Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-16
Brilliant Start and Ignominious
Finish OF the Tennessee=Cal=
ifornia Travelling Republic in AZ

An elaborate constitution, covering
every possible contingency, was drawn
up and adopted Al the election which
followed Captain Watkins was elected
president. the other officers being vice.
president, three judges, court OF ap-
peals judges, members of legislature
and many minor funetionaries, ranging
! down to sheriff and constable. The
army was organized with full quota
of officers and priyates.
Strictly according to law the Ten
nessee- California Travelling Republic
left Mephhis on the first day of March,
1S49 and proceeded by specially
chartered steamer up the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers to the Quitting
point at Independence, near Herea.
Ali went we'll during this portion of the
journey The legislature held ses-
sions at intervals and passed such
laws as seemed necessary, while the
courts tried and punished any casual
offenders among the citizenship.
Arriving at the end of the steamer
journey it was found that the advance
agents had about completed purchases
of equipment and supplies and that
the actual start for the gold fields
might soon be made. The caravan, as
QUILTED, consisted of 90 wagons, each
drawn by two OK teams, together
with many extra cattle and saddle
horses for the president and leading
officers. The store of supplies was
large and expensive. Early in April
all arrangements had been completed
and on the 18th the Tennessee Cali
fornia Travelling Republic set forth
upon its voyage across the plains.
Early in its history the legislature
of the Travelling Republic had passed
a law exempting all persons holding
official positions, whether by election
or appointment, from camp drudgery
and guard duty. In the enthusiasm
of the start, little attention was paid
to this law. but before 80 miles of the
plains had been traversed its practical
workings became a source of irritation
to the populace. Robust legislators,
judges and all sorts of petty legisla-
tors insisted upon the privileges at
tached to their positions. They rode
while others walked, rested in camp
while others worked and slept while
others stood guard. Murmurings were
soon heard. the privileged class was
openly reviled and before many days
had 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 APP
pealed to the supreme court, that au-
gust body upheld the right of those
holding official positions to ride and
rest and sleep.
Thus, this amazing aggregation
drifted along for days and weeks, far
up the Platte, sighting and skirting
Pixies Peak and entering upon the
mountain passes which led to the Great
Basin. Probably nothing SO ridicu-
lous in the way of an expedition ever
had existence in TIE United States.
The humor of the thing helped to keep
II alive.
Soon after passing Fort Laramie,
however, affairs came to crisis.
President Watkins, although an aristo-
crat by birth, recognized the business
of the complaints of the common citi-
zens and sought to have the obnoxious
special privilege law repealed. This,
the legislature refused to do. The
common people, thereupon, held con-
yention and adopted a formal ordi-
nance of secession, thus disrupting the
Republic and leaving the ofticeholders
with their offices, but minus anyone to
govern.
Following this open rupture, COM
promise was reached whereby the
property of the Republic was appor-
toned among the members, or the
various small groups which had been
formed. and the expedition scattered,
each group for itself.