Wikipedia says this-
The Washington administration responded to the crisis in western Pennsylvania by sending commissioners to meet with the rebels, while at the same time raising a body of militia to suppress further violence. Washington privately doubted that the commissioners could accomplish anything, and that a military expedition would be inevitable.[72] For this reason, historians have sometimes charged that the peace commission was sent only for the sake of appearances, and that the use of force was never in doubt.[73]

I believe both men had ever right to put down an armed rebellion.