Jeffersonians Time
-1794-
Whiskey Rebellion is Now Here
By Toni Scrignoli
After the war against Great Britain, the government that we fought for is now in debt millions of dollars. March 1791 dropped a passing of taxes on our distilled spirits. Congress has hired collection officers to insure the people are paying the taxes on liquor. Whiskey is one of the only products that farmers could make out of leftover corn and or grain that could be transported to the market without spoiling. Riots begin around town on refusing to pay the taxes. Riots are now disturbing the “peace” of our towns. George Washington our president is now threatening with troops to stop the rebellion and collecting the taxes from whiskey, so he is able to enforces federal laws.
Interview:
Today, we have Thomas Davis, a Jefferson Republican patriot, Findley and Redick. We asked them what their thoughts were about the Whiskey Rebellion.
Jeffersons Times (as “JT”): What are your thoughts on the Whiskey Rebellion, Thomas?
Thomas: “Personally, I think it is unfair and stupid. Washington got on his little horse and marched his troops to try and collect our hard earned money for taxes we don’t want to pay.”
(Continue...)
JT: Why do you think the Whiskey Rebellion happened?
Redick: “ Why you ask? Because the Federal government cannot put taxes on people’s whiskey. It’s not a Federal product, so why should they be able to make money on something they didn’t make. It makes no sense. If I were to make a lemonade stand, for example, why should the government be able to make money off of everything I worked for.”
JT: What was the George Washington’s purpose when he was sending a huge army to the Western boundary, Findley?
Findley: George Washington is wrong! He sent huge army to solve the problem in process of tax as the way king George did to American colonist.. He also wasted money from government for supporting troops.
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Editorial
Is the federal government justified in using force against American citizens?
No! Washington’s reasoning for sending in a 13,000 troop army is that every time he has attempted to work peacefully with us; but this disregards all of our failed petitions as if they never existed. We tried to be peaceful with this, but all of our petitions against this tax were rejected. The government has far too much power for it’s own good; making liquor is in the history of our state. Washington should find another way to gain revenue that affects everybody equally.
You know the government is overpowered when not only do they tax liquor sellers, but they also tax people who make their own liquor with no intention of selling it. These private distillers are not selling or buying liquor, and should not be affected by the tax. How can you tax where no money is being made?
Sending armed forces at the American people is justifiable when a tax or law put in place is logical and fair, and still people violently revolt with no thought or intention of peacefully solving the problem; This is not our situation. The tax is unjust to Pennsylvania, and we have tried to be peaceful to solve this problem. Still, the government would not cooperate and see things from our perspective, so we have resorted to this.
The act of moving troops in is unconstitutional because in the constitution it says the government may “suppress Insurrections,” but suppressing insurrections does not mean it should attack it’s own citizens. And even if “suppress Insurrections” meant to attack its own citizens, it it not the power of the President to give that command, it would be the power of Congress. Therefore, President Washington has no constitutional right to give these orders to send troops, and invade Pennsylvania.
This tax was put in power in the very year that the tenth amendment was ratified. The tenth amendment states that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Another clear piece of evidence that the government is stretching it’s power.
Letters to the Editor :
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Dear Editor,
I agree completely with your thoughts against the federal excise taxing of liquor. Their force on us is just pushing us farther away from cooperating with the federalists, especially when they march troops against us. Washington has no right to take control of us and threaten us with the troops. We have done our part and we have tried to petition against it! Washington cannot say we aren’t doing what we are supposed to. My friends and family are making whiskey for themselves, not to sell even and they are still being taxed, it’s outrageous.
Sincerely,
John Anderson
Dear Mr. Anderson,
I am totally with you that we shouldn’t be paying ridiculously high tax on something we drink every day! Washington thinks himself as the country’s leader, but he really is not! The idea that you started making your own whiskey is really amazing. We have to tell our people that we don’t need to pay tax and we can still drink our whiskey! We are so grateful for your support towards Jefferson and our newspaper!
Sincerely,
Editor of Jeffersonians Times
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Dear Editor,
Our society is meant to give everyone the right to be a leader of the country. Washington is a wealthy, educated man, but he can’t ask everyone to be like him. Being high educated doesn’t give him the right to control us! Common people should have a stand in the government as well as the wealthy, educated men. We shouldn’t be judged by our education or financial level! Washington is sending troops to people and collecting tax on whiskey. We are not paying how much they ask us to pay! Instead, we, the Jeffersonian Republicans need to stand up and say “No!”
Your aggressive reader,
Catherine Johnson
Dear aggressive reader,
Thank you for your support on the rebellion against taxing liquor! The more supporters we can get against Washington, the better. We need people like you to help us protest against Congress and get them to stop trying to control us. Congress needs to realize that this excise tax is clearly unconstitutional. We are innocent people that don’t deserve to be taxed for our liquor. Thanks again for your support!
Sincerely,
Editor of Jeffersons Times
Laugh of the Day
Political Cartoonist: Anthony Miller
Pictures and Interview: Nate Choi and Jack Baker
Objectives: Toni Scrignoli
Letters to the Editors: Morgan Flaherty and Sunny Wang
Editorial: Luke Pavelich and Stefan Granados
Art Editor: Sunny Wang
Citation:
Whiskey Rebellion. N.d. Photograph. Pennsylvania. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.