I’ve seen a number of comments on news articles in reference to those Hutaree militia people who were arrested (I accidentally typed “elected” at first) in Michigan comparing what the government should do or will do to the Whiskey Rebellion. Specifically, the assertion has been made that the leaders were hung. Not so much. Only two leaders were convicted of treason and President Washington quickly pardoned them. With some exceptions, our government has been pretty good about not having its political enemies executed. Jailed, sure. Blacklisted, sometimes. Exiled once in awhile. Killed? Not too often. Heck, even Aaron Burr got off due to John Marshall making a very nuanced argument that conspiracy to commit treason wasn’t actually treason because you were only conspiring and hadn’t yet done the actual deed. That was shockingly scrupulous for, y’know, a government.

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