The Coolidge examiner., 1934-11-30

ard Henderson. founder Of Transylvania and
employer OF Daniel Boone ia the settlement OF
kentucky, 10 investigate conditions m the West
lie found that Sewer had already been elected
governor OF the new State of Franklin. that
William Cooke had been appointed delegate
TO the Continental Congress to urge its aecep
tapce OF North Carolina's eesslon and that the
legislature had established an academy named
after Governor Martin
Henderson delivered To the Franklin legisia.
ture. then In session in Jonesboropgh. letter
from Governor Martin demanding an account
OF the late proceedings OF the people In the
western country" and In reply received two let
ters. one from the legislature and one from
Sewer. which. although conclliatory In tone.
frankly expressed a doubt as 20 North CarolIna's
willingness ability TO protect her borderers
or give them n stable form OF government and
in,Imated their determination 10 persls, In the
movement for independence.
The result OF this was a manifesto" from
Martin in which he denied their right to declare
themselves independent OF North Carolina and
demanded that the government should still be
supported and anarchy prevented"
To this manifesto Governor SEWER sent back
equally fiery one and Martin countered with
the appointment OF Evan Shelby In Sewers
place as brigadler general OF the militia and OF
Jonathan Upton as colonel OF bis county. In
June. l7sJ. Richard Caswel succeeded Martin
governor OF North Carolina and the new ex-
ecutve proceeded In a conclliatory but AT the
same time firm manner 10 assert his states SOW
ereignty the disputed territory.
Meanwhile Sewer and his legislature were
continuing 20 function state authorities The
legislature passed various acts dealing with the
property rights OF the citizens OF the new state.
education. currency. militia, elections. organiza
ton OF new counties. taxes etc. In connection
with the currency there arose a problem which
was solved In a manner characteristic OF the
genius Of the American rrontiersman for adapt
Ing himself readily TO circumstances. With no
facilities for issuing either currency or hard
money. skins of animals were made legal tender.
Late ln 1855 the legislature met at Greeneville
and there a committee, headed by Rev. Samuel
Houston OF Washington county. presented for
adoption a constitution which Is an oddity In
American Jurisprudence. II provided for legis
lature OF single house and from this were to
be excluded not only ministers OF the gospel.
attorneys at law and doctors OF physics" but also
those who were "of immoral character or guilty
OF such fragrant enormities as drunkenness. gam
ing. profane swearing. ewdness. Sabbath-break
Ing and such like, or who shall deny the existence
OF God. OF heaven. and OF hell, the inspiration
OF the Scriptures. or the existence OF the Trim
lty" Although full religious liberty was guaran-
teed only the strictly orthodox might hold Of
ice but IL was barred to anyone who was mot
scholar to do the business"
This remarkable document which provided
for many other curious innovations in govern
ment. was the work OF pioneer doctrinaires-
Houston, Campbell, Cooke and Tipton-and de
serves study as a bizarre reflection OF the spirit
and genius OF the western frontiersman." says
Dr. Archibald Henderson In his Conquest OF
the old Southwest" However. IL was rejected
in favor OF the North Carolina constitution and
this rejection was to have an important effect
on the later fortunes OF the State OF Franklin.
For North CarolIna's quiet and persistent as
sertlon OF its authority was beginning to create
a schism in the new commonwealth. Henderson
says that the "considerate policy" OF Governor
Cnswen coupled with the detection from
Sewers cause OF men OF the stamp of Houston
and Upton after the blunderI2g and cavalier
rejection of their singular constitution, under
mined the foundations OF Franklin"
North Carolina began sending Its officers Into