St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-01-28
STATE OF FRANKLIN,
An Interesting Chapter in the Early History of
the Country.

An Interesting Chapter In the Early History OF
the Country.
The state Of Franklin once formed in
area, if not in population, an important
part of the Union. 1t had it's executive.
legislative, and judicial departments,
exercised governmental functions, main.
tanned respectable militia, fourished
apace, and then, after a varied expert.
ence, completely disappeared from the
"slsterfood OF states" From historians
the state OF Franklin has received scant
attention, and to the majority of the
present generation its identity with the
state OF Tennessee seems almost as myth
lcal as that oil Plato's Atlantis with the
American Continent.
A few thousand mountaineers in a re.
mote wilderness, Infused with the princi.
pals which inspired the Revolution, had
banded together and formed state gov.
eminent of their own. With John Sewer,
an ideal frontiersman, as the hero. with
local self-govcrnment as the animating
motive, with variety OF plots and coun-
terDlots to lend picturesqueness of Incl
dent, with phrases Of comedy interspersed
now and then with episodes truly magic,
the drama was acted out amid the noun.
tain regions of Tennessee.
When the American Revolution broke
out, what is now the state of Tennessee
was an unorganized, sparsely settled ter
rltory. In 1776 its inhabitants, under
the leadership Of Captain Sewer, pc
titioned the North Carolian legislature
to be annexed to that state in order to
contribute their share towards national
independence. AS the expenses of the
war bore heavily on the old North state,
her legislature was only too glad to d.
vide the Burden. The petition was
granted, and what is now Tennessee
formed part ofNorth Carolina until the
close of the Revolution. AS it had now
become source OF expenses rather than
help, the North Carolina legislature in
June, 1884, without consulting those
most affected, coded to the Federal gov.
ernment 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 Directing to
such an Wholesale disposition of them
selves, rose up in wrath. The matter
and conditions of the cession were re-
pugnant, and the people felt that they
had not only been trhed with, but sub
Jected to two years OF anarchy and dis
order. Calling convention in August,
l7S4, they formed the state of Franklin.
The North Carolina legislature, realizing
its error, FASTENED to undo it's mistake
and reanneXed the washington dis
trct." The inhabitants of Franklin re-
jected offers Of reconciliation, and Cap
tain Sewer, though at first inclined to
advise a return OF allegiance to North
Carolina, yielded to an overwhelming
public sentiment, and accepted the gov
ernorship of the new state. He was in
augurated at Watauga on March 1,
1855. Some sort of order was now es-
tablshed-at least, for time. A court
was created, the militia thoroughly re-
organized, and peace effected with In
dians.
But peace did not long prevail. Com
plications arose which kept the young
state of Franklin in constant turmoil.
Congress still asserted jurisdiction.
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 lille burden. The popula-
ton was divided into the Franklin and
the North Carolina factions Elections
were held and appointments made under
the laws OF both states. Two sets of
officers claimed authority, each nulliIying
the acts of the other. One faction would
steal the public records from the other,
only to be treated in like manner in turn.
The courts were in chaotic condition.
Wills could not be proved, titles perfected,
or justice administered. No taxes were
paid. Marriages performed by officials
OF one faction were not recognized by the
other.
Still the determined young state
fought for its lite. 1t exercised even fed
eral power and authorized the coinage
OF specie, though it's chief medium of ex-
change continued 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 representative was a model
OF eloquence, iervid with the rhetoric of
the era. But it fell upon unheeding ears.
No recognition would be made of the re-
belious state.
The last session Of the Franklin egis-
lature was held in September in 1887.
That there was then no intention of sur
rendering is evident from one Of the acts
of the legislature, which has been pre-
served, and is interesting as an example
of primitive financiering. 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 of the
same, that from the LIST day Of January,
1888, the salaries OF the officers of this