Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 85

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 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In November, 1787, William Findley, William Todd and John Beard were elected delegates from Westmoreland County; to the convention called to consider the new plan of government proposed by a convention of the States held in September, previously, in Philadelphia. The people of this vicinity were fully awake to the importance of public events. At a public meeting of the inhabitants of Pittsburg, held at the tavern of A. and J. Tannehill, on Friday, November 9, 1787, for "the special purpose of taking the sense of the town with respect to the system of confederate government proposed by the convention at Philadelphia, General John Gibson was called to the chair. "After con- sidering the fact that the people had heard both sides of the question; that the new system was the result of much political wisdom, good sense and candor in those who framed it; that no reason existed why anything better should be expected from any other body of men; that from the necessity of mutual con- cessions by the different States, another more equitable could not probably be formed; that posterity required the speedy adoption of some mode of govern- ment more efficient than the Articles of Confederation; that the Western people particularly desired the accomplishment of these objects, therefore, it was unani- mously Resolved, That it is our ardent wish and hope that this system of govern- ment may be speedily adopted."

Messrs. Findley, Todd and Beard continued to oppose the adoption of the new Constitution, but that instrument was finally adopted by Pennsylvania, greatly to the joy of a majority of the people of the Western country. How- ever, the discussion of the principles of government embraced in the Consti- tution formed a division in opinion regarding measures of public policy and resulted in the establishment in this vicinity of the two great parties, Federal- ists and Anti-Federalists. The adherents of Washington, Hamilton and Adams, who had favored the Constitution, became called the Federalists. They were opposed by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others, who became known as Anti-Federalists. The Constitution finally adopted was a compromise between the radical opinions of the two factions, and the discussion of its measures served the purpose of establishing two lines of thought and action upon public questions, which endure to the present day and were the cause of the war of the Great Rebellion.

On Friday, June 20, 1788, the news was received in Pittsburg of the adoption of the Constitution by Virginia, the ninth State to decide in its favor. On the Saturday following, the inhabitants of this vicinity to the number of 1,500 assembled on Grant's Hill to celebrate the event. Nine large piles of wood, representing the nine States which had adopted the Constitution, were lighted, and near them the four other piles, representing the four remaining States, were also kindled. It was declared that the fire failed to burn readily in the four piles last mentioned, but that at last the flames burst out with luminous splendor, and soon all thirteen were burning brightly, while the cheers of the assemblage echoed across the hills. The youths of the village danced round the flames, and the Indians who were present viewed the scene with amazement, thinking that the whites had adopted the savage custom of burning

739

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

council fires and holding scalp or green corn dances. They thought that the thirteen fires were lighted to celebrate the meeting of a great council of the white people. Mr. Brackenridge was orator of the occasion, and among other appropriate things said: "With you, O men of Pittsburg, it remains this day to celebrate this event. You gave your approbation when this plan of govern- ment was first produced; your voice has been heard, and it has done you honor. These hills and these mountains, in distant prospect, were they imbued with vital motion, would assent with you. These lucent streams which run gently by; yonder Ohio himself who received their waters, could he speak in vocal language, would approve the sound; with hoarse murmurs he will approve it, and kiss his natal banks with greater rapture than before. For on these hills and by these streams will those live who shall trace at early dawn and in the evening shade your footsteps-shall place your names with the heroes. who have lived before them and have thought wisely on this subject. Join, then, in a loud acclaim and let future ages know that you are worthy of them in having handed down this palladium of liberty; and by preserving it entire and unbroken, let future ages show themselves worthy of you". (d).

The adoption of the Constitution by the thirteen original States did not end the controversy over the wisdom of its provisions. The discussion con- tinued in Congress and throughout the country with great intensity for several years, and various amendments were proposed to change its provisions. Efforts were made in the autumn of 1788, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, by several gentlemen, at the head of whom was William Jack, to secure united action on the part of several counties of this State and of other States, in an endeavor to effect the adoption of certain proposed amendments to the Constitution. A memorial reciting the changes desired and pointing out the alleged faults of the organic law was circulated and received many signatures.

