The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
TIE UNIONS DEAD STATE.
IT WAS THE COMMONWEALTH OF
IRIkkLIN or EKINKLAND.
A Curious Chapter Of the History of the
Times Closely Following Colonial Days.
Brief Career OF the Commonwo alth.

How many people know that soon alter the
Constitution was adopted there was formed
State whose name is not now to be found on any
map Of the United States which for over q year
existed as a practically Independent common
wealth. having its own constitution and laws
making treaties and carrying N war; Whss
is now the eastern part Of Tennessee. the region
lying between the blue Ridge and the Cumter-
land and lIolsion Rivers, went at one time under
the name Of Franklin, or FARMLAND. and was In
open revolt against North Carolina, the Stats
which IL was legally bound 10 obey, and acknowi-
edged only In the vagucst way the sovereignty
Of the Federal Government This State spranR
up in n night, as IL were. flourished for brief
SPELL and then disappeared rs quickly as II had
come. II stands out one nj the strange phases
Of the national growth and development II v
a kind Of anomaly in our history.
In the years Immediately following the adoption
Of tho Constitution the scparaust movement pcr-
vaded the whole West. Tho two sections the
East and the west did not as yet understa
each other No strong mutual attachment 10
the Union bound them together. The eyes Of
the W st were turned toward the Mississippi.
al that time controlled by Spain. Its interests
centred in getting an outlet for its produce. and
the Mississippi offered the only available outlet
All manner Of schemes were discussed for secur-
ing this end. most Of which contemplated soma
form Of separation from the Union. One manfes-
tation Of this separ list movement was In the az
tcmpts 10 secure an alliance with Spain Another
was in the State Of Franklin.
This il9lston, Cunmbrnnd region in 1850 had
n - pulation Of about 10 900. II was compare
slant Indian attacks Such being the case, u
North Carolina, Of which State IL was still an
integral part In 1879 the parent State resolved
to get I'D Of so unpIoftable piece Of .c5dtcrZ
and ccdcd the region, comprising 29O00O00
acres OF lard, TO Congress. Congress- was given
two years in which 10 accept this cession, tho
Govsrnm, mt in the meantime to be administered
by North Carolina, the same as previously.
=, TINS arta,ngcm"nt was iat from satisfactory
"Coulh any region in the country he pointed OUT
which n1 r rr1t-c'ion' and strong protection.
NOR" H. The sc,I"m"nS SSwn,mHd WIN men Who, whS
had Been prescribed and hunted from their homes
who had broken Jail or escaped from the clutches
Of the law; men who had murdered their rivals
in ducs or rnn them ,hronrh ,hs body IN 'he SsrL
Yet no supreme court had heen established. Vio-
lauons OF the law were punished excerpt by the
the people had in self defense. becn compelled
TO appoint The Ihcrokees were again restles4
dig up The Ratchet pH, on III. war paint. nos
ments, burning. scalping and killing" Such
pendent action and on Aug. %, 1854, delegates
and proceeded 10 draw up temporary constitu-
ZION and petition Congress TO admit them az
State. The new state VS. named Frankin ste!
was almost as often called Farmland Arrange
ments were also made at this convention for the
calling OF another ~ draw up permanent consti-
tuition and transact such other business as might
be ncediul for the good Of the new State There
were 10 be fifteen delegates in all 1--WE from each
OF the counties
This second convention met in November, 17sA
and started on its work OF constitution making
n p Y smoothly DrednCpHaOT
factions While the delegates Of Franklin. were
Of North Carolina met repealed the previous scs
Of csssion, and granted all the reforms asked for
were taken away and II was al the same time pus
@ Ion Of S %sn s
influential In its formation now advocated its
dissolution end return to The ansnSIy Snd pro,
influential man in the whole movement was John
Sewer Governor Of the State HIS sn.sstrS dated
Huguenots migrated 10 the colonies; His father
had taken an impoTtant and erediinsle part IN
himself at Kings Mountain. Being a man Of
considerable natural ability and having been
indian sai he was sas the idol oi the pinneer
Upon the action Of North Carolina, he favored
the ahand9nmen, 81 the new Sase r b%' ,S me
with the popular tide 4 CONSIDERABLE, faction
formed a North Carolina party and sought to
execute the laws Of the older State
TsT there Ssy 1"sF1
AT first in the majority and carried things on a.
they pleased Vigorous measures were taken
| az ainst the Indians Sewer, whose renown as an
| Indian fighter extended all over the Southwest.
led several successful expeditions against the
Indians. wheedling them out Of theiL lands The
| whole trnpcStuous course OF this State was AZ
tended by constant warfare or pickering with the
/ rel however. soon
came to the fore; and the Sewer Government dis
sappearct. In March i7ss' the STATE 81 Frank
| The parent State granted general amnesty
to all participants in the movement with the ex.
and taken 10 MorG anton for trial chronicle
OF the time says: a,
mountains to the rescue Of their chief the hero
ofthirty battles Their plan was, Gccording to The
testimony Of an eyewitness 70 obtain his RELIEF
burst open the prison doors and bear of their
prisoner 10 the mountains; The frontier village
together by the anne NJ the prisoner and the noto-
rlcty of the recent =, cnt1.
THE rescuinr party was six in number, four
| Of whom concealed themselves near the town.
whila the other two Cozby and Evans went for
ward int j. These two rode on 10 point near
the court House, tied their horses. hid their rihcs
shirts common costume Of the period
door a famous mare Of Sewers. and stood there
holding tho bride carclcssy apparently an I'M
concerned spectator Ol me scene around
"Colby entered the Court House and saw his
leader arraigurd before the Judge, undergoing
trial for high crimes and msdeaeanors The
prisoner turned his head and their eyes met Sew:
Ter knew that rescue was near, but warned
by a shake Of Cosbys head, he made no sign,
although a tcar Of grateful Joy was observed "a
steal down his hronErh and manly countennnco
There was pause IN the proceedings Cozby
stepped before the Judge and said in quick,
emphatic manner that made every one start;
Judge, have you done with that NAM
Al this moment Sewer caught glimpse Of
his favori,c mare through the opened door oi
the Court House. Taking advantage Of the con
fusion caused by Cozby's question he sprana
TO the door lCapcd 10 the saddle, and broke away
through the crowd.
eyes, said a voice In the Court tIouse''
The coniederGtes were soon together al ths
rendezvous outside the town. That night they
slept at the house Of a friend twenty miles away
and we're safe ON the other side OF the Ale
ghcnieS. The next year Sewer was elected
the Legislature az North Carolina, and on hii
presenting himself at the capital, an act OF OBJ
lviDn was passed and he took his scat in triumph
Thus ended tho State Of Franklin.
Perhaps the most interesting feature OF The
career Of this short lived state was tho mono
tary system which lts Legislature formulated
Money was n scare article In the West Of thos.
davs: once in a great while Spanish millod
! oil