The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-11-29

ard Henderson, founder OF Pennsylvania and
employer of Daniel Boone In the settlement OF
Kentucky, tn Investigate conditions In the West.
He found that Sewer had already been elected
governor of the State Of Franklin. that
William Cooke had been appointed as delegate
to the Continental Congress TO urge Its aecep
lance OF North Cardinals cession and that the
legislature had established an academy named
after Governor Martin.
Henderson delivered ito the Franklin egisa-
tnre then In sessinnGn Ioneshorough a letter
from Governor Martin demanding IN 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 conciliHtnry In tone.
frankly expressed Doubt as 10 North Cardinals
willingness or ability to protect her hnrlerprs
or give them stable form Of government and
intimated their determination to persist In the
movement for Independence.
The result Of this manifesto" from
Martin In which he denied their right to declare
themselves independent ~ North Carolina and
demanded that the government should still be
supported and anarchy prevented"
To this manifesto Governor Sewer sent back
an equally fiery one and Martin cunntered with
the appointment Of Evan Shelby In Sewers
place rs brgadier-general of thu militia and OF
Jonathan Upton colonel of his county. In
June l78a. Richard Caswe succeeded Martin
as governor Of North Carolina md the new ex
ecutive proceeded In cnncliniory hui at the
same time firm manner To assert his states SOY
erelgnty the disputed territory
Meanwhile Sewer and his legislature were
continuing to function as state authorities The
legislature passed various acts dealing with the
property rights OF the citizens " the new state,
education, currency, militia. elections. organizn
tion OF new counties. taxes, etc In connection
with the currency there arose problem which
was solved In n manner characteristic of the
genius Of the American fr0ntprsman 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 In l785 the legislature met al Greenevtllp
and there a committee. headed by Rev Samuel
Houston OF Washington county, presented for
adoption a constitution which Is an oddly In
American Jurisprudence. II provided for a egis
lature OF single house and from this were To
be excluded not only ministers OF the gospel,
attorneys at law and doctors OF physics hut also
those who were 'of immoral character nr guilty
of such fragrant ennrmities as drunkenness, gam
ing profane swearing lewdness Sabbath break
Ing and such like or who shall deny the existence
Of God. Of heaven and of hell, the inspiration
Of the Scriptures the existence vi the Trim
ity" Although full religious liberty was gnaran
teed only the strictly orthodox might hold or
nee but 1t WAS barred To anyone who was moi
Il scholar to do the business"
sIhs remarkable document, which provided
for many other curious Innovations In govern
ment was the work of pioneer ,dnctrinnires-
Houston, Campbell. Cooke and 1Ipton--nnd de
serves study us 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 re1ecteo
In favor of the North Carolina constitution ano
this rejection was to have an Important enec'
ON the later fortunes Of the State OF franklin
For North Narnna's quiet and persistent as
sertlon OF Its authority WAS beginning TO create
schsm In the new comnlnnwealth- Henderson
says that the "considerate policy" OF Governor
Caswell. coupled with the detection IRON
Sewers cause Of men 81 the stamp OF Honsfoi
and Upton after the laundering and cnvane
rejection Of their singular constitution nhuef
mined the foundations Of Franklin.
North Carolina began sending Its officers int