To throw the blame of harshness and precipitancy upon Congress, it is said, that their dignity was only accidentally and undesignedly offended. Much stress has been laid upon the message, from the soldiery being directed to the Council, and not to them. All this, however, is very immaterial to the real merits of the question. Whatever might have been the first intention of the mutineers in this particular act, whether it proceeded from artifice or confusion of ideas, the indignity to Congress was the same. They knew that Congress customarily held their deliberations at the State House: and if it even be admitted, that they knew Saturday to be a day of usual recess, which, perhaps, is not altogether probable: when they came to the place they saw, and knew, Congress to be assembled there. They did not desist in consequence of this; but proceeded to station their guards, and execute their purposes. Members of Congress went out to them; remonstrated with them; represented the danger of their proceedings to themselves, and desired them to withdraw: but they persisted till they obtained what they supposed a part of their object. A majority of the same persons had, some days before, sent a message, almost equally exceptionable, to Congress; and at the time they scarcely spoke of any other body than Congress; who, indeed, may naturally be supposed to have been the main object of their resentments: for Congress, having always appeared to the soldiery, to be the body who contracted with them, and who had broken faith with them, it is not to be supposed they were capable of investigating the remote causes of the failures, so as to transfer the odium from Congress to the State.
But the substantial thing to be considered in this question, is the violation of public authority. It cannot be disputed, that the mutiny of troops is a violation of that authority to which they owe obedience. This was, in the present case, aggravated to a high degree of atrociousness, by the gross insult to the government of Pennsylvania, in the face of Congress, and in defiance of their displeasure. It was further aggravated by continuing in that condition for a series of time.
The reasons have been assigned, that made it incumbent upon Congress to interpose; and when they called upon the State of Pennsylvania, not only to vindicate its own rights, but to support their authority, the declining a compliance was a breach of the Confederation, and of the duty which the State of Pennsylvania owed to the United States. The best apology for the government of Pennsylvania, in this case, is, that they could not command the services of their citizens. But so improper a disposition in the citizens, if admitted, must operate as an additional justification to Congress, in their removal.
The subsequent events, justly appreciated, illustrate the propriety of their conduct. The mutineers did not make voluntary submissions in consequence of negotiation, persuasion, or conviction. They did not submit till after Congress had left the city, publishing their intentions of coercion; till after there had been an actual call upon the militia; till their leaders and instigators, alarmed by the approach of force, and the fear of being betrayed by the men, fled. They were reduced by coercion, not overcome by mildness.
It appears, too, that while they were professing repentance, and a return to their duty, they were tampering with the troops at Yorktown and Lancaster, to increase their strength; and that two officers, at least, were concerned in the mutiny, who, by their letters since, have confessed, that some project of importance was in contemplation.
The call for the militia was made the day after it had been pronounced ineligible by the Council. There could have been little change, in that time, either in the temper or preparations of the citizens. The truth is, that the departure of Congress brought the matter to a crisis; and that the Council were compelled, by necessity, to do what they ought to have done before, through choice.
It is to be lamented they did not, by an earlier decision, prevent the necessity of Congress taking a step which may have many disagreeable consequences. They then would
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