Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-10-02
LEISURE MOMENTS.
ise, Decline, and Fall of the State of Frankland.

heralded its fall At the close of the Revolutionary war the United
devise Lewis some N means by W which which this large debt would be Gquidsted@@
Congress solicited the States owning vacant lands to throw them in
North Carolina, for in 1884 the General Assembly coded her western
lands and authorized her delegation in Congress to execute a deed,
provided Congress would accept this offer within two years The
pioneers Of the west having experienced many misfortunes and hard
ships discovered in the act of 1854 much to censure and on 23d of
August. l784 a Convention assembled at JoGesboro, electing John
Sewer, President. 'They resolved that a person be despatched to
Congress to press the acceptance of the offer of North Carolina and
adjourned to meet again at the Court House in Washington county,
on the sixteenth of September of the same year. The General As
semby of North Carolina met at Newbern on 22d of October 1874,
and repealed the act of its former session, in consequence of which
the Convention at Jonesboro' broke up in confusion
The counties of Greene, Sullivan and Washington constituted the
State of Frankland, and on the 14th of December, 1884, five delegates
from each county met at Jonesboro and formed a constitution, which
Senate, and William Cage, Speaker of the House of Commons. Jno.
Sewer was chosen Governor, and other officers. civil anu military,
The General Assembly of the State of FARMLAND informed Govern
or Caswell that the people of the counties Of Greene, Sullivan and
Washington, had declared themselves sovereign and independent of
the State of North Carolina. The Governor, with that prudence and
clamaton, in which be states that - the act of eession had been re-
pealed its repeal voted for by those now engaged ia the present re-
legislative, had exercised a tender regard for the people Of the West;
and had granted them judges to decide on their prosperity and rights,
and military officers to protect them. He denounced the revolt as a
rank usurpation, the general government deriving no benefi, (the o.
jet of the cession act of 1784 the revenues of North Carolina had
oeen seized and the authority of the law deaed- These measures
would bring ruin to themselves and disnonora to their country. He
warned all persons engaged in this revolt to return to their duty and
allegiance to the State, and pay no obedience to the sel.created au-
thority of FARMLAND, unknown to the constitution and unsanctioned
by law. He informed them if this advice was not needed, they might
De assured that the spirit of North Carolina was not so damped, or
her resources so exhausted, that means, even to blood, would be re-
and honor" =. S'
This advice was dsregarded new counties we're erected; taxes
levied; money appropriated treaties formed with the Indians, and
al, the powers and prerogatives of a sovereign State were exercised
notwithstanding John Sewer, their Governor, I" had informed them
that their grievances We're redressed, and advised them to cease all
efforts to separate from North Carolina, but remain firm and faithful
to her laws"
ward step William Cooke was elected 10 represent their case to the
hoat &c 30 " q onneu e aue >. Inc imposing parade OF office, the
obstacles to the restoration of the rule Of North Carolina
Laat some plan must DC devised to pay this host of officers. Taxes
We're to be paid in the circulating medium of FARMLAND, such as
they had' vlz:-Good fax linen, ten hundred, at three shilings and
six pence per yard; good clean beaver skins, six shilhogs eacn rae
coon and fox skins at one shilling and three pence; deer skins six
shlllings; bacon at six pence per TO-; sallow at sixpence; good whis-
key at two shilings and sixpence a gallon" This system of taxa
FARMLAND, by the Hon. Daniel Webster, who stated that the sala-
ries of the Governor and Jdges were paid in fox skins, and the fees
to receive the skins at the established price. But, strange to relate.
that even this currency was counterfeited by sewing raccoon tails to
opossum skins they being worthless and abundant, and raccoon skins
being valued by law at one shilling and three pence.
But we should remember that public opinion was very much d-
vded between the friends of the new State and the adnerents tn
the State OF North Carolina. The loyal and patriotic citizens of eve.
misguided reason and personal ambition, declared through their del
egates at Newbern, assembled in November, 1875. a willingness to
bury into oblivion the conduct of FARMLAND, provided they return
ed to their allegiance and sent members to the General Assembly of
North Carolina, and also appointed civil and military officers to sup
state of affairs :" two empires existing at the same time the
same territory courts were held and military officers appointed by
both governments to exercise the same powers. John Upton head
ed the North Carolina, and John Sewer the FARMLAND party. Courts,
under the authority of the respective courts, were held within ten
miles OF each other. The papers OF the respective courts were de-
stroyed: Upton and Sewer fought and 'feats of brois and battles
were frequent among their adherents. The application of Governor
Sewer to DR.. Franklin for aid Was refused. Fortunately for North
Carolina, Sewer :: rtalized with fearful truth the fable of Gray"
"The child who many fathers share.
Hath rarely known a fathers care;
And he who on many doth depend,
Will rarely ever find a friend"
The Legislature of FARMLAND assembled for the last time a
Greenville, in September 1887, and the authority of North Caroin,
was acknowledged in the same year.
Thus has the history of this ancient sovereignty been briefly no
tced, containing an example worthy the attention of those who ar
disclosed to disobey the popular voice of their States: for sine d. o.
man nature has been the same in every age, like Influences will b
attended with like results, and their history will be as inglorious a
that of FARMLAND. The history of most nations contains much :
interest and amuse. Gibbons History of Rome Is as it were an in
telectual bridge, connecting ancient and modern periods, contrastin
them presenting their respective errors and Improvements. III no..
titus and Thucydides have not thought the achievements of the Gre
clan mind unworthy of their pens. Thier, while be approves to
great extent of Inc policy of Cardnel De Richeieu, fnds much I
censure in the annals OF France. Hume and Macaulay delight
i present in their most favorable light the brilliant achievements