Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 77

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 77

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The spectacle of the dignified committee of twenty-one exerting them- selves to carry water, whisky and other refreshments in prodigious quantities to the whisky boys is not, at this day, without its amusing features. It is not probable that the heart of a single member of that committee was in his work, and yet all rushed hither and thither, exerting themselves to the utmost to please and pacify the insurgents, and nearly all made personal sacrifices to encompass the general good. Mr. Brackenridge afterward complained that he had thus lost four barrels of whisky. Women and men passed from squad to squad of the insurgents with food of various kinds, and, in short, every effort, including a complete surrender and the avowed intention of joining the insurgents, was adopted. In subsequent years the dispute between individ- uals as to the degree of guilt seems ridiculous. Soon afterward the objec- tionable letter-writers who were banished temporarily from the town to appease the wrath of the mob posed as victims of the public meeting which had decreed their retirement. History must record that the inhabitants of Pitts- burg generally surrendered to the insurgents, and agreed (whether in good faith or not has nothing to do with the case) to join them and take part in any course that could be mutually agreed upon to banish the offending letter- writers and secure the repeal of the Excise Law. If Mr. Brackenridge or any other citizen espoused the cause of the insurgents previous to the surrender of the town, there is nothing to show that he was not entitled to amnesty as well as the citizens who participated in the meeting which passed resolutions of surrender and sent word to the insurgent leaders of their willingness to join them. Mr. Brackenridge was a man of great ability and one who had the advantage over most of his fellow citizens in possessing great cunning, a high degree of foresight and a mastery of the art of diplomacy. He knew the act of the insurgents was treason, and that punishment would surely

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follow unless the cause espoused by the insurgents could be made successful, either by stategy or force of arms. Therefore he had, at an earlier date than the meeting which adopted the articles of capitulation, perceived the drift of events, and had opened friendly negotiations with the insurgents, whether with the view of joining them absolutely and permanently, or with the idea of learning their designs and then of thwarting them, will ever remain a question of dispute and, perhaps, of uncertainty.

The banishment of the individuals above referred to from Pittsburg by the vote of the citizens was an extraordinary proceeding, and could only have been taken under the stress of intense fear. The course of the insurgent leaders in demanding the banishment of the letter-writers possesses features fully as extraordinary. Mr. Bradford, who represented the spirit of the insur- rection, demanded the chastisement of the letter-writers because they had avowed sentiments friendly to the Excise Law; yet, at the same time, he well knew that the majority of the inhabitants of Pittsburg favored submission to the Jaw. Why should he demand the ostracism of the letter-writers only, when he knew that nearly all the citizens of Pittsburg entertained the same views? Because a public submission to the will of the insurgents-to the cause they represented-was demanded. At the meeting on Braddock's Field these letters were read by him and commented upon in severe terms to the immense crowd of armed men assembled. The result was to fan into flame beyond the bounds of control the hostility to all persons favoring the Excise Law, and still further increase the vindictiveness of the poorer classes toward those of prominence and wealth. The course of the citizens of Pittsburg in all probability averted serious trouble, including, perhaps, the destruction of property and the loss of lives. There is in existence no sound and sufficient cvidencc to convict any citizen of Pittsburg with having from principle advocated and sustained the violent course pursued by the insurgents, or with having favored armed resistance to the execution of the Excise Law. The insurrection at first was based upon the inalienable right of citizens to remonstrate against and oppose what they considered an obnoxious law. The failure to check this spirit, or rather to direct it into legitimate channels, presented the occasion for the growth of the lawless or mob spirit. After that it was easy for enthusiasts or fanatics, in the whirl of temporary popularity, to swell the tide into a torrent. Even Mr. Bradford, who at first simply opposed the law, was compelled at later stages of the insurrection to encourage the lawless spirit, even to the extent of a general resistance to the laws of the United States.