In October, 1788, James O'Hara and John Wilkins, Jr., were elected dele- gates to represent Allegheny County in the conference to be held at Lancaster to select a general ticket for the Western country for members of Congress. Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties failed to clect delegates to this conference, but instead commissioned the Allegheny County delegates to repre- sent them. The delegates were authorized to work specially toward securing a representative in Congress who not only had the welfare of the Western country at heart, but who also owned property there and lived there. General James O'Hara was one of the electors of Pennsylvania in 1788. In November, 1788, pursuant to act of the General Assembly, Richard Butler and John Gibson were appointed commissioners on the part of the State to effect the purchase of the Erie tract.

It became the custom immediately succeeding the Revolution for the citizens generally to assemble "to test the sense of those present" regarding the fitness of candidates for office, and to formally select or nominate the choice of the party. Such meetings were held in Pittsburg. On August 25, 1789, such an assembly gathered at the house of Adamson Tannehill, to select candidates for the Legislature. James O'Hara received forty votes; George Wallace, eleven; and Thomas Morton, one. General John Gibson was chairman of this meeting. Charles Matthews, in a long public letter, announced himself as a candidate for sheriff, and said that if elected he would be content with one-half the fees allowed by law, and would receive from the public all kinds of produce, allowing the following prices: Wheat, 4s .; rye, 3s .; cats, Is. Tod .; corn, 2s. 6d .; barley, 3s. 9d .; buckwheat, 2s .; potatoes, 2s. 6d .; and for such other articles as are not men- tioned, the highest selling prices. It does not appear that the two parties of this

(d) Extract from speech of H. H. Brackenridge, delivered June 21, 1788, on Grant's Hill. Gazette, June 28, 1788.

740

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

country were very widely divided at that time. However, the partisan spirit manifested itself even then, because it was denied that the meeting of August 25th represented the citizens of Pittsburg, there being only 52 votes cast out of nearly 300 resident voters and out of 150 voters who were present.

At the close of the Revolutionary War the wheels of government were set in motion by George Washington, Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton. In less than three weeks after the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress had proceeded to organize a Treasury Department. In July, 1789, Congress passed an act to regulate the collection of duties imposed by law on the tonnage of vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandise. In March, 1789, the new Constitution went into operation, and the following September the Treasury Department was established, and five days later Alexander Hamilton became chief of the Treasury. Hamilton's first act was to recommend the pay- inent, dollar for dollar, of the domestic and foreign war debt, although he well knew that the obligations were mainly in the hands of speculators. He also advised that the United States should assume much of the war debt of the separate States, which had really been incurred in the national cause. He further recommended that Continental money outstanding should be funded at the rate of $1 in specie for each $100. It is well known as a matter of history that when this able paper was first read in Congress, it produced the greatest consternation, several declaring that Hamilton had gone mad. His recommen- dation would create a Government debt of about $75,000,000. His plan as a whole was bitterly opposed by the Anti-Federalists, but it was as vehemently favored by the Federalists, and in the end slowly succeeded. One of his recom- mendations was that a duty be levied on foreign wines, spirits, coffee, on various domestic productions, a comparatively high tax on luxuries and only a moderate tax on necessities. His paper thus outlined the protective policy, and thus early the question of protection to American industrics, so vital to Pittsburg, was placed before the American people. His recommendation for a duty on spirits was merged into a law a short time afterward, and became the basis upon which was conducted the whisky insurrection in Western Pennsylvania. So rapidly did the country develop under the financial system of Mr. Hamilton, that the citizens of the Eastern cities subscribed the necessary stock for the United States Bank in one day, and the first mint of the Government was soon afterward established. Although there was violent opposition to Hamilton's fiscal policy, it proved to be so successful, when once put in operation, that his enemies were for the time being disarmed, and no serious opposition again appeared until late in the decade of the nineties, when the Jeffersonian party came prominently and squarely before the people on doctrines which afterward became the founda- tion of the Democratic party. To the credit of Mr. Hamilton it must be said that his financial policy fully established the national credit, and paid off the debts of the Revolution and the War of 1812.

