Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 24
William Irvine to Josiah Harmar

Dear Col.

New York

Febry. 27Th 1787

I received your favor of the 10th Decr. and will attend to your business whenever a fair oppertunity presents of being able to carry it through. We are obliged to watch for a proper time to strike here with as much attention and caution---;as a good General will an Enemy.

I intend to make Fort Pitt a Visit in May before that time I hope you will receive orders for making an establishment at Vinango---;I mean a detachment only. My motives for wishing this done shall explain to you after the thing is accomplished which will be with difficulty if at all. The grand object most people seem to have in view is to prevent intruders on the lands. I confess this is not the principle with me. The great War in Massachusetts is near a close---; but the people of that Government are by no means satisfied. The Legislature have it is thought carried their triumph too far. An Act to disarm* and Disfranchise for three years, all those who took up arms has passed it is thought the number is about 14,000---;outlaws. The numbers really disaffected by these measures will be three fold as all the near relations and particular friends to those disfranchised will feel sore. If this calculation & reasoning is Just---;is it not to be feared that insurgency will soon again raise its head? These troubles have doubtless had bad effect on the Recruiting. I believe the whole yet raised do not exceed 300. And it is said Massachusetts are about to raise 1500 Men for four months state Troops to keep the insurgents in awe. Under these circumstances I think it probable no competitors for the Command, will appear in the West for some time---; notwithstanding the poetick fire of an Humphry in the East---;shines with so much lustre.(1) Inclosed you have an Act of Congress---;which I hope will be productive of much good---;it may do good & can do no harm, which is greatly in favor of the measure. Several states have already appointed Delegates and I think all will. Such a respectable body of Men have not been convened on any occasion since the first Congress as it is supposed these will be.

Some States have complied in part with the requisitions of Congress---;some not at all, and others have flatly refused. There is therefore no alternative to giving up all at once for lost---;but that of attempting to revise and mend the Confederation---;or frame an entire new Government---;whether the proposed Convention will be able to effect either it is hard to say---;but an attempt is necessary and the sooner it is made it will be sooner compleated.

Under the present Government it is much to be feared---;that insurgency---;& Rebellion---;may pervade more States than Massachusetts. The people of Maryland are at this moment in great ferment about paper money, some are Violent for & others as much against it. The Assembly were generally for---;and the Sennate unanimously against. Such was the Animosity that an Adjournment took place for the purpose of appealing to the people. They are soon to meet again when I hope they will accommodate.

The foregoing hints I have t[h]rown out meerly to give you some general Ideas---;of what is passing. You will therefore not I am persuaded make an improper use of them. Pray present my respects to Mrs. Harmar---;and believe me to be with great regard, Dear Col., Your friend & Humble Servant, Wm. Irvine(2)

RC (MiU--;C: Harmar Papers). Addressed: "Colonel Jos. Harmar at Fort Harmar, Muskingum." Endorsed: "March 3d. 1787. Received & forwarded by your Humle Servt, Sam Nicholas." "Answered May 25th. 1787."
1 Undoubtedly a reference to "The Anarchiad," a mock-epic poem written by David Humphreys in collaboration with Joel Barlow, Lemuel Hopkins, and John Trumbull---;the Connecticut Wits---;for which see Stephen Mix Mitchell to Jeremiah Wadsworth, January 24, 1787, note 3.
2 An account of Irvine with the state of Pennsylvania---;"To fifty nine days attendance at Congress---;Viz from the 4th Decr. 1786 to the 1st Feby. 1787 inclusive"---;signed "Ex[amine] & settled, Jno. Nicholson, Comptrl. Genls Office Feby 3d 1787," is in the Gratz Collection, Phi.

* - Well now, that helps to provide some illumination as to the TRUE intentions of the words The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall NOT be Infringed, doesn't it? This concern was echoed in some of the debates on the new Federal Constitution and Bill of Rights as well.

The readily discernible fear expressed above, being that disarming those that had rebelled in Massachusetts, (Shay's Rebellion), would cause far more of a problem than it would a solution. In addition, there was an obvious effect on the recruitment of soldiers due to the act of the Mass. Legislature to disarm the people that had been in rebellion.

Also see;

Journals of the Continental Congress, "...impolitic and not to be reconciled with the genius of free Govts...", Feb. 19. 1787

Letters of Delegates to Congress, "...this act has created more universal disgust than any other of Government...", March 6, 1787

Thomas Jefferson to William S. Smith, "Let them take arms.", Nov. 13, 1787