The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-24
SKINS WERE Cash
Governor of State of Franklin
Got 1000 a Year.
This Was a State Not Written
81 About in Histories.
TOOK in WHAT is TENNESSEE
Had Governor, Legislature and
Regular Government.
Rebel Governor Walked Out of
Court During His Trial.

The rise and fall of Babylon and
Rome has been graphically depicted
but historians have overlooked one
little point in the history of the United
States that is really interesting. Prob
ably not five persons in Kansas know
that at one time, there was a state in
the Union called Franklin. 1t was
completely organized politically, with
a governor. a legislature, courts of
Justice ami even a body of militia.
Franklin was organized in 1884, and
comprised a wild mountain territory
destined ultimately to become the
state of Tennessee. Some time prior
to the opening of the Revolutionary
war, a few thousand settlers in this
region asked the legislature OF the
state of North Carolina to annex their
territory. The request was granted
and the territory remained part of
North Carolina until the close of the
Revolution. In order to reduce adj
rninistrative expense, North Carolina
then coded the territory to the fed
eral government as the District Of
Washington.
Settlers Had a Say.
But the settlers, who had not been
Consulted relative to this move. OBJ
tected strenuOuslY and when argu-
u1ents- failed, resolved to form a state
OF their own. In August, 1884, con-
vention was called at the town of
Wautauga, which was chosen as the
capital. and John Sewer, a famous
frontiersman was inaugurated as gov
ernUr. in March of the following year.
a legislature and courts of justice
We're formed and the new state enter
cd upon a life that was destined to be
stormy and short lived.
y 1.-TWO political factions arose and the
Bitter quarrels between them at length
developed into open violence. Each
IN turned seized the official records
and carried them off. The courts
became chaotic. and wills, deeds and
Other legal papers became of ques-
tionable force. Efforts to settle the
dispute were in vain.
: At length, Governor Caswell, of
North Carolina issued proclama-
ton declaring that the state of Frank
m had no government and called
u to recognize the authority of his
state. When this demand was re-
fused. troops were sent into the noun
tains to enforce the edict. The new
State was annexed to North Carolina
and remained as a part of it until
ECO, when it was taken over by the
federal government 1t was admitted
to the Union as the state of Tennessee
June l. 1896.
Sewer Was a Bold Man.
John Sewer was arrested and
brought to trial as rebel, but during
the course of the proceedings he arose
and coolly walked out of the the court
room. 1t seems that no one attempt
ed to detain him and his prosecution
was dropped. Thus persisted a COM
nonwealth which historians have for
gotten to include in the annals of the
ration. Thus was repeated the lesson
81 destruction resulting from political
factionism which it seems the hui
man race is either unable to learn or
Inclined to disregard. Had unity pre-
vailed in the government of Franklin,
the state would no doubt have been in
existence today
4 The money in common circulation
IN Franklin was the pelts of wild ami
mails During the last session of the
Franklin legislature, in October. 1895.
the salary of the governor was fixed
a. 1000 deerskins a year.