ats of the
destruction of property, and even of death, to retract the consent
they had given.

A meeting was again convened at Pittsburg, in which, among other very
exceptionable resolutions, committees were established to correspond
with any committees of a similar nature that might be appointed in
other parts of the United States. By this meeting it was declared,
that they would persist in every legal measure to obstruct the
execution of the law, and would consider those who held offices for
the collection of the duty as unworthy of their friendship; that they
would have no intercourse or dealings with them; would withdraw from
them every assistance, and withhold all the comforts of life which
depend upon those duties which, as men and fellow citizens, they owed
to each other; and would, upon all occasions, treat them with
contempt. It was at the same time earnestly recommended to the people
at large to adopt the same line of conduct.

[Sidenote: President's proclamation.]

No man could be more sensible than the President of the dangerous
tendency of these measures, nor more indignant at the outrage thus
offered to the government of the United States. But his prudence, and
his high respect for the laws restrained him within the narrow limits
which the legislature had prescribed. A proclamation[63] was issued
exhorting and admonishing all persons to desist from any combinations
or proceedings whatsoever, tending to obstruct the execution of the
laws, and requiring the interference of the civil magistrate; and
prosecutions against the offenders were directed to be instituted in
every case in which they could be supported.

[Footnote 63: In his letter enclosing the proclamation to
the secretary of the treasury, the President observed, "I
have no doubt but that the proclamation will undergo many
strictures; and, as the effect proposed may not be answered
by it, it will be necessary to look forward in time to
ulterior arrangements. And here, not only the constitution
and laws must strictly govern, but the employment of the
regular troops avoided, if it be possible to effect order
without their aid; yet if no other means will effectually
answer, and the constitution and laws will authorize these,
they must be used as the dernier ressort."]

This proclamation produced no salutary effect. Many of the civil
magistrates were themselves concerned in stimulating the ex