester, 369; Ward's Western Mass. i. 290-295.
234
CONDUCT OF THE INSURGENTS.
CHAP. the "tongues o' the common mouth " - was an evidence of his VI.
genius, or could insure his success.1
1786.
The conduct of the insurgents was exceedingly insolent ; and their first demand was, that the judges should pledge themselves not to indict any of the late rioters. The reply of the judges was firm and dignified ; they should execute the laws agreeably to their oath.
In the confusion which ensued, however, but little could be done ; and, on the third Sep. 28. day of their sitting, the court adjourned, after resolving that it was inexpedient to proceed to Berkshire. Thus the turbu- lent were left in possession of the field ; and, as they continued their threats, there were serious apprehensions of an attack upon the militia. But the prudence of Shepard prevented the Sep. 29. conflict ; and, on the following day, the insurgents departed, leaving the town in considerable confusion.2
Sep. 28.
The speech of the governor at the opening of the legislature contained a review of these transactions, a declaration of the danger of such proceedings, and the want of justification on the part of the insurgents, even if their grievances were admit- ted to be real. The necessity of efficient measures to support the government and restore tranquillity was also adverted to ; and the hope was expressed that the representatives of the people, who were authorized to act for them, would extend all suitable forbearance and relief, according as the condition of the state would admit.3
The Senate concurred with the governor in these views ; but in the House a difference of opinion prevailed, and some of the members secretly, if not openly, sympathized with the insurgents, and wished them success.4 Unanimity, therefore,
1 On the character of Day, see Holland's Western Mass. i. 244, 245. 2 Worcester Mag. No. 28, for Oct. 1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 49; Bradford, ii. 264 ; Holland's Western Mass. i. 245-248.
& Worcester Mag. No. 28, for Oct.
1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 51; Bradford, ii. 267 ; Holland's Western Mass. i. 248. Compare Sparks's Washington, ix. 204.
4 " General Knox," wrote Lee to Washington, " has just returned ; and his report, grounded on his own
235
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL COURT.
was with difficulty secured ; and, though the joint committee CHAP. censured the proceedings against the judicial courts, and re- VI. ported an approval of his excellency's conduct in raising the 1786. militia, and a promise to defray the expenses incurred, with a provision for the suspension for a limited period of the privi- leges of the writ of Habeas Corpus, a determination was at the same time expressed to examine into and redress existing grievances, and relieve the people of oppressive burdens.1 The discussions which ensued were continued for weeks ; and the conventions, emboldened by the countenance of others, poured in petitions, urging pathetically the necessity for redress, and, in some cases, praying that a general convention of the people might be called, to unite in consistent and explicit petitions. and that the sense of the towns might be taken on the expe- diency of revising the constitution.2
The decision which was finally reached was, happily, favora- ble. A law against riots and unlawful assemblies was passed ; 3 Oct. 28. the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus was suspended Nov.10. for eight months ; an act was completed for the payment of back taxes in specified articles at fixed rates ; a plan was
knowledge, is replete with melan- choly information. A majority of the people of Massachusetts are in oppo- sition to the government. Some of the leaders avow the subversion of it to be their object, together with the abolition of debts, the division of property, and a reunion with Great Britain. In all the Eastern States the same temper prevails more or less, and will certainly break forth when the opportune moment ar- rives." Marshall's Washington, v. 117; Sparks's Washington, ix. 207.
1 Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection, 52; Bradford, ii. 267, 268 ; Holland's Western Mass. i. 249.
2 Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection, 53-55. One of these petitions was from the convention held at Paxton, in Worcester county, Sept. 26, and
continued in session until the 28th. Worcester Mag. No. 27, for Oct. 1786. A petition was also sent in from Worcester, where a meeting was held Sept. 25, which continued in session until Oct. 2. Ibid. The petition of eighteen towns in Middlesex county is given in ibid. No. 30. This conven- tion was held Oct. 3.
