The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-12-06

s 20 take DOssnssion = hioun-
VIII nithts lands and population fno sae,i
alons co occupy the fertile trac4a
othApe io~sA and the Clinch. Will
berland. the distant Cum
II hand Of destiny va no, ,4-.,-
80 It's inevitable blows, ana tba -
ara 80 ~dborlglnes, pressed Nv the 80
~ 80 .feorgians at the Soutb INA
.oilhian from the North ware
- noN 10 make desperate efforts
homes. 1Heif ancestral
0uch was the situation wbap +ba
assembly met IN April ,7s4 100.
0eclihs Alexander Martin Governor
oonsfess in sore straits had nrpa3
- N..ates TO cede their unsettled West
- - territories for the benefit IF the
olioh- me North Carolina Iegisia-
tuie, adopting the suggestion, offered
20 ceue her entire territory bevond
me mountains, although it was thought
- contain one-tenth Of her pODuIa-
Ion; The proceeds OF the ad
idho mus coded Were to be for the
pavH1ent of the creditors of the
9hl,ed states, This measure wa
ueetleu by some as unjust, Weakening
tne security OF the creditors Of the
state and depriving the inha bitan ts
or a chief asset for the payment Of
their public Indebtedness. William r.
L'dFle made vigorous opposition. and
under his leadership General Person
aho ahlrty-slx other members filed a
strong protest against it. In particu-
lar it met with the disfavor of the
representatives Of the interior mi
ana even some OF those from beyond
the fountains strenuously objected.
But the purpose to contribute to the
common fund Of the Union was strong,
and, besides, there were both political
and tcsI raaSnro for tro o-.;-
n inhabitants of the territory were
entirely segregated, and the admins
tratlon o. public affairs, rendered. diff
ficult as we'll as expensive by the re-
moteIess of the region cut off by i'm
paSsable mountains. had been SO I'M
that many Of the people
there were disconnected and desired
separation. And so. despite much
earnest opposition. the bill was hastily
passed without the subject having been
discussed at all among the people Of
the State. There were, however. sew
erai conditions attached to the dona-
ton. 1t was to be accepted by Con-
| gress within twelve months. AS q
provision for orderly government, the
territory was to have the North Caro-
lima Constitution, until the inhabitants
themselves should change it: and there
was to be no regulation made by Con-
! sress tending to the emancipation Of
SiLN SSy oAiI1l Aooii SlIohtA VIC 81 t'Ito
by the new State itself. This last
condition was inserted because Con
gress had already manifested a dispo-
sition to legislate against slavery, and
when an was being framed
for the government Of the Northwes
territory, in 1884. q provision prohibit
ing slavery in that esion failed only
by the vote Of Richard Dobbs Spaight,
one of the North Carolina delegates,
much to the irritation of Thomas JEFF
ferson. who ardently urged the pro
vision. Three years later, in 1857,
when a secon ordinance was passed
Jefferson was successful. and slavery
was forever prohibited in that e
tensive region.
There was a further provision in the
act of cession that, until Congress
should accept the gift, the sovereignty
and jurisdiction Of North Carolina. III
and over the territory and the inhabi-
taras thereof, should remain IN all re-
spects as If the act had not been pass
ed. SO with respect to government
in the territory, the existing govern
ment was not disturbed: nor was il
to be disturbed until Congress should
| accept the gift; and then it was pro-
| vided that the Constitution under
which the people had lived should CON
tinue to be their Fundamental law un-
til changed by themselves
Subject to these conditions. Nortii
Carolina. In June, 1884, made the ten
| der of one-half Of her territory, al
ready somewhat settled and with pop
ulation pouring into II. for the benefit
OF the Union. Truly it bespoke q high
patriotism. No other State had been
SO liberal in sustaining the common
| government. If during Il war North
Carolina's contributions for the cause
had been unsurpassed. now In time OF
| peace she again set an eNaInpie for her
sisters to follow.
Some unexpected events, however,
quickly followed the passage OF the act.
| When the measure was being consid-
| cred some Of the representatives from
the counties embraced favored its pas
sage, While others stoutly opposed it.
The sentiment Of the leaders was di-
vided; but the people, for the most
part, hailed it with satisfaction. tor
some time courts had not been regular
w held beyond the mountains, and
the laws were not being fully enforced.