The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-15
STATE OF FRANKLIN.
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER IN THE
EARLY HISTORY or THE COUNTRY.


AN INTERESTING CHAPTER IN THE
EARLY HISTORY or THE COUNTRY.
Whsn Whas n Now Tennessee Was . PsA
of North Carolina, tho District Of Wash
sngton cad IN Independents stste--An
Act Of tho Legislature.
The state of Frnnklin onco formed In
area, " not In population, an important
part of the Union. IL had its executive,
legislstive and judicial departments, ex-
orcised governmental functions, maintain
cd respectable militia. dourished apacc,
and then, after varied experience, COM
plately disappeared from the "sisterhood
Of states" From historians the state OF
Franklin has received scant attention, and
to the majority Of the present generation
tts identity with the state Of Tennessee
seems almost as mythical as that OF Plato's
Atlantis with tho American continent
A few thousand mountainous, In TO
mote Wilderness, infused with the princi-
pies which inspired the Revolution, had
banded together and formed state gov.
ernment Of their own. With John Sewer,
an ideal frontiersman, as the hero, with
local self government az the apimating
motive, with variety of plots and coun-
terplots TO lend pioturesqueness OF tncident,
with phases Of comedy interpreted now
and then with episodes truly tragic, the
drama was acted out amid the mountain
regions Of Tennesseo.
When the American Revolution broke
out, what ID now the state Of Tennessee
was an unorganized, sparsely settled ter.
ritofy. In 1776 its inhabitants, under the
leadership of Captain Sewer, petitioned
tho North Carolina Legislature to bo an.
nexed TO that state In order to contribute
their share toward national Independence.
Az the expenses of the war bore heavily
on the Old North State, her Legislature
was only boo glad to divide the burden.
The petition was granted, and what IL
now Tennessee formed part Of North Car.
olina until the close of the Revolution. AZ
II had now become q source Of expense
rather than help, the North Carolina leg.
those most affected, oeded to the federal
government the whole annexed territory
under the name of the District Of Wash.
ington, provided the government should
within two years signify Its assent.
The settlers, naturally objecting 10 suoh
Wholesale disposition Of themselves, rose
mp IN wrath. The manner and conditions
Of the oession were repugnant, and the
people felt that they~had not only been
trihed with, but subjected TO two years OF
anarchy and disorder. Calling q conven.
ton In August 1884, they formed the
state of franklin. The North Carolina
legislature, realizing Its error, hastened to
undo It's mistake and reannexed the
Washington district" The inhabitants OF
franklin rejected offers for reconciliation,
and Captain Sewer, though at first In.
clined to advise return of allegiance to
North Carolina, yielded to an overwhelm.
ing public sentiment and accepted the gov.
ernorship of tho new state He was In.
augurated at Watauga on March I. 1885.
Some sort Of order was now established,
1T least for time A court was created,
the militia thoroughly reorganized and
peace effected with Indians.
But peace did not long prevail Com.
plications arose which kept the young
state Of franklin In constant turmoil
Congress still asserted Jurisdiction. A re-
action, stimulated by disappointed Office
seekers, ensued among those who had been
most clamorous for the new state. Jeal
ousy of Sewers success animated his RI
walls, who henceforth sought to make his
life burden. The population was divided
into the franklin and the North Carolina
factions Elections were held and appoint
rnents made under the laws of both states
Two sets of officers claimed authority, each
nullifying the acts Of the other. One fac
ton would steal the public records from
the other, only to be treated in like man.
ner In turn. The courts were in ohoatic
condition. Wills could not be proved, IT,
ties perfected or justice administered. No
taxes were paid. Marriages performed by
officials of ono faction were not recognized
by the other.
Still the determined young state fought
for its life. 1t exercised even federal power
and authorized the coinage of specie,
though Its chief medium of exchange con-
tinued to be the skins of wild animals
Finally emissaries were sent to the North
Carolina legislature to make overtures of
peace. The address of Franklin's repre-
sentative was model of eloquenoe, fervid
with the rhetoric Of the era. But It fell
upon unheeding ears. No recognition
would be made Of the rebellious state
The last session of the FRANKLIN legisla
ture was held in September, 1887. That
there was then no intention of surrender
ing Is evident from ono Of tho acts of the
legislature, which has been preserved and
is interesting as an example OF primitive
hnanciering. The law Is as follows:
BE 1t. enacted by the general assembl,
OF the state Of Franklin, and IL Is hereby
enacted by the authority of the same, that
from tho lst day Of January, 1888, the sal
aries OF the officers Of this commonwealth
be as follows, to wit:
"His exoellency the governor. per an.
mum, 1000 deerskins.
"His honor the chief justice, 500 deer.
skins
"The secretary to his exoellency the gov.
ernor, 500 raocoon skins.
Treasurer of the state, $50 racooon
skins
Each county clerk. 800 beaver skins.
CLERK house Of commons, 300 racooon
skins.
Members Of tho assembly, Per diam,
raccoon skins.
justices fec for warrant, muskraa
akin.
Constable for serving a warrant, /
mink skin.
xc<l Ia -