3 Holland's Western Mass. i. 249. By this act, all offenders, who should, for the space of one hour after it was read to them, continue their combina- tions, were to be punished by the con- fiscation of their property, the inflic- tion of thirty-nine stripes, and im- prisonment not more than one year, with thirty-nine stripes every three months during the term of imprison- ment.
236
RENEWED DISTURBANCES.
CHAP. agreed upon for originating civil causes before justices of the VI. peace, in order to lessen the business of the Courts of Com- 1786. mon Pleas, and to render law processes less expensive ; a new Nov.15. " tender act " was framed, the operation of which was limited to eight months ; an address to the people was prepared and published ; and an act of indemnity was passed, granting a pardon to all persons concerned in the late disturbances who should, by the first day of January following, take the oath of allegiance, and behave orderly in the mean time.1
In the interval of the passage of these acts, slight disturb- Oct. 24. ances occurred at Taunton, and were threatened at Cam- Oct. 31. bridge ; and a circular letter was addressed by Shays to the Oct. 23. selectmen of many of the towns in Hampshire county, requir- ing them to assemble the inhabitants, and to see that they were suitably armed and equipped.2 It was evident, there- fore, that the rebellion was not quelled ; and it was the con- sciousness that rigorous measures could alone prove effectual which induced the House to consent that such steps should be taken as the emergency required ; for if the government was subverted through their neglect, they had the sense to perceive that the consequences would be as ruinous to themselves as to others. Personal interest, therefore, compelled them to sus- tain the laws, and to sanction the course which the governor had pursued.3
1 Worcester Mag. No. 31, 32, 33, and 35, for Nov. 1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection, 60, 65, 66; Brad- ford, ii. 269, 270. The Address to the People was approved by the Sen- ate Oct. 30, and by the House Nov. 14; 1200 copies were ordered to be printed and distributed, and the pam- phlet, containing forty-two pages, was printed by Adams and Nourse. An- other act, for rendering processes in law less expensive, was passed Feb. 14, 1789. Mass. Laws for 1789, chap. Ixviii. 2 Worcester Mag. No. 32, for Nov.
1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 58, 59, 63, 64 ; Bradford, ii. 268, 271; Holland's Western Mass. i. 250. 3 It was estimated, by some, that
the number of the disaffected in Massachusetts amounted to one fifth of the inhabitants in several of the populous counties ; and their doc- trines and purposes were embraced by many young and active spirits in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont ; so that the whole faction was supposed to be capable of furnishing a body of from 12 to 15,000 men, bent on annihi-
237
-
MEMORIAL OF THE WORCESTER CONVENTION.
The adjournment of the General Court, which took place CHAP. in November, was immediately followed by a convention of VI. Nov.23. delegates in the county of Worcester, who sent out an ad- 1786. dress, asserting the right of the people to examine, censure, and condemn the conduct of their rulers, many of whom, they affirmed, were " born to affluence," and " perhaps the whole in easy circumstances," and, consequently, incapable of sympa- thizing fully with the less wealthy. They therefore called upon all electors to stand to their rights, and concluded by affirming that, however they might suffer in their characters, persons, or estates, they should think themselves "happy, if they could, in the least degree, contribute to restore harmony to the commonwealth, and to support the weight of a tottering empire." 1
If it was the intention of the memorialists that the close of this address should be literally construed, the terms ill com- ported with its opening language. The people, therefore, interpreted it to suit their own views ; and, so far from re- fraining from violence, and aiming to restore harmony, they were more active than ever in opposing the government, and in endeavoring to bring it into general contempt. Before the circular was issued, indeed, and when the Court of General Nov.21. Sessions of the Peace attempted to meet at Worcester, accord- ing to adjournment, the court house was found to be filled with armed men, and the justices, opposed by a triple row of bayonets, were obliged to meet in a tavern.2 The governor, on hearing of this, issued his orders as commander-in-chief, and called upon the officers of the militia to see that their
lating property, and cancelling all debts, public and private. Knox to Washington; Washington to Madi- son, in Works, ix. 207; Marshall's Washington, v. 114; Curtis's Hist. of the Const. i. 273.
