New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
TENNESSEE.
A PICTURESQUE STATE HISTORY.

HISTORY OF TENNESSEE The Making of State.
By JAMES PHELAN. l2mo, PIP 40. Houghton,
Mfiin Co.
The history Of Tennessee is full of dramatic
effects. and Mr. Phelan has treated it with graphic
force and pioturesqueness. He reminds us that
the process of State-making can nowhere be more
conveniently studied, inamuch Is in this case a
single century sufaced to carry the body polite
from the most primitive conditions to full equality
with tie best examples Of modern civilization and
institutional governments. The Kaleidoscope has
been shifted many times during the life Of three
generations to group the effects now presented.
When the Watauga Association organized, marking
the first manifestations Of that self-governing in
stinct which the Anglo Saxon carries everywhere,
the Tennessee Of the future was q doubtful out
lying settlement of North Carolina-a no-man's
land whose few scattered white Inhabitants had
10 fight with the Indians and the wild beasts for
every foot of land and almost for every hour of
life. site chosen and clearing begun, the settler
had to work with one eye on the woods about
him. whence at any moment might sound the
horrid war-cry of his red foe. Even when the
log cabin was built. safety was but partially Sc
cured. Every tree within gunshot Of the house,
large enough to shelter the body Of an Indian must
be cut down. Then the truck patch must be
enclosed with palisade. In choosing the house.
site care must be taken that water was within
easy reach for the prospect Of a siege had always
TO be Considered. and spring situated even
hundred yards away might become trap. For
many years the new settlement continued TO be
dark and bloody ground" Indian attacks and
massacres. fierce rctaiations by the whites. sue
ceeded one another. and were varied by treaties
which neither side kept. IL was the old story
White settlement could not be kept back. and IL
meant expulsion or determination of the Indians
nd cruoltV both
sides The Indians had the upper hand ethicany,
for there could be no question that they were
despoilcd but the superior physical and material
force of the white men always gave them the
victory in the long
John Sewer, whom Mr.. Phelan regards as the
strongest character of the early times OF Tennes-
see and whose memory he complains has suffered
unduly from the neglect of posterity, led the In
dian fighting, encouraged the sorely tried settlers
and with few indomitable men repeatedly dis
suaded the fainter-hearted from abandoning the
settlements in despair The story Of the first
troubled experiments at political organization is
full Of interest and suggestion North Carolina
did not care to possess this new region which only
entaled expense and paid no taxes. The settlers
resented the apathy Of the mother State, and pro-
posed to set up for themselves. The attempt to
organize the State of Franklin is curious chap
ter in American hisory. The settlement
seems at one time to have been as ready to break
with North Carolina, if not to declare war upon
her, as the Thirteen Colonies had been to shake
off the yoke of England. Indeed there is apparent
at this stage of State making weakness OF
political and Institutional ties which shows what
must have been the fate Of the colonies generally
had the Union failed of ratification. Sewer at
one time was drawn toward scheme Of Spanish
conquest somewhat akin to Burr's subsequent
plot only Sewer never contemplated any restora-
ton of monarchy or extension of territory for
lower purpose than American aegrandizement
While the so-called State of Franklin was strug-
Cling for life the general conditions were chaotic,
two distinct governments endeavoring TO subsist
in the same district. Presently the sober second
thought Of the majority cleared the atmosphere,
the Franklin chmera was abandoned and the
Young community accepted the jurisdiction of
North Carolina until first Territorial and.then
State government was attained Here, as IN sew
eral of the Southwestern States, the basis OF gov
eminent compromise between the township
and county systems The change from the New
England plan grew out of the differences OF the
evolutionary processes In the South and North,
and marked healthy adaptation to special needs
Mr. Phelan discusses this subject with clear ap-
probation of all that it signifies and involves
lie has very interesting chapter on Manners,
Customs and Mode of Life which sets before the
reader wildly the character Of tn primitive COM
munity, its hardshps privations and rude con-
trivances and makeshifts Here is sketch OF the
amenities of travel in those days:
To add 10 the hariships which continually beset the
traveller, he frequently deprived OF Inc comoios
Of shelter for bis head AR 90 Trs fond
scattered alons Ike line 81 travel ana ner o se
Union But the accommodations were inferior even
by comparison and the host ss rue, VA 81 LIZ
OWN ShsSy s9s Kept no pRns DOR be
traveller was thrown upon the mercy of the first
human inhabitant Of cabin. and this was rarely
denied. The traveller was expected TO sleep on his
own bedding generally blanket and his own clothes
exc out his '' rest tn usually By tavern
and when the light was cold Inc unuchy traveller
was often caught in lIlemna "nc q lh"se h is
ton which si survives among wags that traveller
once radsy elected from one Of these inns s because
brook the soncs fhor Of Sa one who
%sos 70 word OF complaint Snsr ag
dozen and even more YER crowded M. room |
to bed by himself 1T was no, ruaraniee mat he
would be without one. possibly Two bsdiellows |
satisfy The appetite but nxurfes were not TO be had
1ea 1Os & had to Be ss5 SUPPLIED by the %v .rr
made Of pounded corn. butter and milk occasionally
9k bacon FEW e da aed ana
the chances of the last hunt The tavern rates in
cG%"S In s5 NINE MERE as follows ps s sns
Stable six pence lodging fou! pence corn, per-
gallon, eight pence; oats. per gallon, six pence.
This description recalls the minute account
given by Erasmus Of German travel during his
time, and it is hard 10 say whether the Europe
Of the fifteenth century or the Tennessee of the
nineteenth was the most full of discomfort and
danger In his chapter on Religion" Mr. Phe-
Ian pictures the life Of the Methodist circuit
rider of the period, and touches upon the re-
ligious excitement which, at the revival meet
ings, eliminated in the nervous epidemic known
as the Jerks" He says They were inyo-
untary and irresistible. When under their In
Ouence the sufferers would dance, or sing, or
shout Sometimes they would sway from side
10 side, or throw the head backward for
ward or lean or sprng Generally those under