The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-10

Springfield was ordered. Shays issued an
inflammatory address, and prepared to seize
the arsenal there, in which were over 10000
stand of arms
In this he was foiled by Gen. Shepard,
who rallied ! 900 men for its defense. Shays
made his attack, but was forced back with
a loss Of three men killed and one wounded.
Reinforced BIZ detachment under Luke
Day. he would have succeeded, perhaps, in a
second attack, had not Gen. Lincoln arrived
with four regiments, troop of cavalry, and
artillery.
Shays retreated to Northampton and
thence to Amherst. Lincoln and Shepard
followed aud took quarters at Hadley. The
rebels moved TO Petersbam. There, late in
January, they were surprised by Lineoln's
forces. The old veteran had marched 80
miles by night with the temperature at zero,
reaching Petersham by dawn. One hundred
and fifty men were captured and the re-
Ihainder OF the rebels fed without firing a
shet. Fourteen of them were subsequently
tried for high treason and sentenced todeath.
Shays hmssf escaped to New York, led a
very quiet and peaceful life, and died at the
age of s.. His death occurred at Sparta,
Livingston County, New York, in 1925.
"sTATE OF FRANKLIN" INsURRECTIoN.
At the time Shays's rebellion was progress
ing in Massachusetts another revolt, which
began earlier and lasted longer, was going
on west of the Alleganies, in territory orig
inally belonging TO North Carolina, now con-
stituting East Tennessee.
Alike with Shays's movement, the ques-
ton of " popular sovereignty was involved
though in different form. In Massachu-
sets the question involved the rights Of the
individual as related TO the Government
here it referred TO the right OF State, or
more exactly, part of a State to set up a
Government Of its own. John Sewer. OF
honOred memory, subsequently the first Gov.
eTDor OF Tennessee, member of Congress
etc, was the leading spirit In this revolt
In response to a call of Congress for apprO-
priatiOns Of untensnted lands to he used as
resource for paying the public debt, the
Legislature Of North Carolina in June. 1884
ceded the territory lying west OF the Allie.
ganies to the COnlederacy. The people OF
this territory resented the action Of the
State, and in August of the same year
assembled in convention, they
RESOLVED TO sECEDE
from the State of North Carolina. A Pro
yisional Government was arranged and tn,
convention adjourned.
The State OF North Carolina, troubled al
the action OF Its ultra-montane territory, re
pealed the act Of cession TO the General Gov.
eminent, made the three Counties of the
territory into a judicial district, and com
missioned Sewer grigadier-General.
This action was not appreciated or recog
nized BY the rebels.
Pursuant TO a second convention an elec
tiOn for members Of a General Assembly was
held, a Senate formed, Sewer made Gov.
ernor. courts established, and the new Com
moDweaith christened THE State Of Frank
IE." JoBesborO was the seat of Govern
ment, and as soon as these acts were done
early in 1855, Sewer, by act of Assembly
notified Governor Martin, of North Carolina
informing him that his people no Ionge
considered themselves under the sovereignty
and jurisdiction Of the parent State"
Now began struggle on the part of Sevio
to gain recognition for The State Of Frank
hn," and on the part OF Martin to suppress
the rebels. Martin convened his Council
and an extra session of the Legislature wa
convoked to meet at New Berne June ]
1765 AS the result Governor Martin issue
proclamation, addressed to the people G
the " Washington District" in which b
said:
"By such rash and irregular conduct
precedent is formed for every district, an
even for every County, in the State to clair
the right of separation. / knor
with reluctance the State will be driven I
arms; it will be the last alternative to en-
brue her hands in the blood of her citizens
but if no other ways or means are found I
save her honor and reclaim her headstrons
refractory citizens but this last sad expo
dient, her resources are not yet so exhausted