The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-11

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exercised governmental functions,
maintained a respectable militia, flour
ished apace, and then, after a varied
experience, completely disappeared
from the "sisterhood of States" From
historians the State of Franklin has re-
ceived scant attention, and to the ma
jority of the present generation Its
identity with the State of Tennessee
seems almost as mythical as that of
Platos Atlantis with the American con-
tinent. Yet, though Tennessee is to-
day at Nashville celebrating, with great
eclat, the centennial of its admission,
statehood had in fact existed within its
present limits considerably over one
hundred years ago.
One DESTROYS of dwelling on the ro-
nance of facts may find much to at
tract in this obscure chapter of our ma
tional history. A few thousand noun
taineers, in a remote wilderness, in
fused with the principles which in
spired the Revolution, had banded to-
gether and formed state government
of their own With John Sewer, an
| ideal frontiersman as the hero, with To-
| cal self-government as the animating
motive. with variety of plots and
counterplots to lend picturesqueness of
incident, with phases of comedy inter-
spersed now and then with episodes
truly tragic, the drama was acted out
amid the mountain regions of Tennes-
see.
When the American Revolution broke
out what is now the state of Tennessee
was an unorganized, sparsely settled
! territory. In 1776 it's inhabitants, under
the leadership of Captain Sewer, petit
toned the North Carolina legislature to
| be annexed to that state, in order to
contribute their share toward national
independence. AS the expenses of the
war bore heavily on the old North
| State" her legislature was only too
glad to divide the burden. The petition
was granted and what is now Tennes-
see formed part of North Carolina until
the close of the Revolution. AS it had
now become source of expense rather
than help the North Carolina legisla-
ture in June, 1884, without consulting
those most affected, ceded to the Fede-
raj government the whole annexed ter
ritory under the name of the District of
| Washington, provided the government
should, within two years, signify its as
sent
| The settlers, naturally Directing to
| such a wholesale disposition of them
| selves, rose up in wrath The manner
and conditions of the cession were re-
pugnant, and the people felt that they
| had not only been trifled with but sub
| jected to two years of anarchy and dis
| Ctg,Ili,,y noeuapijor, in,
| 1884, they formed the State of Franklin.
| The North Carolina legislature, reali-
zing its error, fastened to undo its mis-
| take, and reannexed the Washington
| district" The inhabitants of Franklin
rejected offers for reconciliation. and
| Captain Sewer, though at first inclined
to advise return of allegiance to
North Carolina, yielded to an over
whelming public sentiment and accept
| ed the governorship of the new state.
He was inaugurated at Watauga on
| March 1, 1885 Some sort of order was
now established, at least for time. A
court was created, the militia thorough
| ly reorganiZed and peace effected with
| Indians who had been carrying on de-
structive warfare for a quarter of a
| century.
| But peace did not long prevail Com
| plications arose which kept the young
State of Franklin In a constant turmoil.
A reaction, stimulated by disappointed
| office seekers, ensued among those who
had been most clamorous for the new
state. Jealousy Of Sewers success ami
mated his rivals, who henceforth sought
| to make his life burden. The popula-
| ton was divided into the Franklin and
the North Carolina factions. Elections
were held and appointments made I'M
| der the laws of both states. Two sets
of officers claimed authority, each null
| lifying the acts of the other. One fac
ton would steal the public records from
the other, only to be treated in like
manner in turn. The courts were in a
chaotic condition. Wills could not be
proved, titles perfected, or justice adj
ministered. No taxes were paid Mar
riages performed by officials of one fac
| ton were not recognized by the other.
| Still the determined young state
fought for its life. 1t exercised even
Federal power and authorized the coin
age of specie, though its chief medium
| of exchange continued to be the skins
| OIL WIZ duliifdlS. lllauy GlulSodlleS
were sent to the North Carolina legisla-
| ture to make overtures of peace. The
| address of Franklin's representative
was a model of eloquence, fervid with
the rhetoric of the era But it fell upon
unheeding ears. No recognition would
| be made of the rebellious state, though
| North Carolina had once cut her off
| without her consent
The last session of the Franklin legis-
lature was held in September, 1887
| That there was then no intention of
| surrendering is evident from one of the
acts of the legislature, which has been
preserved and is interesting as an ex-
ample of primitive fnanciering. The
| law is as follows:
BE it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of the State of Franklin, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority ON the
| same, That from the LIST day of Janua-
ry, 1888, the salaries of the officers of
this Commonwealth be as follows, to
| wit:
His Excellency the Governor, per an
mum, 1000 deer skins