Expresses views and thoughts about rebellions, in relation to the recent Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts. Writes, "The spirit of rebellion is now nearly crushed in this state, and the opposition to Government is hereby decreasing. This therefore is the most critical moment yet seen. Punishment must be such, and be so far extended as thereby others shall be detered from repeating such acts of outrage in the future..." States that the Legislature is best suited to handling rebellions, especially in terms of bringing people back under the government. Writes that "I wish that those Insurgents who should secure the pardon, were all at liberty to exercise the rights of good Citizens, for I believe it to be the only way which can be adopted to make them good members of Society, and to reconcile them to that Government under which we wish them to live." Date inferred from Lincoln's letter to Knox on 1 March 1787 (GLC02437.03476), in which he encloses this document.