The State Struggles to Suppress the Rebellion
The Massachusetts legislature responded by passing a set of strict laws to crack down on the protestors. For example, the Riot Act of 1786 would not charge or hold accountable sheriffs or constables who killed rioters who refused to disband, and rioters risked a year of imprisonment and the seizure of their property. The federal government was unable to provide any assistance: under the Articles of Confederation, it did not have the authority to draft soldiers or fund troops. Governor Bowdoin, fearing another mutiny by the state militia, raised private funds to hire his own militia to control the rebellion. Some of these troops were stationed in the Springfield armory to make sure that the artillery stored there did not fall into the hands of the protestors.
The protesting farmers reacted strongly to these new laws, especially the suspension of habeas corpus, and continued to organize and take action to secure what they felt were their patriotic rights. On January 25, 1787, Shays led a force of nearly 2,000 to seize the weapons in the Springfield armory. The militia tried to stop them with warning shots, but fighting ensued. Four rebels were killed, twenty were wounded, and the rest retreated. Shays and his wife fled to Vermont.
"An Address to the People" by Daniel Gray of Pelham. Click to enlarge. Transcript below.
Worcester December 7, 1786.
An ADDRESS to the PEOPLE of the several Towns in the County of Hampshire, from the Body now at arms.
Gentlemen,
We have thought proper to inform you of some of the principal causes of the late risings of the people, and also of their present movement, viz.
1st: The present expensive mode of collecting debts, which by the reason of the great scarcity of cash, will be necessity fill our gaols with unhappy debtors, and thereby render a reputable body of people incapable of being serviceable either to themselves or the community.
2d. The monies raised by impost and excise being appropriated to discharge the interest of governmental securities, and not the foreign debt, when these securities are not subject to taxation.
3d. A suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, by which those persons who have stepped forth to assert and maintain the rights of the people, are liable to be the taken, and conveyed even to the most distant part of the commonwealth, and thereby subject to an unjust punishment.
4th. The unlimited power granted to Justices of the Peace, Serriffs, Deputy-Serriffs and Constables, by the Riot Act, indemnifying them in the prosecution thereof, when perhaps wholly actuated from a principle of revenge, hatred and envy.
5th. _ _ be assured, that this body now at arms, dispite the idea of being initiated by British emissaries, which is to strenuously propagated by the enemies of our liberties: We also with the most proper and speedy measures may be taken to discharge both our foreign and domestic debt.
Per Order,
DANIEL GRAY, Chairman of a Com. for the above purpose.