In 1788-9 the most important question for the consideration of Pittsburgers was the adoption of a State constitution. At the October election of 1789 William Findley and William Todd were chosen delegates to the State conven- tion, called to frame such an instrument. William Findley became a member of the Select Council, and John Beard and James Barr of the Assembly. General John Gibson, among others, announced himself as a candidate for delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but his methods of conducting the campaign were so unusual as to call forth numerous protests. The following is an extract from an open letter addressed to him, and published in the Gazette of October 27, 1789: "There are those who blame the mode by which you obtained your appointment, in the going round to almost every door of the county and arresting every individual whom you occasionally met, and telling him that Mr. Bracken-

74I

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

ridge, who had offered himself for the same honor, had damned the country and was about to leave, and only wished this compliment at his departure. Whether true or false, they allege it was indelicate in you to circulate the idea, and contained by implication a reflection on yourself as not depending on your own popularity, but on the prejudice you could establish against him." This letter reveals to some extent the methods adopted at that day by candidates for office, and shows the light in which both Mr. Gibson and Mr. Brackenridge were held by the people of this community. The convention to frame the State constitution convened late in 1789 and debated long and earnestly over the provisions of that important fundamental law. The delegates from the Western country were prominent participants in all the movements of that important body.

The Gazette of July 14, 1789, said: "The 4th inst. being the anniversary of American Independence, was announced by the salute of thirteen cannon. A number of gentlemen of this town, joined by some accidental travelers, met at the house of Messrs. Tannehill, where an elegant entertainment was prepared. After the cloth was removed the following toasts were drunk, accompanied with a discharge of cannon to each, viz .: I. The Day; 2. The United States in Congress; 3. The Convention; 4. General Washington; 5. Dr. Franklin and the State of Pennsylvania; 6. His Most Christian Majesty; 7. The United Netherlands; 8. The Memory of Those Heroes Who Fell in Defense of America; 9. The Marquis de Lafayette; 10. Colonel Harmar and the Standing Army; II. General Mifflin, Speaker, and the Legislature of Pennsylvania; 12. Comte de Rochambeau and the French Army Who Fought in Defense of America; 13. Success to Pittsburg and a Free Navigation to the Western Country. The day was celebrated with mirth and good humor and closed with the utmost harmony and decorum."

Previous to 1792 members of Congress were elected by the vote of the entire State instead of by districts. In 1788 Thomas Scott was thus sent to Congress. In 1792 Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette and Allegheny counties were formed into one Congressional district, and in that year General John Woods and Thomas Scott were candidates for Congress. At the last moment, Albert Gallatin, a dark horse, was put forward as a surprise and triumphantly elected. In 1797 John Woods was elected to the State Senate, and was supported by Mr. Brackenridge among others, who thought thus to get rid of him as an aspirant for Congressional honors, but in 1798 General Woods announced his candidacy for Congress and was then bitterly opposed by Mr. Brackenridge, who had other objects in view. At this time Washington and Allegheny counties constituted one Congressional district.

At the close of the session of Congress, which ended January 1, 1796, the Secretary of War, with the knowledge of the President and the heads of the Government departments, and in pursuance of an act of Congress making an appropriation therefor, placed in the hands of James Ross, of Pittsburg, a con- siderable sum of money, to be used by him in compensating secret agents of the United States, who had been engaged to trace and detect the intrigues of emissaries of an unfriendly foreign power (France) on the Western frontier and among the Indian tribes. The names of these agents were carefully concealed, but no doubt they lived in Pittsburg. In 1802 James Ross stated that the money had been duly paid to such agents in July, 1796, and asked to be credited with the same on the public records of the Government. General Anthony Wayne had been charged with the direction and general management of this bit of secret service, and all the transactions connected therewith were well known, both to Governor St. Clair and H. H. Brackenridge.

At a meeting of a number of the citizens of Pittsburg, held in the Courthouse, Thursday, August 2, 1798, a resolution was passed appointing Presley Neville,

.742

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

John Gibson, George Wallace, Adamson Tannehill, Steele Semple, James Brison, Nathaniel Bedford, George Stevenson and John Wilkins to correspond with persons in different parts of the district, to ascertain the person best qualified to represent the Western country in Congress, and the one "most likely to zealously support the Constitution and Government of the United States, and who will do his utmost to promote strong, decisive measures for defending the right, honor and independence of this country against the lawless aggressions of the French Republic." This committee reported that "it is absolutely necessary that our present representative (Albert Gallatin) be not returned to Congress."

