The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-04-25

KANSAS CITY, MO-, April IL
Sixty-five years ago saw he depart
ure from what is nov Kansas City
OF one of the most grotesque n
oddly formed expeditions which ever
set sail upon the American plains
the Tennessee-California travelling
republic, a peculiar experiment in al
truism having its origin at Memphis,
Tenn. Late in January, 1S4S, gold
was discovered near Sacram' Ito,
Cal. and the news sped to every part
of the civilized world. Throughout
the eastern and southern states thou
sands were fired with an almost in
sane desire to reach the new Edo
RADIO: but between the farthest out
post and the Pacific coast stretched
over 100 miles of practically I'M
charted, Indian-infested mountain
and plain. 1t was to overcome these
obstacles that the travelling republic
was formed.
Studying the problem of quickly
reaching California, Captain Joseph
S. Watkins, a Virginian, who had
served in the legislature of that
state, conceived the idea of forming
a complete government, with execu-
tive, judiciary, legislative and mill
tary branches, whereby all who de-
sired to become citizens thereof, up
to a certain limit, might be assured
of safe passage to the tabled gold
fields.
Announcing his plan, Watkins
found little trouble in securing volun-
teer subjects and during December,
1S4S, a meeting was held at Mem
phis to organize a provisional govern
ment. About seventy-iive volunteers
from various parts of the south at
tended and took the oath of alleg-
fence, each %pledging himself to con-
tribute $1,000 in cash to the treas
ury and to abide by the rule of the
majority in every particular until the
republic should be formally and leg
ally ~disbanded in California. The
citizenship was later increased to the
full limit, 100.
An elaborate constitution. covering
every possible contingency, was
drawn up and adopted. At the cleo
ton which followed Captain Watkins
was elected president, the other Of
ficers being vice president, three
judges, court of appeals judges, mem
bers of legislature and many minor
functionaries, ranging down to sher
if and constable. The army was or
ganized with a full quota of officers
and privates.
Strictly according to law the Ten
nessee-California travelling republic
left Memphis on the first day of
March, 1S49, and proceeded by a spe-
cially chartered steamer up the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri rivers to the
outfitting point at Independence,
near here. All went well during this
portion of the journey. The legisla-
ture held sessions at intervals and
passed such laws as seemed neces-
sary, while the courts tried and pun
ished any casual offenders among
the citizenship.
Arriving at the end of the steamer
journey it was found that that ad-
vance agents had about completed
purchases of equipment and supplies
and that the actual start for the gold
fields might soon be made. The car
AVIAN, as outfitted, consisted of TWEEN
ty wagons, each drawn by two OK
teams, together with many extra cat
tie and saddle horses for the presi-
dent and leading officers. The store
of supplies was large and expensive.
Early in April all arrangements had
been completed and on the fifteenth
the Tennessee-California travelling re-
public set forth upon it voyage across
the plains.
Early in it's history the legislature
of the travelling republic had passed
a law exempting all persons holding
official positions, whethe.' by cleo
tion or appointment, from camp
drudgery and guard duty. In the
enthusiasm of the start, little atten-
ton was paid to this law. but before
fifty miles of the plains had been
%traversed it's practical workings be.
came a source of irrigation to the
populace. Robust legislators, judges
and all sorts of petty legislators in
sisted upon the privileges attached to
their positions. They rode while
others walked, rested in camp while
others worked and slept while others
stood guard. Murmurings were 500
heard, the privileged class wa openly
reviled and before many days and
elapsed, mutiny and rebellion were
rife in the travelling republic.
The class enjoying exemptions
pointed to the constitution and re-
fused concessions. Acts of insubordi-
nation were promptly punished by
the lower court and when cases were
appealed to the supreme court. that