After the whisky boys had been treated handsomely by the inhabitants the most of them crossed the Monongahela River in the evening and started for their respective homes. Small squads, numbering in the aggregate about 100 men or more, remained; whercupon it was whispered about that they intended to burn the houses of Kirkpatrick, Brison, Craig, Day, Gibson and per- laps others. About 9 o'clock at night a fire on Grant's Hill brought out the militia, under the command of General Wilkins, but they were dissuaded from using force, as it was believed wiser that scveral prominent citizens should confer with those bent on burning the above-named residences. The leaders were conferred with, and were told that should the house of Mr. Kirkpatrick be burned, it meant also the destruction of the residence of General O'Hara, which stood within a few fcet of it, and that General O'Hara was then with the army of General Wayne fighting the Indians in the West. Prudence again succeeded in averting any serious consequences. The town was now identified under its promises to the insurgents with all their movements for the general good of the Western country. Succeeding these occurrences, outragcs against excise officers throughout Western Pennsylvania continued. Tom the Tinker, with his mys-

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terious articles, similar to the whitecap notices of the present day, became a prominent figure; in fact, to such an extent that even the Pittsburg Gazette dared not refuse to publish his notices. Liberty poles were erected throughout the Western country, signifying independence of and hostility to the Excise Law. Within a few days after the capitulation of Pittsburg Major Kirk- patrick and others who had been banished returned to town, but such course was disapproved as a breach of faith with the insurgents by the committee of twenty-one. It was argued that, should their return become known to the insurgents, as must inevitably be the case, the latter would misconstrue the act as having been approved generally by the citizens who had entered into articles of capitulation with the insurgent leaders.

Soon after this it became known that the Government of the United States was on the point of taking action to suppress the insurrection and prepare the way for the enforcement of the Excise Law, whereupon a large meeting was held at Parkinson's Ferry by delegates, representing the insurgents, from all portions of Western Pennsylvania, and at this meeting forty-three delegates from Allegheny County attended. Colonel Edward Cook was chairman and Albert Gallatin secretary. On this occasion, for almost the first time, a general opposition to the course of the insurgents was developed. Messrs. Gallatin, Brackenridge, Findley, Ross and others, in different ways, deprecated the course pursued by the mob. It began to dawn upon the insurgents that they might be called upon to answer for their lawless proceedings to an army sent against them by the United States Government. Those who opposed the insurrection, therefore, found it an easier matter to outwit the mob by the employment of diplomacy and finesse. Later it became known that a committee from Presi- dent Washington was on its way to hold a conference with the insurgents, whereupon the 20th of August was designated, and Pittsburg the place, for such a meeting. The conference committee of the insurgents consisted of twelve members, of whom Thomas Morton, John B. C. Lucas and H. H. Brackenridge represented Allegheny County. By this time the insurgents had been brought to the conclusion that the Government meant to enforce the law, whereupon it was conceded the most important questions for them to consider were: First, amnesty; second, the repeal of the law. Bradford still favored, or declared that he favored, preparation for war against the Government, and the collection of an army, military supplies and thorough military organization. Messrs. Ross, Brackenridge, Gallatin and others outwitted him and secured from the insurgents a promise of submission upon the procurement of amnesty and the repeal of the law. President Washington's proclamation for the dispersion of the insurgents was issued August 7, 1794. At the same time he issued a requisition upon the adjoining States for 15,000 militia to quell the insurrection by force, should peaceable measures fail. The proposition of the commissioners of the Government offering conditional amnesty was discussed with great fervor by the insurgents at a large meeting held in Browns- ville. Upon the question of accepting the proposition of the commissioners the vote stood 34 yeas and 23 nays. The insurgents were not yet conquered. The commissioners were not satisficd that twenty-three delegates out of fifty- seven should still oppose the laws of the United States, whereupon further requirements were demanded. The insurgents began to exhibit a defiant mood, and even went so far as to erect a liberty pole in front of the lodgings of James Ross, J. Yates and William Bradford, United States commissioners, in Pitts- burg. The reign of terror was shown not to have terminated by the prevalence of acts of outrage in various parts of Western Pennsylvania. However, Judge Addison opened court in Pittsburg, and bills of indictment were issued on the charge of riot against those who had erected the liberty pole in front of the

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James Reep

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lodging-house of the commissioners. It now became known that a large army under the command of General Lee, of Virginia, was moving toward the Western country for the purpose of quelling the insurrection by force, if necessary. Delegations were sent to President Washington, having in view the stoppage of this military force, but they all resulted in failure. The army began to pour through tlie passes of the Alleghanies on November 1, 1794, and in a short time took possession, so to speak, of all of Western Pennsylvania, without meeting with any opposition. The citizens of Pittsburg who had been exiled were brought back in triumph by General Morgan and a body of troops, and given a public ovation. All made haste now to make peace with the army, and disavow any unlawful connection with the insurgents. As inight have been expected, hundreds were arrested, and in many instances severe hardships were suffered by those who were suspected of having had intimate connection with the insurrection. The result was complete submis- sion to the Government authorities and to the legally constituted local officials. A portion of the army remained in Western Pennsylvania during the succeed- ing winter in anticipation of a recurrence of the outbreak, but their services were scarcely needed. The display of force by the Government authorities was wholly successful, and the Whisky Insurrection was at an end.