1 Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection, 12, 73.
2 Worcester Mag. No. 34, for Nov.
1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec- tion, 74; Bradford, ii. 273 ; Lincoln's Worcester ; Ward's Shrewsbury, 101, 102. These insurgents, about 60 in number, were headed by Mr. Gale, of Princeton, and were joined by 40 more from Shrewsbury, and 50 from Hubbardston and the neighboring towns.
238
WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF THE INSURGENTS.
CHAP. divisions were organized and equipped to take the field at VI. the shortest notice ; the militia in Middlesex were directed to 1786. be in readiness to march to Cambridge ; four regiments were put in a like disposition in Essex ; and the sheriff of Barnsta- ble, where symptoms of uneasiness had begun to appear, was directed to call out the militia, if necessary, to support the courts in that county.1
The complaints of the malcontents now became furious. The government, they said, had failed to comply with all their requests ; and some of them appeared to entertain the belief that they owed no obedience to their rulers further than their measures were approved, and that they might at pleasure resist obnoxious laws.2 By persisting in their opposition, they had, of course, rejected the offer of pardon ; and, as reason was inadequate to dispel their delusion, the governor was required to exercise the highest authority delegated to him by the legislature to suppress the rebellion. Warrants were accord- ingly issued for the arrest and imprisonment of the leaders of the insurgents in Middlesex ; and their execution was intrusted to the sheriff of that county, aided by a party of horse under Colonel Benjamin Hichborn, of Boston, who had voluntarily associated to preserve the peace. Towards the Nov.29. last of the month, marching orders were issued ; and, joined by a party from Groton under Colonel Henry Wood, the whole body proceeded to Concord. The Groton horsemen being acquainted with the country, acted as scouts, and re turned at night with two prisoners, Parker and Page; bu Shattuck, the principal offender, had escaped. He was seized however, the next day, after a violent resistance, in which he was wounded ; and the three were taken to Boston, and cas into jail.3
1 Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection,
75; Bradford, ii. 274.
2 Bradford, ii. 274.
3 Worcester Mag. No. 36, for Dec.
1786 ; Minot's Hist. of the Insurrec tion, 78; Bradford, ii. 276, 277 Shattuck's' Concord, 139.
239
DISTURBANCES AT WORCESTER.
The sword of the government was now unsheathed. The CHAP. heart of the insurrection was broken in Middlesex ; and it
VI. was only necessary, in other parts, to proceed with similar 1786. vigor, to overcome the whole. Yet the rebels were not dis- heartened. They denounced the conduct of the legislature as " oppressive," accused the members of being "insensible to the distresses of their constituents," and avowed a determination to " seek redress of their grievances in any way which was practicable." 1 In accordance with these views, preparations were made to prevent the sitting of the Court of Common Pleas at Worcester ; and the insurgents, to the number of four Dec. 5. hundred, from Hampshire and Worcester, rendezvoused at Shrewsbury a few days previous to the opening of the court. Nov.29. While thus posted, a party of horsemen from Boston, twenty Nov.30. in number, all men of large fortunes, set out to arrest them ; but the insurgents were informed of their approach, and re- moved to Holden, and from thence to Grafton. Shays, with his party of three hundred and fifty, was quartered at Rut- land, but a few miles off ; and from this point he issued his orders to his associates. On Sunday, the party from Grafton Dec. 3. entered Worcester, and, obtaining the keys, took possession. of the court house, where, during the night, they were joined by others. The train band and alarm list, in the mean time, were called out, and, to the number of one hundred and sev- enty, paraded, and marched towards the rebels. A conference Dec.4. ensued ; and, as they refused to disperse, the commander of the militia, Captain Howe, ordered his men to charge bayonets and advance. The insurgents wavered, and fled to an emi- nence before the court house ; and the militia passed them to the Hancock Arms, returned, and were dismissed.2
