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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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I<br />

1786.] SHAYS REBELLION, 489<br />

selves with ''less <strong>in</strong>solence and violence, and with more<br />

sobriety and good order, than is generally expected <strong>from</strong><br />

such a miscellaneous crowd bent on such an unlawful<br />

errand." No names <strong>of</strong> the leaders <strong>of</strong> this demonstration<br />

have been preserved, and it is not known whether any <strong>of</strong><br />

the men who were afterwards foremost <strong>in</strong> the rebellion,<br />

were conspicuous <strong>in</strong> this affair or not. Their design was<br />

accomplished with ease, and for the time be<strong>in</strong>g lawlessness<br />

was <strong>in</strong> the ascendant. Appended is the comment <strong>of</strong> an ej^ewitness<br />

: —<br />

" All is aga<strong>in</strong> afloat. No law, nor order. Prison full <strong>of</strong> crim<strong>in</strong>als,<br />

but none can be punished. Monarchy is better than the Tyranny <strong>of</strong> the<br />

mob. Tories appear with pleasant Countenances others with long<br />

Faces.'" Aga<strong>in</strong> he says: — "What the consequences <strong>of</strong> these th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

none can tell. Destruction seems to await us." ^<br />

Gov. Bowdoiu met these lawless proceed-<br />

The Governor's Proclamation.<br />

<strong>in</strong>gs by a vigorous proclamation, denounc-<br />

<strong>in</strong>g such treasonable practices, and call<strong>in</strong>g<br />

upon every citizen and all <strong>of</strong>ficers, civil, military and judicial,<br />

to suppress any similar riotous assemblages, and br<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their leaders to condign punishment. He also called the<br />

Legislature together on the 18"' <strong>of</strong> October, But the<br />

spread <strong>of</strong> the disorderly sentiment <strong>in</strong>duced him to change<br />

the time <strong>of</strong> assembl<strong>in</strong>g to the 17"' <strong>of</strong> September.<br />

Demonstrations Duriug the followiug Week the prescribed<br />

by the Rioters programme <strong>of</strong> stopjD<strong>in</strong>g the courts was car-<br />

ried out <strong>in</strong> Worcester. A mob <strong>of</strong> three<br />

hundred men and upwards took possession <strong>of</strong> the Court-<br />

House, though one <strong>of</strong> the Judges argued with them two<br />

hours without effect. The Court <strong>of</strong> Common Pleas adjourned<br />

s<strong>in</strong>e die and the Court <strong>of</strong> Sessions to the 21" <strong>of</strong><br />

November. On the 11"' <strong>of</strong> September. Job Shattuck with<br />

several hundred men prevented a session <strong>of</strong> the courts <strong>in</strong><br />

Middlesex County. The Court <strong>of</strong> General Sessions was to<br />

sit at Concord the follow<strong>in</strong>g week, and the Governor<br />

ordered out the militia for <strong>its</strong> protection. Citizens <strong>of</strong> Concord<br />

and other towns, hop<strong>in</strong>g to pacify the mob by lenient<br />

measures, appo<strong>in</strong>ted committees to confer with the <strong>in</strong>surgents,<br />

and upon the recommendation <strong>of</strong> these committees,<br />

1 Judd's Diary.

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