The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-07
THE COLONY OF NORTH
CAROLINA

Continued From Page Twelve.)
allegiance to the State Of their na
dvity, forsaking their grand and NOBLE
leader, Col. John Sewer. In October
1888, the State Of North Carolina had
a bench warrant issued against Gov.
ernor John Sewer for high treason
The warrant was placed IN the hands
Of the Governors arch enemy, Capt
T1fton. who by strategy arrested and
spirited Sewer across the mountains
to M~organton, N. c., and lodged him in
jail. Had the destroying angel passed
through the land, and destroyed the
first born in every section, the feeling.
Of the hardy frontiersrnen would not
have been more ~incensed, had th&
chiefs and warriors Of the whole
Cherokee nation fallen upon and
butchered the dTfenceless settlers, The
feeling of retaliation and revenge
would net nave been more deeply
awakened in their bosomS-
The news Of the Governors arrest
spread over the principality
with almost the quickness Of thought
That night and all next day, from the
east, west, north and south the hardy
pioneers poured into the Capital
thousands of Infatuated men. They
shouted threats and imprecations on
rifton and North Carolina At last
cooler heads c~ounseIied and q bold
StIOkc WdS deCl0tu I'LL n Uduu Ok
less than a dozen men. including two
Of the Governors sons, 500 left in
not pursuit. They crossed he noun
aims determined to rescue their be-
loved leader or leave their bones to
bleach upon the hills Of western North
Carolina. 1t was learned that the
trial was to take place at M~organtown'
n Western North Carolina, and thith-
IT this daring band, with relays OF
fresh horses, rapidly journeyed. Their
plan was to obtain the Governors re-
lease by strategern, if possible, If not
successful In this, then they were de-
termined to burn the town. and storm
the jail while the confusion over the
are held the peoples attention. When
the rescuing party reached Morgan
ton, court was in session, with the
prisoner before the bar Of justice, tha
members Of the rescuing party mixed
with the crowd and easily passed off
es strangers attracted by common
curiosity. The leader entered the court
room and as his eye met the gaze OF
Sewer, the Governor knew at once
that rescue was at hand, but neither
betrayed their thoughts. During q
pause il the proceedings. the leader
Of the ~rescuing party stepped In front
Of the Judge and said: Judge, are
you through with that man " pointing
to Sewer. In the meantime Sewer
had caught a glimpse Of his favorite
SodaiS ~ On
the court house door with the bridal
rein care1essly thrown across the stad-
die. Taking advantage OF the confu-
sion caused by the stranger interrupt
ing the court, Sewer sprang to the
door. thence into the saddle and with
the rapidity Of thought his brave fol-
lowers joined him and triumphanty
carried him back to the state Of
k
Thus we see that the State OF
Franklin was the immediate offspring
Of the Revolution of the Regulators
eliminating in the Battle of Alamance
and their Independence was a reality
before It was dreamed Of elsewhere
In the little commonwealth of the
Stat Of Franklin" the British flag
was never unfuried. and no British
officer ever trod the soil. They paid
tribute to no government on earth ex-
cep their own. Here an outraged peo-
pie outlaWed and oppressed by British
tyranny, set to the people Of the new
world the dangerous example of erect
ing themselves into a state. separate
and distinct from and Independent OF
the authority of the English crown
where they enjoyed freedom, that
twin sister Of virtue. the brightest OF
all the spirits that descend in the
train of religion from the throne Of
God, leading man up again to the
early glories OF his being, the angel
from whose presence happiness
spreads like the sunrise over the dark
ness Of the land, at the moving OF
whose sceptre-knowledge. peace, forti-
tude and wisdom descend, at the voice
Of whose ump more than British
tyranny is broken and all men are
free and equal.
Author of 1ASome Neglected History
OF North Carolina embc Of tho
Society sons Of the Revolution, New
York Society of the Founders and
Patriots OF America and Registrar
General of the General Court OF
Same.
! WILLIAM EDWARD FITCH. N. d