Category: William Findley

Whiskey221: Rebellion, Robespierre and Findley

10/17/2015

Cartoon showing Robespierre guillotining the executioner after having guillotined everyone else in France.

Whiskey 221 ~ October 1794, Part 2 of 3
The Whiskey Rebellion 1791-94
Western Pennsylvania

Innocent

Our word “innocent” is derived from Latin; the prefix in (not) is attached to nocere (to hurt) creating the meaning not to hurt, or innocent.

Maximilien Robespierre built a political career as a French leader before and during the Reign of Terror. He got caught up in the terror himself; after having disposed of adversaries with the guillotine, the ones still left finally turned the blade on Robespierre, 28 July 1794.

William Findley (1741-1821) by Rembrandt Peale

William Findley built a political career as an American leader before and during our revolution and founding. He didn’t get caught up in any terror: just some tax-breaking whiskey rebels. US Representative Findley reported to President Washington in October 1794 about the rebels; he told him that “he would prefer quitting the scene altogether” rather than go through it again. He didn’t quit; Findley continued to serve the new republic, serving long enough to garner the moniker Father of the House.

Domestic tranquility is a goal found in the Preamble of our Constitution; not to hurt (innocence) is the means.

Next Up: The finale of Whiskey221, Saturday 24 October, with a highlight on our American Republic, representation and whiskey rebels.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

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Whiskey220: Representation Distills We the People

10/22/2014

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Star Spangled Banner Flag (15 Stars and Stripes)

Whiskey 220 ~ October 1794, Part 3 of 3
The Whiskey Rebellion 1791-94: Western Pennsylvania

Representation Distills

Distillation creates essence … and sometimes that essence is a name.

As part of his executive duties, President Washington takes it upon himself to meet with two citizens fresh from a Whiskey Rebellion meeting:

“On the 9th, William Findley and David Redick – deputed by the Committee of Safety (as it is designated) which met on the 2nd of this month at Parkinsons Ferry arrived in Camp with the Resolutions of the said Committee.”

US Representative William Findley (1741-1821)

That’s US Representative William Findley, known as “The Father of the House,” who reports he’s had it. George writes of Representative Findley's sentiments:

“... the ignorance, & general want of information among the people far exceeded any thing he had any conception of; That it was not merely the excise law their opposition was aimed at, but to all law, & Government; and to the Officers of Government; and that the situation in which he had been, & the life he had led for sometime, was such, that rather than go through it again, he would prefer quitting this scene altogether.”

So the Representative had had enough: what of the People?

George notes some good news from the two on that front with one exception; George writes that Mr. Redick reported: “That no person of any consequence, except one, but what had availed themselves of the proffered amnesty.”

There’s a Holdout, eh? – One who won’t accept the proffered amnesty? Hmm. The meeting adjourns until later in the afternoon ...

President George Washington (1732-1799)

George writes:

“At this second Meeting, there was little more than repetition of what had passed in the forenoon; and it being again mentioned that all the principal characters, except one, in the Western counties who had been in opposition, had submitted to the proposition – I was induced, seeing them in the Street the next day, to ask Mr. Redick who that one was? – telling him at the same time I required no disclosure he did not feel entirely free to make.”

George just asked Mr. Redick for the Holdout’s name:

“He requested a little time to think of it, and asked for another meeting – which was appointed for 5 oclock that afternoon – which took place accordingly and he said David Bradford was the person he alluded to in his former conversations.”

George got his name ~ David Bradford, the Holdout. There’s lots to his story, so much so that we’ll save that for next … like next October … in Whiskey 221.

Thanks All!

Video: The Spirit of Mt Vernon: The Return of George Washington's Whiskey
~
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

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Whiskey221: Rebellion, Robespierre and Findley

Whiskey220: Representation Distills We the People

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Whiskey221: Rebellion, Robespierre and Findley﻿

Whiskey220: Representation Distills We the People

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Whiskey221: Rebellion, Robespierre and Findley