In the evening, the arms of the insurgents, which had been
1 Worcester Mag. No. 36, for Dec. 1786 ; Bradford, ii. 274.
2 Worcester Mag. No. 36, for Dec. 1786; Minot's Hist. of the Insur-
rection, 82; Bradford, ii. 278; Hol- land's Western Mass. i. 252, 253; Lincoln's Worcester; Ward's Shrews- bury, 102-105.
240
DISTURBANCES AT WORCESTER.
CHAP. incautiously exposed, were secreted by several young men, in VI. the spirit of mischief, and an alarm was raised that a company 1786. of light horse from Boston was approaching ; but the alarm proved false, the arms were recovered, and the panic-struck soldiers remained in a posture of defence through the night. A violent snow storm set in about sunset ; but this did not prevent the insurgents from Holden and other towns from marching to the rendezvous ; and, though the storm raged the next day, they collected to the number of five or six hundred. Dec. 5. The judges met at the Sun Tavern ; but it was useless to think of proceeding to business. The insurgents continued to pour into the town ; and by the arrival of Shays, on the following Dec.6. day, with his three hundred and fifty men, their number had swelled to nearly a thousand. The members of the late con- vention and the leaders of the mob conferred as to what should be done ; and, as they were hardly prepared for open hostili- ties, a petition to the governor was draughted, copies of which were sent into all the towns in the three western counties. The language of this petition was apparently respectful. The suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus was the chief ground of complaint ; and the petitioners, while they prayed that the benefits of the act of indemnity might still be extended to them, assured his excellency that they did not rise on account of their disaffection to the commonwealth, as was alleged, but because they were unable to provide for their families, and, at the same time, pay their debts. Not a word of acknowledg- ment of error did they insert, but promised to withdraw only on conditions which they knew would be rejected, and which were tantamount to a surrender at discretion to their de- mands.1
1 Worcester Mag. No. 36, for Dec. 1786; Lincoln's Worcester; Ward's Shrewsbury, 105-109; Holland's Western Mass. i. 255.
"They said they were an hungry ; sighed forth proverbs
That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must eat;
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods sent not
Corn for the rich only. With these shreds They vented their complainings."
Coriolanus, Act. i. Sc. 1.
241
PROCEEDINGS IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
The courts adjourned, satisfied that resistance would other- CHAP. wise be offered. Previously, however, the judges were insult- VI. ed, and one of them was apprehended by the mob. But the 1786. insurgents themselves were speedily alarmed ; for General Shepard, with a body of twelve hundred men, had taken the field, ready to attack them at a moment's warning. They accordingly left Worcester, greatly to the relief of the well- Dec. 9. disposed citizens ; and, though they did not disband, nor even disperse, quiet was, for a short time, partially restored.1
The proceedings in Hampshire were equally disgraceful. Addresses were published in the Gazette and the Herald, pro- fessing to set forth " the principal causes of the late risings of the people, and of their present movement," and calling upon the people to contend without ceasing until redress should be obtained.2 The insurgents, likewise, remained under arms, and talked even of marching to Boston, for the release of Shattuck and the other prisoners confined there. Meas- ures were also instituted to embody their forces, by the ap- pointment of a committee of seventeen,3 who were to write to the different towns, directing them to meet, organize their companies, and form them into regiments. Yet the courage of the malcontents was fast oozing out, and there was evident trepidation in council and camp. The staid and respectable were disgusted with their movements ; for the most illiterate presided at their gatherings, and so weak were their demon- strations that the newspaper wags found ample scope to launch at them their shafts ; and, in one of their lampoons, the funeral obsequies of the "Robin Hood Club " were described with a gravity which excited the risibles of many a person.4 Shays
1787. Jan. 2
1 Lincoln's Worcester ; Ward's Shrewsbury, 109, 110; Holland's Western Mass. i. 255.
Hampshire Gazette ; Hampshire Herald; Minot's Hist. of the Insur- rection, 83-87; Bradford, ii. 278; Holland's Western Mass. i. 255, 256.
