In the spring of 1794 the Virginian ring rallied for their final assault in Congress.  Their spokesman this time was a worthless man, named Fraunces, and he brought forth a charge against the Secretary of the Treasury of unfaithfulness in office.  Hamilton promptly demanded another investigation.  The result may be found in the following letters from eminent Federals in Virginia.  The first is from Colonel Carrington, dated Richmond, July 9th.

I do not write this letter as congratulatory upon the final issue of the Inquiry into the Treasury Department, as I never conceived you exposed to receive injury therefrom.  I write to express my most sincere wishes that you will not suffer the illiberality with which you have been treated to deprive the public of your services, at least until the storm which hangs over us, and is to be dreaded, not less from our own follies and vices than the malignance and intrigues of foreigners, blows over.  It is true you have been abused, but it has been and still is, the fate of him who was supposed out of the reach of all slander.  It is indeed the lot, in some degree, of every man amongst us who has the sense or fortitude to speak and act rationally, and such men must continue so to speak and act if we are saved from anarchy.

On July 20th, Thomas Corbin wrote to Hamilton deploring the political conditions in Virginia created by Thomas Jefferson, in which these significant passages occur:—­

Calumny and misrepresentation are the only weapons made use of by the faction of Virginia.  By a dexterous management of these they have brought into popular disrepute, and even into popular odium, some of the wisest and best characters in the United States.

War is waged by this faction against every candidate who possesses the union of requisites.  Independent fortune, independent principles, talents, and integrity are denounced as badges of aristocracy; but if you add to these good manners and a decent appearance, his political death is decreed without the benefit of a hearing.  In short, with a few exceptions everything that appertains to the character of a gentleman is ostracized.  That yourself and Mr. Jay should be no favorites in Virginia, is not to be wondered at.  But all those whose good opinion is worth your acceptance entertain for you both the same veneration and esteem, and hear the aspersions of your enemies with the same indignation that I do; who, after the closest examination, and the purest conviction can conscientiously subscribe myself etc.

In the autumn the whiskey disturbances in western Pennsylvania assumed such serious proportions that Hamilton insisted upon recourse to arms.  With his usual precision he had calculated the numbers of the insurgents, and the amount of troops necessary to overwhelm them.  Washington issued requisitions for fifteen thousand men, and set out with the troops, his first intention being to command in person.