The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-06-11

TENNESSEE.
An Obscure Chapter in the
States History.
Before Its Admittance Into the "SiS-
terhOOd of States" it was Known
as the State of Franklin.
John SEWER, the First Governor, Re-
ceived L 900 Deerskins per Annum
for His Services as Chief
Executive.
[Chicago Evening Post.l

[Chicago Evening POst.l
The state of Franklin once formed
in area, if not in population, an i'm
pOrtant part of the union. 1t had its
Executive, legislative and judicial
departments, exercised government
tai functions, maintained respecta-
BILE militia, flOurished apace, and
then, after a varied experience,
completely disappeared from the
"sisterhood Of states" From histo-
rians the state of Franklin has re-
ceived scant attention, and to the
majority of the present generation
its identity with the state of Ten
nessee seems almost as mythical as
that of Plato's Atlantis with the
American continent. Yet, though
Tennessee is to-day at Nashville
celebrating, with great eclat, the
centennial of its admission, state
hood had in fact existed within its
present limits considerably over 100
years ago.
One DESTROYS of dwelling on the
romance Of facts may find much to
attract in this obscure chapter OF
our national history. A few thou
sand mountaineers, in a remote
wilderness, infused with the princl-
Piles which inspired the revolution,
had banded together and formed a
State Government of their own.
With John Sewer, an ideal from
tiersman, as the hero, with local
self-government as the animatlng
motive, with variety of plots and
counter-plots to lend picturesque
ness of incident, with phases OF
comedy interspersed now aud then
with episodes truly tragic, the drama
was acted out amid the scenery fur
nished by the mountain regions oil
Tennessee.
When the American revolution
broke out, what is now the state OF
Tennessee was an unorganized,
sparsely settled territory. In l77t
its inhabitants, under the leader
ship of Captain Sewer, petitioned
the North Caroliua legislature to be
annexed to that state, in order to
contribute their share toward ma
tional independence. AS the eX'
penses of the war bore heavily on
''the old north state" her legisla-
ture was only too glad to divide the
burden. The petition was granted
and what is now Tennessee formed
part of North Carolina until the
close of the revolution. AS it had
now become source of expense
rather than help, the North Caro-
! lima Legislature in June, 1884, with
out consulting those most affected
ceded to the Federal Government
the whole annexed territory under
the name of the District at Wash
ington, provided the Government
should within two years signify it,
assent.
The settlers, naturally objectinl
to such wholesale disposition o
themselves, rose up in wrath. Tht
manner and conditions of the ces
sion were repugnant and the people
felt that they had not only been tri
fled with, but subjected to two years
of anarchy and disorder. Calling
convention in August, 1884, the!
formed the state of Franklin. Th,
North Carolina legislature, realizing
its error, fastened to undo it's mis-
take and reanneXed the Washing
ton District" The inhabitants o
Franklin rejected offers of recon
cillation, and Captain Sewer, though
at first inclined to advise return o
allegiance to North Caralina, yield
ed to overwhelming public senti
ment and accepted the Governor
ship of the new state. He was inaug
urated at Watauga, March |, Use
Order of some sort was established
at least for time. A court wa
created, the militia thoroughly re
organized and peace effected wit
Indians who had been carrying on
, destructive warfare for quarter o
a century.
But peace did not long prevail
Complications arose which kept tn
young state of Franklin in a con
slant turmoil. Congress refuses
to recogize it, and North Carolin
still asserted jurisdiction. A reaC
ton, stimulated by disappointe
office-seekers ensued among thos
who had been most clamorOus 70
the new state. Jealousy of SEWER
success animated his rivals, VIII
henceforth sought to make his life
burden. The population was divid
ed into the Franklin and the Mort
Carolina factions. Elections wer
held and appointments made unde
the laws of both states. Two sets G
officers claimed authority, each nul
lifying the acts of the other. On
: faction would steal the publ
> records from the other, only to b
, treated in like manner in turn. TIL
courts Were in a chaotic condition
Wills could not be proved, title
perfected or justice administered
| No taxes were paid. Marriages pei
, formed by officials of one tactic
were not recognized by the othel
/ The determined young state sti
t fought for its life. 1t exercised eve
r Federal power, and authorized tn
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