The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-15
TRAVELING REPUBLIC AND IFS
 CURIOUS JOURNEY 10 COAST
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Kansas City. Mo., April 15.--Thfs- date sixty five years ago saw the deAs parture from what is now Kansas City of one of the most grotesque and oddly formed expeditions which ever set sail upon the American plains the Teunessee-Ca California Travelling Repubifo, peculiar experiment in al-; zruism having its origin at Memphis Tennessee
 Late in January, 1S4S, gold was discovered near Sacramento, Califor- q nia, and the news flashed to every part of the civilized world Throughout the eastern and southern states thousands were fred with an almost insane de- sire to reach the new Eldora.do; but. between the farthest outpost and the Pacific Coast stretched over 1Dz00 miles of practically uncharted, In- dian-infested mountain and plain. It was to overcome these obstacles that the Traveling 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 com plete government, with executive, jul diciary. legislative and military. branches, whereby all who desired to become citizens thereof, up to a cer- tain limit, might be assured of safe passage to the fab1ed gold-de1ds.
 
 found little trcublef in securing volun Heer subjects and during December, 1842, a meeting was held at Mem pEfs to organize provisional govern sznent About seEenty-flve volunteers from various parts of the south att tended and took the oath of alIegi-, ance. cabin p1edEing himself to con- tribute s1.O0O 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 le- galIy 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 election elected president. the other officers being vice president, three judges, court of appeals judges, members of Legislature and many minor function aries, ranging down to sheriff and constabIe The army was organized with q full quota OF officers and pr;f- tvatesL
 Strictly according to law, the Ten ,nessee-Californfa Travelling Republic left Memphis on the first day of March, 1S49. and proceeded by a especially chartered steamer up the lnGisszssi ppi and Missouri rivers to the outftting point at Independence near hers- All went well during this por- fioa of the Journey. The legislatur he'd sessions at intervals and passed such laws as seemed necessary while &Ee courts tried and punished any ca waal offenders among the citizenship.
 Arriving at the end of the steamer Journey 1t was found that advance agents had about completed purchas- ss of equipment and supplies and that the actual start for the gold deIds might soon be made. The l.aravan. as eut1tted, consisted CT twenty wagons, each drawn by two tsx-teaus. together with many extra, Hattie and saddle horses for the presi- lent and leading officers. The store Early in April all arrangements had 1een completed and on the fifteenth fne Tennessee California Traveling 2 Iaepublic set forth upon it's voyage across the plains.
 Early in its history the legislature Isf the Travelling Republic had passed 2 law Aexempting< all persons holding sbafcfaI positions. whether by election br appointment, from camp drudgery and guard duty. In the enthusiasm .lof the start. little attention was paid 10 this law, but before fifty miles of the plains had been traversed it's prac- 1ical workings became source of ir- irritation to the populace.
 Robust legislators, judges and all 5gorts of petty officials insisted upon the privileges attached to their po- Eifions- They rode while others walk cd. rested in camp while others work ed and slept while others stood guard. privileged class was openly reviled and before many days had elapsed m1tfny and rebellion were rife in the HkaveIine Republic
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