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

Franklin To exercise her authority over the cit
gems OF what 1t considered outlaw state. Hay
woods History Of Tennessee. printed during the
early part Of the last century. gives vivid pic
ture of the state OF affairs existing:
In the early part vi the year 1856 was pre-
senied the strange spectacle Of two empires ex
ercised ut one and the time over one and
the same people County courts were held In the
same counties. under both governments. the
militia were cned out by officers appointed by
both laws were passed by both assemblies, and
taxes we're laid ny the authorities Of both states
"Thp Judges commissioned by the state of
Franklin held supreme courts. twice In each
year In IoIesharo Colonel Upton openly re-
fused obedience to the government There
arose deadly hatred between him and Gov
ernnr SEWER and each endpavnnred by all the
means In his power. to strengthen his party,"
So involved and desperate had beenInp The sit
uaton that Cooke and Sevlrr In turn appealed
to wise old Ben Franklin for whom their state
Ind been named. for aid and advice. In 1885
Franklin advised t'ncke To submit the points In
dispurp hetwppn North Carolina and Its Height
mate offspring 10 congress for decision and to
abide by Its decision. But year later his views
had changed and he advised Sewer 10 try to
bring about some satisfactory compromise with
the mother state
LII September. 1857. the Franklin legislature
met for the last time and conditions were go
unsettled and uncertain FIAT attempt WAS
nude to hod Hnuther electiun.- In February
1883. adhprents of Tipton and Sewer had an
armed collision In which two killed
and several wounded. "Soon afterward Sewer
sent word to Upton that on condition his life
be spared he would submit to North Carolina
writes Henderson. "On this note OF tragi-cpmrdy
the State OF Franklin appeared quietly 10 ex
plre" II drew Its final breath the following
month"; March 1888 when Sewers term M gov
rrnor ended
AT that time he was fugitive In The distant
settlements because. through the action Of Gov
ernur johnson OF North Carolina. he had been
attanfed of high rrpuson. Later he arrested
by Tpton on the treason charge. handcuffed and
taken first to Iuneshornugh. then TO Morganton
There the sheriff. who had fought with him at
Kings Mountain knucked the irons from his
wrists and released him on parole. When some
of his devoted friends heard OF the arrest Of
their beloved "Nochucky Jack they rode swift.
ly across the mountains to Morganton and bore
him away 10 place of safety
In November. 1885, the North Carolina legis.
.aturp ,issed an act OF pardon and Oblivion In
regard 10 the State OF Franklin which Hnfninaf
ically ceHretl Spyer OF the charge of treason
and removed any sflEfin theFe ibieht nave Dtei
upon ahe citizenship OF any others. Thus the
State Of Franklln's turbulent existence OF four
Fenrs came To close
The later career OF Sewer is too well known
10 demand more than brief mention Restored e
citizenship he was elected to the North caro-
lima legislature and given his former rank OF
acknowledgement of the militia. When North
Carolina ratified the Federal Constitution and
became one Of rhe United States Of Amrrirh
under that document. Sewer WAS rlerted con
gressman from the North Carolina district he
yond the mountains In ITO North Carolina cehef
her western lands again to the federal govern
ment and on April Of that year the crssi"r
was accepted On May 20 the Southwest terri
tory was organized and Sevier made general o
Its militia SIX years later this territory became
the state OF Tennessee and he was her first gov
ernor 30 John Sewer entered the roll Of ''nniqn'
Americans. In that he was the only man wh'
ever became governor ~ two states even fhnngl
one Of them WINS an outlaw communicable
state which existed infaci y nst W "''s'h' iofn
n nv ws&t.rn Newspaper Union