"The French directory threatened us with the fate of Venus, plundered our commerce, demanded tribute, and refused to hear our messengers of peace, and insultingly told us that they have among ourselves a party strong enough to defeat every effort our Government may attempt for our defense" (e).

It was declared by the Federalists, in 1798, that Mr. Gallatin, the repre- sentative of this district in Congress, had opposed any action seeking a redress from France for its many injuries, and accordingly a public meeting was called to nominate a man to succeed him, one who would carry out the wishes of the Western country concerning the attitude which should be assumed by this Government toward France. The action of Mr. Gallatin was denounced in the bitterest terms by the Federalists of this vicinity. It was declared that although the French in two months' time had cajoled Switzerland and taken possession of it, and now boasted that they had sufficient influence in the United States to accomplish the same result, Mr. Gallatin had acquiesced in their demands and had fought against all measures looking to redress or retaliation.

In 1798 many people of this district were thus dissatisfied with the course of Albert Gallatin in Congress. On August 2, 1798, Presley Neville was put forward as a candidate by those who opposed Mr. Gallatin, on the occasion of a largely attended meeting, of which Andrew Watson was president and Dr. Andrew Richardson secretary. John Gibson, Presley Neville, George Wal- lace, A. Tannehill, Steele Semple, James Brison, Nathaniel Bedford, Judge Stephenson and John Wilkins were appointed a committee of correspondence. Mr. Brackenridge, who was present, opened the meeting with a speech, in which he stated that he was not a candidate for Congress. He denounced previous meetings that had been held as being one-sided and of a partisan character. On the 4th of August a meeting was held, on which occasion the proceedings of the meeting at which Mr. Neville was proposed for Congress were violently denounced. Mr. Brackenridge was the leading spirit at this meeting. Thomas Collins, John Read and William McMillan were also active participants. It had been claimed that Mr. Neville had been selected by a total of 242 votes, but this was emphatically denied by Mr. Brackenridge, who declared that only fifty or sixty voters were present at the meeting of the 2d of August. He further stated that inasmuch as nearly 500 electors resided in this electoral district, Mr. Neville was not a representative candidate, and that the proceedings of the meeting of August 2d should be disregarded and annulled. The two parties here were therefore squarely divided on the issue existing between the Federalists . and the Anti-Federalists. In September, 1798, a citizen correspondent for the Gazette wrote that, "But this same Neville family have all the profitable offices in the country, and have grown rich in the possession of them; yet, not content with these, it would seem as if their wealth and power had led them to suppose that no one ought to hold an office but by their special grace and favor." To add to the confusion, a remonstrance to the candidacy of Mr. Neville was prepared and quite extensively signed in Washington County. This action induced the Pittsburg Federalists, rather than have their party defeated, to adopt

(e) Gazette, 1798.

743

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

the diplomatic course of selecting a candidate in place of Mr. Neville from the region of French Creek, providing the people of Washington County would support him. French Creek was called the "Cussawago country" at that time. It was thus the design of the Federalists to select General Woods, who resided on French Creek, and they were promised the support of Alexander Addison. General Woods had previously been the opposing candidate to Albert Gallatin for Congress. The Anti-Federalists were determined to defeat the election of Mr. Neville to Congress. Inflammatory and anonymous articles, libelous in their character, were freely circulated, whether within Mr. Brackenridge's knowledge cannot now be determined, but they were abusive in the extreme, and among other things called to the attention of the voters was that Mr. Neville was the surveyor of a district in this county, brigade inspector, paymaster-general of the militia, a member of the Assembly and receiver and storer of whisky. The opposition to Mr. Neville became so strong that he finally withdrew, whereupon General Woods was selected as the candidate by the Federalists. At the ensuing election, General Woods received in this county 1,751 votes, and in Washington County 714. Mr. Gallatin received in this county 1,304, and in Washington County 2,163. The latter was, therefore, elected by about 1,000 majority. James Semple was elected from this county to the General Assembly.

