Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-26
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMEKIcAJ
 HISTORY
TIE STATE OF FRANKLIN

Through a singular force of circum- stances the United States came very near to having a State named for our eminent statesman and scholar, Benja'- min Franklin. This name was given to legal Government in 1T&0, which controlled a territory occupying what is now East Tennessee, but it was Of so short a duration that few histories mention the fact.
 Toward the close of May, 17S5, the Western lands again being under dis cussion in Congress, q resolution was carried urging North Carolina to re- consider her Act of the previous month of November and once more cede to Congress her possessions beyond the mountains. Had the request been granted there can be no doubt that the measure would have speedily brought peace and quiet to the dis tracted region.
 But North Carolina was too intent on bringing her rebelious subjects to terms to think for moment of be- slowing Congress with their lands and goods. Indeed, when the news of the request was carried into the district some months later, the malcontents expressed much surprise. They could not, they said, tell why Congress should apply to North Carolina. That State had nothing to do with that l body. The parent State had, by her 1 Act of 17S4, given them under this protection. They belonged. therefore to nobody, and while in this condition 1 had called convention, had framed a Constitution, had formed a new State which they called Franklin and elected a Legislature, which was l actually ill session at the time the 1 Act of the 23rd of May was passed. | The delegates to the second Con- 1 vention had assembled early in 17g5 at Jopesboro. Besides giving the name Franklin to the State, they drew LID l a Constitution, which they submi tied 1 to the people It was expected that 1 the district would consider it care 1 fully and select delegates to third 1 Convention, which should have full power to ratify or reject.
 The place fixed upon for the Con i vention was GreenVille. But as there
 were no printing presses nearer than Charleston or Richmond, and as much time must elapse before the Constitu- l tion could be known at all, the dele 1 gates were not to convene till the 14th Of November. Meanwhile the Legisla-
 ture was to organize. Elections were
 held without delay. members were chosen after the manner in which the
 settlers had long been accustomed te
 elect representatives to the Assembly
 Of the parent State, and these, meet 1 ing. at Jenesboro, conducted their busi.
 ness with so much dispatch that on
 the last day of March they adjourned | Many Acts were passed by this Leg.
 islature, but one alone excited genera comment and was the causa af .,p
 bounded merriment across the noun
 tains. A list of articles at that time
 scarcely to be met with in the Stat. Of Franklin would be a long one. But Il there would be no article in the ns
 less painful than money. When, there.
 fore, the Legislature came to deter
 mine what should be the legal eur.
 rency of the State, it most wisely con,
 tented itself with fixing the value O.
 such articles as had from time inme
 morial been used as money.
 One pound of sugar, the law said
 should pass for a shilling piece; tn
 skin of a raccoon or fox for shil
 ling and three pence. A gallon of ry,
 whiskey it was thought was wortl twice as much as that. while a galloi of peach brandy or a yard of goo. nine hundred flax linen was each t, , pass for a thre shilling piece.
 Some difficulty was met with in se Ieeting the articles that could be easil,
 carried from place to place and ex
 pressive Of large values. It was, how
 ever. finally determined that a eleal
 beaver skin, an otter or & deer ski should each of them be the represent ative of six shillnas. In this kind 0
 money the law further prescribed tn