Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-03
should be effectually restrained from
all eucroachments beyond it.


and passed laws for promoting the
views of the new government; they
passed law for encouraging the ex-
pedition which it was intended should
proceed down the river on the western
side, and take possession of the bend
of Tennessee, under titles derived from
the State of Georgia. A division into
parties had commenced, and was 81
lently making it's way, and the flames
of discord were famed by the repeal
ing act of North Carolina; one party
began to prefer an adherence to North
Carolina, and the other harbored the
wish to oppose all practical iMpedi
ments to the government of Frankland.
The powers of government however
were exercised in the name of the new
State, without any remarkable obstruc-
tion, till some time towards the latter
part of the year 1856.
1t was found in the fall OF this year,
that the novelty of change, and of new
titles and dignities, possessed fascina-
tions which were not confined to the
counties that now constituted the State
OF Franklsnd. Washington County in
Virginia, adjoined the county of Sulli-
van, and neither ambition or pretexts
were wanting, to stir up among the
populace, ever captivated by new spec
tacles, derire to be separated from
the mother State. The seeds of disaf-
fection were industriously sown among
the people Of Washington and their
neighbors. Such topics as supplied the
most spacious grounds of complaint
were fixed upon and carefully intro.
duced into public discourses. As dis
contents were perceived to arise, the
scheme of disapprobation of public
measures gradually advanced; at
length its objects were 80 daringly
avowed, as to call for the interposition
of the chief magistrate of Virginia. In
the month of October, 1885, Governor
Henry communicated to the Assembly
Of Virginia the intelligence he had re-
ceived, in the following words: III
transmit herewith, letter from the
Honorable Mr.. Hardy, covering a
memorial to Congress from sundry in.
habitants of Washington County, pray
ing the establishment of an independ.
ent State, to be bounded as therein ex-
pressed. The proposed limits include
vast extent of country, in which we
have numerous and very respectable
settlements, which, in their growth,
will form an invaluable barrier be.
tween this country and those, who, in
the course of events, may occupy the
vast places westward Of the mountains
some of whom have views incompati-
BILE with our safety. Already the mi
litia of that part of the State is the
most respectable we have, and by their
means 1t is, that the neighboring In.
dians are awed into professions of
friendship. But circumstance has
lately happened, which renders the
possession of the territory at the present
time, indispensable to the peace and
safety of Virginia; I'mean the assump.
tion of sovereign power by the western
inhabitants of North Carolina. If the
people who, without consulting their
own safety, or any other authority
known in the American constitution,
have assumed government, and while
unallied to US, and under no engage
ments to pursue the objects of the fed
eral government. shall be strengthened
by the accession of 80 great part of
our country, consequences fatal to our
repose will probably follow. 1t is to
be observed, that the settlements of
this new society, stretch into great
extent in contact with ours in Wash
ington County, and thereby expose
our citizens to the contagion of the ex-
ample which bids fair to destroy the
peace OF North Carolina. In this state
of things, tits, that variety of informa-
ton has come to me, stating, that sew
eral persons, but especially Colonel
Arthur Campbell, have used their
utmost endeavors, and with some sue.
cess, to pursuade the citizens in that
quarter, 10 break off from this COM
monwealth, and to attach themselves
to the newly assumed government, or
to erect one distinct from it. And to
effect this purpose, the equality and
Of the laws have been ar
raigned, the collection of the taxes i'm.
peded and our national character i'm
peached. If this most important part
of our territory be Topped off, we lose
that barrier for which our people have
long and often fought; that nursery of
soldiers, from which future armies
may be levied, and through which it
will be almost impossible for our
enemies to penetrate. We shall ag-
grandize the new State, whose con.
nexions, views and designs we know
not; shall cease to be formidable to
our savage neighbors, or respectable to
our western settlements, at present or
in future"