An impartial and general view of the insurrection discloses an unexpected condition of affairs. With many things to excuse a violation of the Excise Law, the insurgents were guilty of no act more serious than to tar and feather a few officers, compel them to resign their commissions, return the shots from the Neville residence, burn the building after their leader had been wantonly shot, frighten the marshal in Miller's field by a bullet over his head, threaten to destroy Pittsburg unless the letter-writers were banished and the town should join their cause, and open a mail bag or two to learn the intention of their opposers. When Marshal Lennox was "fired upon" in the harvest field of Mr. Miller, does anyone suppose that the shot could not have been made fatal had the rifleman so desired? The riflemen of that day did not miss so big a target. The shot was fired as a warning for the marshal to return the writs and resign his office. The 'abuse offered to Government officers cannot be said to have been the acts of the insurgents as a whole. Individual acts of vandalism in the riots of to-day are not visited upon the heads of the leaders of the general movements for relief. At the time of the first visit of the insurgents to the Neville residence they merely demanded the return of the writs and the resignation of the inspectors, and met with a volley from the house, attended with fatal results. At the second visit they made the same demand and received the same answer, and fifteen minutes later, during a truce, their leader, McFar- lane, was shot dead. They then destroyed the house and barns, but did not harm an individual. Does not this show that instead of being a reckless and irresponsible mob they were well controlled and comparatively cool? It was reported that they threatened to burn Pittsburg, but even this vague threat was conditioned upon the failure of the town to banish the offending letter- writers. Does anyone suppose that the restrictions contained in the letters on the acts of the insurgents and the merits of their cause were sufficient to fix and fire the determination of the leaders to destroy Pittsburg? Improbable. Every act of the insurgents, even when infuriated by the indefensible shooting of McFarlane, was consistently directed toward the one great object of secur- ing a repeal of the Excise Law. The shooting over the head of Marshal Lennox was done to scare him out of the neighborhood. Both visits to the house of General Neville were made for the purpose of securing the resigna- tion of the inspector and the surrender of the writs. They were fired upon first in both instances, several wounded, their leader killed, and yet, strange to

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relate, they did nothing worse than to burn the property. Was this an irre- sponsible and lawless mob? Improbable. The threat to burn Pittsburg, though sufficient to frighten the inhabitants into hysterics, was made to secure the banishment of the letter-writers who had thus revealed their deadly hostility to the cause of the insurrection, and to obtain the resignation of the excise officers. The opening of the mail bags was effected for the purpose of learn- ing the secrets of the officers, and was not due to any treasonable designs of the insurgents. Every assault had the same general object in view-the nullifica- tion of the Excise Law. The many wild rumors sprang from the fears of the timorous or the threats of ubiquitous fanatics in no way connected with the general movements and objects of the insurrection. With 7,000 men under arms, with several wounded and their leader shot dead, with the advice of fanatics and outlaws ringing in their ears, with the knowledge before them that the letter-writers in Pittsburg were endeavoring to crush them with an army from the East, the insurgents, strange to tell, did not shed a drop of blood, took nothing from the mail except the objectionable letters, and only destroyed the Neville property under intense and galling provocation. There is scarcely a strike of the present day that is not accompanied by a greater degree of outlawry. A modicum of prudence and diplomacy, such as was exhibited by Mr. Brackenridge in his intercourse with the insurgents, or by the inhabitants of Pittsburg in their temporary surrender, would have averted serious results at the Neville house, would never have witnessed one-quarter of 7,000 men under arms and would in all probability have rendered it unnecessary to send a large army to Western Pennsylvania.

CHAPTER XXV.

