The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-15
The travelling Republic an ex-
pertinent in AItruism, Proved
Dismal Failure--A Story of the
Gold Rush TO California

, parturc from what is now Kansas CIV
Of one OF the most grotesque and odd
lB formed expeditions which ever set
sail upon the American plainS-the
Tennessee California TRAVELLING Re-
public, peculiar experiment in altiu-
.sm having It's urigin at Memphis.
Tennessee. late in January, l>lN gold
WAS discovered near Sacramento, CALI
furnia. and the news sped Ia every part
Of the civilized world. Throughout the
eastern and southern states thousands
We're fired with an almost insane de-
sire 10 reach the new Eldurado, but
between the farthes, outpost and the
Pacific Coast stretched over zoo miles
~ practically unCharted, Indian in
tested mountain and plain. 1t was To
overcome these obstacles that the
| Travelling Republic was formed
Studying the problem of quickly
reaching california, captain Joseph :,
Watkins. a Virginian, who had served
i'm the legislature OF that state, con-
,eiyed the idea Of forming a complete
government. with executive, judiciary |
! leg islatiye and military branches, |
whereby all who desired To become
citizens thereof up Ia certain limit, |
might Dee assured Of safe passage to
the tabled gold-tlelds.
Announcing his plan, Watkins found
little trouble in securing volunteer
! subjects and during December lS4N, |
| a meeting was held at Memphis To- or
ganzc provisional government.
About seventy-fve volunteers from
various parts of the south attended
and took the oath Of allegiance, each !
pledging himself TO contribute $1,000
In cash 10 the treasury and to abide by
the rule Of the majority in every par
! ticular until the republic should he
formally and legally disbanded in Cal
! fornia. The citizenship was later in
creased to the full limit, 100.
An elaborate constitution, covering
every possible contingency. was drawn
up and adopted. At the election which
| followed Captain Watkins was elected
president, the other officers being vice
president, three Judges court of APP
| peals judges, members of legislature
and many minor functionaries ranging
down To sheriff and constable. The
army was organized with a fun quota
Of officers and privates.
Scheme Put Into Effect.
Strictly according to law the Ten
nessee- California Travelling Republic
left Memphis on the first day of March
| lS49, and proceeded by "A specially
| chartered steamer up the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers To the Quitting
point at Independence near here. All
| went well during this portion Of the
| journey. The Legislature held sessions
at intervals and passed such laws as
J seemed necessary, while the courts
tried and punished any casual Offend
ors among the citizenship.
! Arriving at the end of the steamer
| journey it was found that that advance
agents had about completed purchases
of equipment and supplies ana that the
actual start for the gold fields might
soon be made. Tie caravan, as out
| fitted, consisted of twenty wagons,
each drawn by two OX-tcams, together
with many extra cattle and saddle
horses for the president and leading
officers. The store of supplies was
large ANA expensive Early in April
all arrangements had been completed
and on the fifteenth the Tennessee
California Travelling Republic set forth
upon its voyage across the plains.
Early in it's history the legislature
Of the Travelling Republic had passed
! fntr al hnlIipp
official positions, whether by election
or appointment from camp drudgery
and guard duty. In the enthusiasm If
the start little attention was paid To
this law, but before fifty miles of the
plains had been travcrscd its practical
workings became a source of irritation
to the populace. Robust legislators,
Judges and all sorts of petty lcgisla
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 point
ed to the constitution and refused
concessions. Acts Of INSTRUMENTATION
were promptly punished by the lower
court and when cases were appealed
To the supreme court. that august body
upheld the right of those holding Off
cial positions to ride and rest and
sleep.
Breaks Into Small Groups.
Thus. this amazing aggregation
driftcd along for days and weeks, far
up the Platte. sighting and skirtine,
Pixies Peak and entering upon the
mountain passes which led to the
Great Basin. Probably nothing so ri
diculous in the way of an expedition
ever had existence i'm the United
States. The humor Of the thing helped
To keep IL alive.
Soon after passing Fort Laramie,
however. affairs came to crisis.
President Watkins, although an aris-
tocrat by birth. recognized the business
of the complaints of the common citi-
! zens and sought To have the obnoxious
| gpapfaI- renaaleI This