VOL. III. 16
3 Their names are given in Hol- land's Western Mass. i. 257.
Holland's Western Mass. i. 257, 258. "The corpse was preceded by the little man in the east, with a long, white wand, to clear the streets of little boys, who collected in great
1
242
TROOPS RAISED TO SUPPRESS THE REBELLION.
CHAP. himself was beginning to waver, and was "ready in a moment VI. to accept of a pardon."1 And, as many of his associates
1786. were in a similar condition, it is probable that, had the crisis been seized, the malcontents might have been effectually routed.
But matters had gone too far to be peaceably settled. The Dec. 26. courts were to meet at Springfield in a few weeks ; and, as the courage of Shays in the mean time revived, he marched to that town, with three hundred of his followers, to obstruct the sessions. The court house was seized, and guards were posted in military form ; and, after these preliminaries, a committee was appointed to wait on the judges with a petition, requiring them to desist from further proceedings. This petition would doubtless have been instantly rejected, had it not been backed by scores of bayonets and hundreds of hickory clubs. Such arguments were too strong to be overlooked by wise men ; and the dignitaries of the bench were constrained to yield.2
There was no alternative for the government but to act. This "inundation of distempered humor " must be checked, or serious, if not fatal, consequences would ensue. It would be impolitic to "outsport discretion." If the "sourest points " had been hitherto met with the "sweetest terms," and tender rebukes had been substituted instead of the sharp-edged sword, it was time to take a firmer stand. Accordingly, the advice of the Council was sought ; and, with their approval, orders were issued for the raising of a body of forty-four hundred rank and file from the different counties, with four regiments
1787.
Jan.
numbers, gazing at the wondrous novelty. At his right hand, the great and only remaining member of the council of war, weeping over the pe- tition of the men at arms, addressed to the governor and council, which he carried open in his left hand. . The chairman followed the corpse as chief mourner, with his cap under his arm, and his venerable locks
covered with a white cap, suggestive of what death he expected soon to die. The few remaining members closed the procession."
-
Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection,
90; Bradford, ii. 281.
2 Minot's Hist. of the Insurrection, 91; Bradford, ii. 282; Holland's Western Mass. i. 259.
243
THE ARSENAL AT SPRINGFIELD ATTACKED.
of artillery from Suffolk and Middlesex.1 The command of CHAP. the whole was intrusted to General Lincoln, as the first major VI. general in the state, whose character, as a gentleman and a 1787. military officer, peculiarly qualified him for the delicate trust ; supplies for the troops were speedily procured ; and an address Jan. 12. to the people was prepared and circulated, calling upon them once more to refrain from violence, and assuring them that, in case of resistance, all the insurgents would be dealt with in a summary manner.2
Quiet, by these means, was restored at the east. But the counties at the west were in a vehement flame. Day had assembled a company of four hundred, with glittering muskets and sharp-pointed bayonets, who were billeted upon the in- habitants, and exercised daily. The arsenal at Springfield was to be the point of attack; for there the arms of the United States were lodged, and cannon and powder were stored in quantities. Shays was active to secure this post, and to secure it before the arrival of Lincoln. To frustrate his purpose was of the utmost importance, for the welfare of the state would be jeoparded by his success. General Shepard accordingly took possession of the post, with nine hundred' men, and was reënforced with two hundred more, all of whom were from Hampshire. Day, with his men, was stationed at West Springfield ; Eli Parsons, with four hundred from Berk- shire, was posted at Chicopee, in the north part of the town ; and Shays, with his forces, eleven hundred in all, approached the arsenal by the Boston road. The number of the insur-
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