Excise taxes were on a far greater number of goods other than just whiskey. Saying that an excise tax isn't a tax is like saying a sales tax isn't a tax because you only pay it if you buy stuff. Well if it's not a tax try not paying it on stuff you buy. The federal government existed, taxed and spend money prior to 1860. No where near the confiscatory level of today, but why am I discussing this with you. You are not a drunk or an idiot near as I can tell, but that still leaves two possible categories or people not to discuss things with.
You need to show that then.
Where can we see in the historical record that there were taxes "on a far greater number of goods" than whiskey in 1794 or right up to the ACW?
Walt