PITTSBURG CONTINUED-INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH, 1794-PUBLIC LOTTERY -BOROUGH FINANCES -- ORDINANCES OF 1800-I-EARLY OFFICERS-INCIDENTS- CHARTER OF 1804-CUMING'S REMINISCENCES-STATISTICS-THE ARSENAL SITE- CHARTER OF 1816-SUPPLEMENT THERETO-CITY OFFICERS-EAST WARD AND WEST WARD-NORTHERN LIBERTIES-THE BATTURE CASE-BIRMINGHAM-PRO- POSALS TO FURNISH WATER-LAWRENCEVILLE-BRIDGES-FINANCIAL STATE- MENTS-EXPANSION OF THE CITY EASTWARD-MARKET-HOUSES-CITY BILLS OR CERTIFICATES-THE WATER LOANS OF 1826-7-STATISTICS OF GROWTH -- THE WATER-WORKS-ALLEGHENY MADE A BOROUGH-FIRST GAS COMPANY- ITS SUBSEQUENT CAREER-TWO WARDS CHANGED TO FOUR-MAYOR'S DUTY RESTRICTED-ALLEGHENY COMMON-MARKET-HOUSE OF 1832-SANITARY MEASURES-SALT WATER FOUND-POLICE OPERATIONS-THE JAIL- BOARD OF TRADE-CITY PRINTING-CRIME PREVALENT-THE TRACT ON THE EAST-DUQUESNE WAY-SHINPLASTERS-NEW WATER-WORKS -FIFTH WARD-REORGANIZATION OF THE GAS COMPANY-FIRST GAS LIGHTS-FINANCIAL STATISTICS-ALLEGHENY MADE A CITY-IM- PORTANCE OF THE DECADE OF THE THIRTIES-WARD AND BOROUGH LAW OF 1845-CONSOLIDATION-SHOCK OF THE GREAT FIRE- WATER-WORKS OF 1847-9- WARD MEMBERSHIP-LOANS AND INDEBTEDNESS - VALUE OF CITY PROPERTY - ASSESSMENTS - RAILWAY BONDS ISSUED - ALLEGHENY'S STREETS - IN- CREASE OF CRIME-STATISTICS OF 1850-2 - DEPRECIATION OF CITY BONDS-GAS IN ALLEGHENY-MANY IMPORTANT STEPS REQUIRED-THE ENORMOUS DEBT-CONSOLIDATION AGAIN CONSIDERED-REPUDIATION OF RAILWAY BONDS - FIRST STREET RAILWAYS - FLOODS - POPULATION.

The act incorporating the borough, passed on April 22, 1794, provided that the "freeholders and other inhabitants, housekeepers," should meet on the third Monday in May of each year to elect two fit persons to be burgesses, the one having the highest number of votes to be chief burgess, and to elect other persons as assistants, "for advising, aiding and assisting the said bur- gess;" and to elect a high constable and town clerk; and it was further pro- vided that no person should be permitted to vote at the borough elections nor be eligible to any of the borough offices who had not resided one year within the borough previous to the date of election. The burgesses, free- holders and inhabitants were made a body politic and corporate, under the name of "the burgesses, freeholders and inhabitants of the borough of Pitts- burg, in the county of Allegheny." The act further provided that two markets should be held weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and that there should be chosen a clerk of the market, "who shall have the assize of bread, wine, beer, wood, coals, hay, corn and other provisions." It was provided that the inhabitants should have in all respects the same powers, privileges, etc., which had been granted to the borough of Reading by the act of 1783, except that Pittsburg was not constituted a separate election district.

The original act limited the water boundary to the beach of the two rivers, while the act of 1816, incorporating the borough as a city, extended the frontage to the middle of the streams. The act of 1794 remained substantially intact until

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March 5, 1804, when it was repealed by the act of that date. The citizens of the borough in 1804 petitioned for a change in the act of 1794, on the grounds that the law was "insufficient to promote conveniency, good order and public utility." The boundary under the act of 1804 was the same as under the act of 1794, except as to the river frontage. The law of 1804 fixed the officers as follows: One burgess, thirteen members of the Council and one high constable. In addition to these it was provided that the Council should appoint a street commissioner, treasurer, clerk, collector and constable. It was provided that five of the Council should be chosen by lot to form a court of appeal, that three of them should constitute a quorum, with power to deter- mine the justness of the apportionment of tax and to secure a redress of griev- ances; that owners of land along the rivers could build wharves thereon; and that all persons complaining under municipal judgments should have the right of appeal to the Court of Quarter Sessions.

