Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-06-12

vi ~ Witnln the space OF two years theI
next following By another act of tn,
same session, it was declared that tn,
sovereignty and jurisdiction of NORTH
Carolina in and over this territory ant
all its inhabitants, shall be and remair
in all respects, until the United States
in Congress, shall accept of the cession
and as if the act of cession had never
passed. They, at the same time, closed
the land office for this territory, anG
nullified all entries made since the 25tt
of May, 1884, except entries made, OF
to be made, by the commissioners
agents and surveyors who extended the
lines of the lands allotted to the officers
and soldiers; and by the guards, hunt
ers, chain carriers and markers, who
attended these commissioners. The
Assembly adjourned on the end day Of
June, 1884. 1t was part of the cession
law, that if Congress should not accept
within two years, the act was thence
forward to be of no effect.
We have seen how unremitted were
the efforts of the Indians to break up
If possible, and at events to check, the
growth of the settlements on Holston.
and how often it became necessary to
recall them to peacable demeanor,
ny administering to them chastise-
ment in their villages. The militia
were often called together, their equip
ments for service, as well as the servi
ces themselves, demanded considerable
expenditures. The sales of the western
lands had greatly reduced the certifi-
cate debt of North Carolina; she ought
to have yielded ready assent when
called on to give protection to the from
tiers, by discharging the debts which
had been necessarily contracted in
their defence; the expenditures became
daily more heavy, but the prospects of
an early settlement of the western
lands which were opened by the settle.
ments on Holston, had greatly enhanced
the value of these lands in the market.
and had very much facilitated the sale
OF them; consequently, a much greater
quantity of certificates was brought
into her treasury, and with much more
expedition too. than otherwise could
have been effected. Experience was,
however, supposed to prove, that as the
prospects of future advantage dimin.
ished, so did the readiness of North
Carolina to advance the supplies requi.
site for the protection of the western
settlers. This disinclination was the
more INDUCED, as the constitution of
North Carolina had made provision for
a future State within her limits on the
western side of the Alleghanies; and
as the affairs of the western people
seemed verging to a crisis, from whence
new and independent state was likely
to arise, the prosperity of which, it was
not the peculiar duty of North Caro-
linas to promote; nor did it seem DO.
litic to her rulers to lavish their money
for the benefit of those who were so
soon to be strangers to her particular
interests. Western claims for military
services against the Indians began to
be received with murmuring; to be
passed upon with much scrutiny, and
to meet with frequent rejection. 1t
was suggested that all pretences were
laid hold of to Eradicate demands
against the Government, and that the
industry and property of those, who
resided on the east side of the noun.
tain, were becoming the funds appro.
priated to discharge the debts contract
ed by those on the west. 1t was partly
under the impression made by these
suggestions, that the Assembly of
North Carolina passed the cession act
Of May, 1884. The opinion was sedu.
lously propagated through the western
counties, that the cession might not be
accepted for the space of two years,
during all which time, the people being
neither under the protection of the
United States nor of the State of North
Carolina, would neither receive any
support from abroad, nor be able to
command their own resources at home:
at the same time there was no relaxa.
tion of Indian hostilities. The district
Of Washington was not yet entitled to
q superior court; crimes of all sorts as
they were then situated, must 20 un
punished; nor was it allowed by law.
brigadier general to call into service
the militia of the county, and to unite
Its efforts on requisite emergencies.
Exposed as they were every day to the
of the savages, and seeing
no authority to whom they could apply
for assistance, it became the prevailing
opinion that the people ought of them
selves to devise the means of drawing
upon their own resources, and of max
ing them effectual. Indian visitations
assailed them necessarily: the settlers
on Holston, at last seemed to hold their
lives only by the permission, and at the
will, of the Cherokees. The people at
first resolved upon the expedient of
electing two persons from each Cap.
tain's company, who should assemble
ln the respective counties as COM
mittee; these resolved upon conven.
tion of deputies from all the counties,
which should adopt such plans as
were suitable to their circumstan ces.
Continued next week.
Julia Magruder's New Novel.