The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

498 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1794.
At the request of the French government, Mr. Morris
was recalled, and James Monroe was appointed as his
successor. This selection afforded a strong proof of the.
impartiality of the President, and of his ardent desire
to conciliate differences at home, and preserve amity
with foreign nations. Mr. Monroe, being a leader among
the opponents to the administration, had shown himself
a zealous advocate for France.
Soon after Congress adjourned, the President's attention was called to another subject, of very serious import, both as it regarded the authority of the laws, and
the stability of the union. The act of Congress imposing a tax on distilled spirits had, from its first operation,
excited much uneasiness in various parts of the country,
and in some districts it had been evaded and openly
resisted. The inspectors of the revenue appointed by
the government were insulted, threatened, and even
prevented by force from discharging their duty. To so
great a length had these outrages gone in some places,
as early as September, 1792, that a proclamation was
published by the President, admonishing all persons to
refrain from combinations and proceedings, which obstructed the execution of the laws, and requiring the
magistrates and courts to exert the powers vested in
them for bringing to justice the offenders. Bills of indictment were found against some of these persons, and
the marshal attempted to serve the processes issued by
the court. He was met by a body of armed men,
seized, detained, and harshly treated. The malecontents proceeded from one degree of excess to another,
holding seditious meetings, arming themselves, abusing
the officers of the government, and bidding defiance to
the laws, till they assumed the attitude of insurrection,
and prepared for an organized resistance.
The moderation and forbearance, which, according to