Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-10
HAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE
[ooNrINuED FROM LAST WEEK.

"niioe tneeo anu many OIner mat
ters were contemplated by the execu-
tive, it is natural to suppose, the at
tempt at separation was discouraged
by every lawful means, the chief of
which was displacing the field officers
of the militia in Washington County
as were active partisaus for separation,
in order to prevent the weight of office
being put in the scale of Virginia. To
this end, a proclamation was issued,
declaring the militia laws of the last
session in force in that county, and
appointments were made agreeable to
it. hope to be excused for expressing
wish, that the Assembly, in deliber.
ating on this affair, will prefer lenient
measures, in order to reclaim our
erring citizens. Their taxes have run
into three years, and thereby grown
to an amount beyond the ability Of
many to discharge; while the sys
tenn of our trade has been such, as
to render their agriculture unproduct.
i've of money. And l can not but sup
pose, that if even the warmest sup.
porters of separation had seen the mis-.
chievous consequences, they would
have retraced and considered that in
temperance in their own proceedings.
which opposition in sentiment is too
apt to produce.
The disapprobation of this great pa
triot and enlightened man, though it
eventually suppressed the multitude
nary connections in Washington, of
Virginia, had not the like effect upon
the new Government of Frankland.
The limits proposed for the new gov
ernment of Frankland, by Col. Arthur
Campbell, and the people of Virginia,
who aimed at separation from that
State, were expressed in the form of a
constitution which Col. Campbell drew
up for public examination, and were
these: beginning at point on the top
of the Allegheny or Appalachian
Mountains, SO as line drawn due
north from thence, will touch the BAN k
of New River, otherwise called Ken
hawa, at the confluence of Little River,
which is about one mile above Ingle g
ferry; down the said River Kenhawa
to the mouth of the Rencovert, or
Green Briar River; direct line from
thence, to the nearest summit of the
Laurel Mountain, and along the highest
part OF the same, to the point where it
is intersected by the parallel of thirty
seven degrees north latitude; west
along that latitude to point where it
is met by meridian line that passes
through the lower part of the rapid of
Ohio; south along the meridian, to
Elk River, branch of the Tennessee;
down said river to its mouth, and down
the Tennessee, to the most stsouthwardly
| paw Va ochu III oulu uilNtI, ulTtCb llut
from thence to that branch of the
Mobile, called Donbigbee; down said
River Donbigbee, to its junction with
the Coosawatee River, to the south of
that branch Of it called Hightower;
thence south, to the top of the Appala-
chan Mountain, or the highest land
that divides the sources of the eastern
from the western waters; northwardly
along the middle of said heights, and
the top of the Appalachian Mountain,
to the beginning. 1t was stated in the
proposed form, that the inhabitants
within these limits agree with each
other to form themselves into free,
sovereign and independent body polite
or State, by the name of the common
wealth of Frankland. The laws of the
Legislature were to be enacted by the
General Assembly of the common
wealth of Frankland; and all the laws
and ordinances which had been before
adopted, used and approved in the
different parts of this State, whilst
under the jurisdiction of Virginia and
North Carolina, shall still remain the
rule of decision in all cases for the re-
spective limits for which they were
formerly adopted, and shall continue
in full force until altered or repealed
by the Legislature; such parts only ex-
cepted, as are repugnant to the rights
and liberties contained in this constitu.
ton, or those of the said respective
States.
The Assembly of North Carolina,
which commenced its session at New.
bern, on the 10Th November, 1886,
passed an act, preceded by preamble,
in which it is stated as represented to
the Assembly, that many of the in
habitants of Washington, Greene and
Sullivan counties, have withdrawn
their allegiance from this State, and
have been erecting temporary sepa
rate government among them selves, in
consequence of general report and
belief that the State being inattentive
to their welfare, had ceased to regard
them as citizens, and had made an
absolute cession, both of the soil and
jurisdiction of the country in which
they reside, to the United States, in
Congress. And whereas, such report
was i'll founded, and it was, and con
tinues to be, the desire of the General
Assembly of this State, to extend the
benefits of civil government to citizens
and inhabitants of the western coun
ties, until such time as they might be
separated with advantage and con
I