In March, 1799, James Ross became the candidate of the Federalists for governor and Thomas Mckean the candidate of the Anti-Federalists. The entire grand jury of Allegheny County, in June, 1799, with the exception of one member, agreed to support James Ross for governor. On September 4, 1799, a large meeting of both parties was held here to endorse the candidacy of James Ross and to nominate candidates for the Legislature. The Pittsburg delegates at this meeting were George Wallace, John Gibson, John McDowell, John Wilkins, Presley Neville, Jeremiah Barker, Andrew Willock, Samuel Creigh and Anthony Beelen. At this meeting James Sample, H. H. Brackenridge, Dunning McNair, Samuel Ewalt and William Amberson were nominated for the Assembly, the two receiving the highest number of votes to be elected. Messrs. Sample and McNair were thus chosen, showing that the Federalists were still in the ascendant. The parties at this time were not yet wholly grounded on the plan of holding separate conventions for the nomination of candidates. In fact, what became known as the delegate system had not yet been introduced here, although members attending the conventions were called delegates. While such meetings were called by the members of one party, many who favored the opposite party contrived to be present, and usually came prepared to defeat the will, if possible, of those who had called the meeting.

The election resulted in placing Thomas McKean, the candidate of the Anti-Federalists, in the governor's chair, and when the news became known a large celebration was held in Pittsburg by his supporters. The meeting was held at the tavern of Captain John Smur, and Mr. Brackenridge officiated as chairman, Samuel Ewalt as vice-president, and many toasts were drunk amid cheers and general rejoicings. So boisterous did this meeting become that upon its dismissal some of those who were most enthusiastic visited the houses of the friends of the defeated candidate, Mr. Ross, played the rogue's march, and otherwise humiliated the supporters of that gentleman. Several members of this meeting were arrested the following day upon the charge of rioting, and there seemed to have been no doubt of their guilt. Among the Anti-Federalists present at the meeting were Nathaniel Irish, James Kerwin, James Riddle, William Gazzam, Thomas Baird, John Smur and Dr. Andrew Richardson. Partisan questions from this time forward were warm in Allegheny County. The Anti-Federalists were denounced as Jacobins, while the Federalists were stigmatized as Tories and aristocrats. So violent became partisan abuse that

744

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

John Scull, editor of the Gazette, who had always previously published with singular impartiality the proceedings of both parties, refused any longer to permit the Anti-Federalists to use his columns; instead, thereof, he permitted violent articles, denunciatory of the Anti-Federalists, to appear, which proceeding was the principal cause of the establishment of the second newspaper in Pitts- burg. The Anti-Federalists saw the necessity of having an organ to disseminate their party policies, and had begun to talk of establishing such a paper as early as 1797. As a matter of fact, although many think that it was almost wholly through the instrumentality of Mr. Brackenridge that the second paper was established here, it was demanded by all the members of the Anti-Federalist party, who began to call themselves Republicans. Mr. Brackenridge afterward stated that he had contemplated for several years establishing a private press with which to print his own pamphlets and other publications. Although the new paper was proposed by him, it was really established as an organ of his party. The Anti-Federalists claimed at this time that they were the warmest supporters of the Constitution and the real friends of the Government, but this was ridiculed with great energy and unanimity by members of the opposite party. It is amusing to read the vindictive and furious articles published about . this time in the old Gazette. All persons who departed from the party of Wash- ington and Hamilton were denounced as traitors to the Government and the Constitution, and it was regarded as the height of imbecility to trust such persons with the Government, which had been established at such a cost of blood, trial and treasure. The Anti-Federalists denounced the opposite party as traitors, Tories, French aristocrats, apostate Whigs, British agents and subjects, and did not hesitate to deride and revile the public actions of Washington, Adams and Hamilton. To show the extent to which personal villification was carried at that time, the following is quoted from the heading of an open letter addressed to Mr. Brackenridge, and published in the Gazette of December 21, 1799, and signed "2,000:"

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 85

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