The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-08-10

purpose or declaring themselves Tree
from all foreign element The assem-
blage not only met, but framed docu-
ment containing the principles of free
dom. The period intervening between
the Declaration of Mecklenburg" and
the Declaration of Independence,
being over one year History is plain
and out-spoken as to the existence of
these two instruments. Often we find
mentioned that the illustrious author
in drawing the declar alton of 1776, fol-
lowed closely the construction Of the
Mecklenburg resolutions, but further
more, utter silence leads us captive In
the advancing stages of the scientific
world, from the darkest tombs of some
catacomb, have been exhumed some
simple stone Or inscription which has
demolished many concrete theory.
Then, equally so, in the realms of lit
erature we often gather some authentic
but obscure historical fact, which es-
tablishes itself with great effect
Where was American liberty and in
dependence first asserted openly? We
have seen that the Declaration Of In
dependence, 1776, was preceded By that
of the Mecklenburg people. From
these conditions and a standpoint of
record, and without anything to the
contrary, we must decide between the
two events as to which will answer the
above question. But does there exist
anything to show that prior to the
mentioned dates that any kind of indie
pendence was declared, and that for
mer allegiance to the British crown
had been renounced? / find that in
East Tennessee, three years before the
execution of the MecIenburg charter, a
company of liberty loving people had
settled on the. banks of the Watauga
river and established republican form
of government. In the depths Of the
forest primeval this government gave
protection to its loyal subjects.
This log hewn and rustic capitol
stood on an elevation overlooking ad-
| jacent plains on the north and east, on
the south and west its image sparkled
on the calm bosom of Watauga's tide.
The building was located on what was
afterwards known as the Cobb and
Massengill farm In Sullivan county and
near the present home of the DeVaults.
For the present let us see what the few
writer's say concerning this Watauga
government.
The prominent historians Of our
country make scarcely any mention of
it, but see what has been gathered from
unpublished records, and those writer's
who do make some mention: ''The
state of Tennessee is within the limits
of the territory granted by Queen Eli
zabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh, and the
subsequent land grants made by
Charles III, to the Lords proprietors Of
Carolina. AS it became settled, it was
recognized as portion of North Caro-
lima, but the pioneers as early as 1772,
asserted the rights of self-government
, and the constitution of what was known
as fhe "Watauga" government was the
, first written compact for civil rule any
where west of the Allegheny noun
tains. "-Poore's Federal and State con
stitutions of the U. S., page 1854.
'"The beginnings OF the Bench ant
Bar of Tennessee are founded in th,
; history Of the Watauga Association
: The government of the Watauga wa
! entrusted to committee of thirteel
persons, who presumably held the pow
0 or of legislation, while the executiv
e and judicial functions were lodged il
: five commissioners or judges, chosel
I by the thirteen from their own mum
Der. II is not certain, but probabl
/. that the powers were so appropriated.
. -Caldwell's Bench and Bar of Tennes
> see, page /.
j. "The Watauga Association was tn
. outgrowth of that desire for self gov
: ernment which is stronger in the Eng
lish-speaking people than in any Other
9 Articles Of Association were drawn u
! and signed, the signers pledging them
j. selves to abide by the decisions OF thos
/ in authority. A committee of thirtee
Ii was elected, with general legislativ
d powers. These elected five commiss
J. oners from their number, who coul
, decide what the law was and who ha
l. power to enforce it. History of Tel
n nessee, PheIan, page 90, sections 30 an
Q 81. The Watauga Association existe
n in 1772. Ramsey says:
10 "The government was paternal on
,r patriarchal, simple and moderate, bV
D. summary and firm. It was satisfactol
e. for a number Of years.
4 With these citations, we can readi
p see what position the Watauga goverl
le ment lakes among those advocated |
Y. pamphlet and published historic
le Does not the Watauga Association
" 1772, present clear claim for the fir
y form OF written independence? / thir
y it does. Let us examine Poore in Il
N statements he makes about the Wata
III ga government. He says; cit was Il
t. first written compact for civil rule al
O. where west of the Allegheny mou
lg tains." What does this imply?
es means that thev povarued themselv