Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-31


the lands to the Mississippi River and the
Northern Lakes; and therefore the rightto
emigrate to and occupy any part of the
vast territory between the Allegheny and
Cumberland mountains, the Tennessee and
Mississippi rivers, and chain Of lakes on the
north, was not questioned by the autbori-
ties or citizens of these States, nor doubted
among the emigrants. Neither Of these
States were in a situation to lend aSsis-
lance TO these pioneers. either on the route
or in erecting their defences at their settle
ments; nor did either State for some years
extend the benefit of laws and civil officers
over these distant communities. They were
therefore left to adopt their own anomalous
forms of government, to declare war and
conclude peace, and make compacts and
treaties with the Indians, as they judged
! most adVantqgeous-the great public ulti
mately enjoyed the chief benefits of such
private enterprise.
1875. A purchase of extensive territory
was made from the Cherokees by Col Rich.
ard Henderson, Thomas and Nathaniel
Hart, and others. This was concluded at
the Sycamore Shoals, on the Watauga riy-
er, and coded all the right Of the Cherokees
to the country between the Cumberland
and Kentucky rivers. The consideration
p2id the Indians was stated to have been
ten thousand pounds.
By this and other contracts and treaties
these adventures endeavored and hoped
to secure their lands and quiet homes. They
had several years previous, adopted form
of republican government, or articles of as
ISOLATION, aud all settlers were required to
sign such articles, by which rules were laid
down to regulate locations of individual
tracts of land-to submit to the decisions
Of such judicial tribunal or court as should
be established, and for other duties of good
government. This has been called the Wa
tauga government.
In Ramsey's Annals of Tennessee, it is
said, "The Government was paternal and
pAtriarchal = simple and moderate, but
summary and firm. 1t was satisfactory and
sufficient for a number Of years. The arti-
cleS by which the association was governed,
have not been preserred." "They formed, it
is believed, the first written compact for
civil government any where west of the
Alleghanies, and would make a valuable
and exceedingly interesting contribution to
the historical literature of the great west,
and a most, desirable addition especially to
these annals But after the most diligent
inquiry and patient search, this writer has
been unable to discover them"
'The compact for civil government"
adopted at Watauga in March, I775, was
re-enacted at Nasd5orough on the lst Of Nay,
1850; and afterwards on the banks of the
Ohio, at Henderson, in Kentucky.
Col. Richard Henderson originated all
these compacts and rules of government,
and his own signature was placed at the
head of the subscribers in every instance
for all the inhabitants were required to
sign, in propriG persona, or 10y some friend.
The respected writer of the "Annals of
Tennessee" may hereby know that the
exceedingly interesting contribution to the
Historical Literature Of the Great West"
shall be made. The large and original
manuscript volume is in the possession of
gentleman living in the immediate vicinity
of the city Of Nashville, and who will take |
great pleasure in showing it, aud finally de-
posting it, together with much other mat
ter of historical interest to Middle Tennes-
see, in the State Capitol, aohenerer a suita-
bic case is proUided in that beautiful building.
We will remark, in passing, that the gen
tleman referred to, possesses more histori-
cal information, relating to the early set
Element of this region of country, and has
contributed more of such information, than
any other man living. To him we are in
debted for the facts contained in these
pages.
1880. We will now take our stand |
point near the Southeast corner of the
Public Square in the city of Nashville, dur
ing the last six days of the month of April, |
1880 A dense cedar forest with thick |
underground of pJiHet bushes, covered most
Of the ground between the Sulphur Spring |
aud Wilson Spring branches The emf
grants are busily engaged in erecting log
fort and houses to be surrounded with pal |
lisades or pickets, and 10 include the spring
which then poured its waters down the
Bluff at the east side Of Spring or Church |
street. Thick brakes of tall cane covered
the country in every direction except
where the cedars had taken prior posses
sion Some Of the men venture out dali
ly by the deer and buffalo traces, and /
through the wild woods, in search of favo-
rite places where to SETTLE But all look
and return to the Bluffs or French Lick, as
to head quarters-the seat Of government.
In a very few days intimate friend agree
to locate, at or near the springs to which
the largest roads or paths were already
made by the wild beasts, and around which
springs the cane and under-bushes were
usually tramnled ont so as 10 afford some