In November, 1798, $400 in money was raised and sent to the relief of the yellow fever sufferers in Philadelphia. At this time the supervisors of the borough requested all persons delinquent in borough tax to come forward at once and settle. In 1798, under authority of the Legislature, a lottery was established for the purpose of "raising the sum of $12,000, to be applied in erect- ing piers to defend the banks of the rivers Allegheny and Monongahela, within the borough of Pittsburg." The first prize consisted of $1,000; the second of $800; two of $500 each; three of $400 each; five of $300 each; ten of $200 each; fifteen of $100 each, with a prize of $2,000 for the last drawn ticket; $1,000 for the second last drawn ticket; and $500 for the third last drawn ticket. There were 2,210 prizes and 3,790 blanks, making a total of 6,000 tickets at $5 each. The announcement that tickets were for sale was made in July, 1798, and it was hoped that all would be sold by October. "To those acquainted with the situation, and who feel themselves interested in the improve- ment and prosperity of the town of Pittsburg, nothing need be said touching the utility of the object to which the product of this lottery is to be applied. To others it might be suggested how very important are its prosperity and advancement, not only to those adjacent, but to the inhabitants of the neigh- boring counties, and even of the towns on the Atlantic. Situated as it is on a point of land at the confluence of two majestic rivers, which, joining, flow through an immense territory to the ocean, it must, of necessity, be in a con- siderable degree the emporium of that territory, if it be not abandoned to the impetuous current of the Allegheny, which is making yearly, nay, daily, encroachments on the land, and which will, at no very distant day, take pos- session of the delightful spot on which the town stands, should its ravages not be checked by the erection of piers, or some other efficient means." This advertisement was signed by the following managers: Presley Neville, George Stevenson, John Scull, Isaac Craig, Nathaniel Bedford, James Brison, George Shiras, Jeremiah Barker and Nathaniel Irish. The tickets evidently did not sell as readily as anticipated, for a few months later a reduction of fifteen per cent. was announced in the value of the prizes.

In 1799 the island on the Allegheny River, two miles above Pittsburg, consisting of nearly 34 acres, was advertised to be sold on an execution against William Wilson, deceased, on the suit of Meeker and Cochran, by Ephraim Jones, sheriff.

The tax levy in Pittsburg for the year 1799 was $649.44, and the amount collected by January 31, 1800, was in round numbers $300. During the year 1799 the county paid for wolves' scalps $640.30. During that year also the county bought of Samuel McCord 947 bushels of coal for use in the jail, for which he was paid $49.96. The borough tax of the year 1800 was $604.88.

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Samuel McCord, collector, turned over to the treasury by January 1, 1801, $512.

Under the borough charter it was customary for the citizens, as well as the burgesses, to assemble in general meeting for the purpose of enacting ordinances. The few regulations adopted in 1794, and amended at a few subsequent dates, were greatly improved in 1800 and 1801. Among other provisions contained in the ordinances of these dates were the following: That market should be held during daylight on Wednesdays and Saturdays, varying somewhat from winter to summer; no slaughtering was permitted in the market, under a penalty of $5; no liquor was retailed there under pen- alty of from $2 to $5; shambles and stalls adjoining were allowed to be used any other than market hours; the clerk was directed to remain at the market and prevent the sale of bad food; see that all bread and butter were up to weight; see that the scales were correct; enforce the payment of all penalties; decide disputes as to weights, measures, and examine all persons suspected of being hucksters; collect rents of stalls, prevent any persons except butchers and country people from bringing their produce to market for sale, or from selling any goods, wares or merchandise except in the market; to clean out the market twice per week, and many other similar regulations. These ordi- nances, as a whole, were adopted March 19, 1800. At this time John Park was chief burgess, Isaac Craig burgess, Thomas Bracken, Andrew Willock, Robert Magee, assistants.

On March 27, 1800, the county treasurer, John Wilkins, was robbed of $1,300 in cash, and for the apprehension and conviction of the thief he offered a reward of $100. Much of the money was in silver and the balance in gold. A servant of Mr. Wilkins was later found to have been concerned in the theft, and his confession implicated a resident of the town, and in the end the most of the money was recovered. Previous to the erection of the new Courthouse John Reed furnished the buildings occupied by the officers of the court. He was paid in 1800 the sum of $80, or $10 for each of eight years, for rental. He was allowed this sum by Adamson Tannehill and George Adams, auditors of accounts, and was likewise paid seven cents per bushel for 300 bushels of coal. In April, 1801, Dr. Hugh Scott succeeded George Adams, deceased, as postmaster of Pittsburg. Mr. Adams had resided here nearly sixteen years. In May, 1801, the following borough officers were elected: Chief burgess, Dr. George Stevenson; burgess, Jeremiah Barker; assistants, David Evans, Robert Simpson, William Davis and Peter Kintner. William Woods became town clerk; Noble Willock high constable; Robert Magee and John Darragh assessors, and George Steward and Jeremiah Sturgeon supervisors.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 77

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192