The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-06
THE FATHER OF TENNESSEE.

tribution TO Statuary Hall, at Wash
ington, shall be statues of Andrew
jackson and John Sewer. Every
American school boy twelve years old
is acquainted with the principal events
in the life of "Old Hickory" Not so
however. as 10 John Sewer. Even the
older general reading public knows OF
him and his achievements but vague
~. Yet few men figured more prom
inently, picturesquely. dramatically
and usefully in the preformative. and
the formative periods of the republic.
and the more immediate subsequent
period. than this native Virginian.
John SEWER. who was born in Rock
mgham County. Va. in 1745, was a
soldier of both the Indian and Revo-
lutionary Wars. hero of Point Pleas
ant and Kings Mountain. statesman.
and the first promoter of higher edu-
cation west of the Alleghanies. where
he established Washington College.
Tennessee. The space he fills IN
American history. however. Is perhaps
more largely associated with the or
ganization of the State OF Franklin. in
which he was the leading spirit and
which at one time threatened civil
war. into which there was the pros
pect Of Virginia being dragged. ow-
ing to the discomfort in her western
counties Colonel Arthur Campbell
county lieutenant of Washington Coun-
~. had gone so far as to petition Con-
gress to divide Virginia on the Allie
shanies, and the result would have
been. it is believed. union OF the sep
arated territory with the State of
Franklin.
In his Life Of Patrick Henry the
late William Writ Henry gives this
account of the formation of Franklin
and the influences that led thereto:
During the year 1855 there was an
effort to divide the State OF North
Carolina against her consent. Whlch
threatened great danger to Virginia
in June. 1884. North Carolina rendered
a deed of cession to the United States
of her territory west of the mountains,
now constituting the State of Tennes-
see The act was to be void unless
accepted by Congress within two years
and North Carolina was to retain her
was decided to the United states At
the same time the Land Office for the
coded lands was closed. The people
of the district had long be dissatisfied
with the protection afforded them by
the State. and now concluded that Con-
gress would not accept the deed Tor
two years. and that in the meantime
they would be cared for by neither
government. A move WAS commenced
which resulted in the formation of
separate government for the counties
west of the mountains These called
themselves the State of Franklin. and
although North Carolina repealed her
act of cession of 17S4-S5. they persist
ed in their separate organization. Col
onel John Sewer. who was for aban-
doning the movement after the re-
healing act Of North Carolina. was
elected and induced TO serve as Gov
ernor"
John SEWER had been elected Gov
ernor of the new state. first Governor.
prior to the acceptance to which Mr..
Henry refers Within sixty days af-
ter being induced to serve he had
constituted q Superior Court. reorgan-
lied the militia. and founded the col
lege above named Later trouble
broke out with North Carolina. Gov
error Caswen issued a proclamation
declaring the new government in re
volt. and ordered il to be abandoned,
and in the violence that followed dur
ing the attempt to subdue IL. the set
tiers submitted SEWER was captured
and imprisoned. but rescued. and the
country was coded 10 the United States
SEWER. however. then took the oath
Of allegiance to the United states gov
eminent. was commissioned brigadier-
general Of the section. was chosen to
Congress as the first representative
Of the Valley Of the Mississippi" con-
Quoted several successful campaigns
AGAINST the Indians. and when the
territory was admitted into the Union
as the state Of Tennessee he was
made. the first Governor. serving three
consecutive terms. He was thrice
elected 10 Congress from Tennessee.
and filled several other high positions
by Federal government appointment
in a sense. John SEWER was as much
the father Of Tennessee as Washing
ton was the father Of his country. lie
laid the foundation Of the state. and
10 man did more to build the state
thereon.
Another interesting fact associating
him and his Franklin venture closely
with the early history Of Virginia is
that william Graham. the first Prcsi-
dent Of old Liberty Hall Academy, the
proreuitor Of Washington and Lee Unit
vc-sity. is said % have written the
Constitution 81 the state Of Franklin
Nothing could Re more mete than that
Tennessee should be represented ia
Statuary Hail by statue Of John Sc
,ler. not only on h5r own account. but
ln rccoenition Of his place IN our his
tor, as a great national character.
Richard = whaicy. a Charleston
lawyer. VIII probably succeed the late
george s. Legarc a. Representative
Boz congress from th- Firs; south Caro-
I.rr r..fHf.f NJ Whafrr an afuuuue