The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
STATE OF FRANKLIN.
The First Secession and Rebellion that
Ended in Blood-Tts Leader Cap
tured and then Rescued.
EARLY TENNESSEE INCIDENTS.
IN. Y. Moore in Atlanta Constitution.


known to students of American history
country-it existed as much so as did the
tract so much attention, nor did it require
so many great sacrifices every way as did
the late Confcdcracy. Nevertheless, "The
State of Franklin existed, and existed
in the South.
Like the COnfederacv the State Of Frank
lin was born of secession. 1t lived cY-
actly the same length of time that the
Confedcrncy lived-just four years and
like the Confederacy, it collapsed in blood
and failure. And, furthermore, it's CHIEF
of govcrnmcnt-likc the chief of til,
Southern Confcderacv-was arrested on a
charge Of treason, placed in irons, and
also released without final trial. a
most peculiar parallel exists in the his.
tory of Jefferson Davis, the chief of the
Confederate government, and the history
of Colonel John Sewer, the governor OF
the State OF Franklin.
But the parallel between the two men
ends with the release from confinement
of the respective characters. While ex-
President Davis was forever relegatcd t.
n private life after his release, Governor
Sewer after his restoration to liberty
rose to the highest distinction in honorf
in his state. He was one Of the patriots
of the revolution, having distinguished
I himself at the battle Of Kings Mountain, in
South Carolina. When Tennessee was af-
forwards admitted into the Union, Colonel
Sewer was the first constitutional gov
crnor. He died afterwards, in 1876, in the
service of the United States, while en-
gagged in negotiating treaty with the
| Indians in Alabama. His remains
were buried in Alabama, where they re-
posed until 1889, when, in accordance
with the long pressed wishes of the
people of Tennessee. they were disintcred
removed and committed to Il final resting
| place near Knoxville, in the latter State
The State of Franklin was, as previous
~ noted, the outgrowtl of the first seces-
sion in our country. That secession oc-
Cured Immediately after the close of the
revolution, and under the following cir
cumstanccs:
After the immediate close Of the war
many of the old soldiers from Virginia
and the Carolinas emigrated to the beau
tiful and fertile valleys of what is new
East Tennessee. 1t was an inviting land
no iairer or more fertile spot Of earth
known then for the backwoods home.
The territory then belonged to the
State of North Carolina, that state then
reaching from the Atlantic ocean on the
cast to the Mississippi river on the west;
the northern boundary 80 degrees and
80 minutes north latitude. The part of
the territory living west of the Allcgha-
mics WAS too remote from the seat Of the
state government of North Carolina, then
at Fayetteville, for the western pioneers
to derive or receive such protection and
authority rs they expected or desired.
The authorities of the state recognized
this fact, and made Il tender to the general
government of the United States to all
that part Of North Carolina territory west
of the Allegheny mountains, to be placed
under territorial government, to be ruled
by the Federal authorities, the seat of the
general government being then at Phila-
uclphiu.
The coonists occupying the country
living along the waters OF the Holston
rivcr-this stream then known to the In
dians by the name Hogoheegec-thcse
"Holston coionists," as they were called,
protested against this territorial propo-
si;ion and, refusing to submit to the
action of the state authorities, they de-
clarcd secession from the parent state.
Delegations from all parts OF the Hoston
country assembled and set up separate
government Of their OWN. This govern
mcnt called itself 1.-THE State of Franklin
and for four wears all the functions of a
regular state government existed. 1t had
a legislature which enacted laws and even
made treaties with ncighboring powers.
1t also sent delegate to the Congress OF
the United States, yet that body refused
to recognize him.
Matters grew to such proportions. and
i'm such defiance of the regular North
Carolina authorities, who insisted upon
the collection Of taxes and the exercise OF
other powers over the cOlonists, that the
governor of North Carolina felt called upon
to suppress the "Holston rebellion He
did it with one Colonel Upton and small
body of State militia, which met the
forces of the secession at 4 point ten
miles east of Jonesboro, i'll Washington
county, Tenn, then the oldest town in the
state 4 few lives were lost i'll the short
battle which ensued. The "leudcr Of the
rebellion" as he was called, Colonel
Sewer, was captured or surrendered. He
was taken, in irons, for trial in the
state courts AT Morganton in North Car
Dina. \ few dauntless followers from
the colonsts on the Holston, with others,
followed and rescued Sewer from the
officers of the law, and he escaped into
the country west Of the Blue Ridge, where
he afterwards cvaded and deticd capture
His rcscuers afterwards became among
the most famous people in North Carolina.
the McDowclls being in the number. Col
oncl Sewer and Colonel Mcdowell, the
founder of the North Carolina family, had
been previously associates in the attack
upon the British at Kings Mountain.
Sewers family have, likewise, become
eminent in the history of Tennessee
Colonel A. S. Colyar, the noted Nashville
editor politician and tinancier, is lincal
defendant of Governor Sever
One of the state laws of Franklin has
been often quoted and made the subject
of wi, and laughter. The lawful curren-
cy of the state, the circulating medium
OF the realm" as the historian puts it
was: FLAX cloth; three shillings and six
pence per yard n-skins, II shilling ant
three pence apiece; and whisky, two
shillings and six pence per gallon. Bu'
even this primitive currency was some
times "countcrfeited, as We arc told
by the sewing of coon tails to possun
hides. In this way one long tailed cooT
and one 'possum hide could be converted
into what passed for two coon skins.
The great Daniel Webster on one oc
casion in the United States Senate at
tempted to poke fun" at one of his col