John Smilie's Strange Absence From The Whiskey Rebellion
John Smilie was a radically politician from Western Pennsylvania who was a darling of the Whiskey Rebels.
John Smilie
John Smilie immigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania in his late teens.
Smilie had his first taste of politics during the Revolutionary War when he was sent to represent Lancaster County in the State Assembly.
However, by war’s end he had relocated to Fayette County in Western Pennsylvania where he was able to accumulate more property and become more important as a local leader.
Anti-Federalist
Smilie became known as a ‘man of the people’ by supporting many causes in the State Assembly that would benefit the general public at the expense of the wealthy.
He also landed among the ranks of those steering Pennsylvania’s Constitution Party which was in favor of keeping the State’s revolutionary government but, ironically, was opposed to the US Constitution.
As such, John was an outspoken Anti-Federalist at the Ratification Convention and an agitator for making changes after the Federal Government was accepted.
Whiskey Rebellion
As a leader of Western Pennsylvania, Smilie was heavily associated with the Whiskey Rebellion.
Though the rebels respected him, and many Federalist leaders accused him of complicity, a shockingly small amount of primary documentation exists regarding his life during this time.
John managed to escape any charges or accountability for the Rebellion and instead was elected to the United States House of Representatives.
Congressman
Smilie spent the majority of the first three presidential administrations in the House.
He became a solid member of the Democratic-Republican Party, often criticized by opponents for caring more about making an income as a politician than actually being a leader (though to be fair, he argued the same could be said for the men who wrote the Constitution).
John notably stood up against slavery and in 1807 recommended that anyone caught smuggling slaves into the United States should suffer the death penalty.
Want to learn more about the Whiskey Rebellion?
‘Light Horse Harry’ Lee Quells the Whiskey Rebels
Founding Taxman - Joseph Neville and the Whiskey Rebellion
Want to read about the Whiskey Rebellion?
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