CHAPTER XII.

INCREASE OF POPULATION-THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANKLAND ESTABLISHED THE TERRITORY NOW CONSTITUTING THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, CEDED BY NORTH CAROLINA TO CONGRESS-TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED-SKETCHES OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS DURING THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT-CONSTITUTION ADOPTED, AND TENNESSEE ADMITTED INTO THE UNION.

The population of the country increased rapidly; and two other counties, Sullivan and Greene, were established, adjoining the county of Washington, or, rather, taken off the territory before included within the boundaries of Washington. The citizens continued to provide for themselves, in the best manner they could, the State of North Carolina making but little provision for their wants and necessities. The inhabitants being thus left to provide for themselves, became tired of a government that levied taxes upon them without affording them protection; and in the year 1784, principally through the agency of the representatives of the counties of Washington, Sullivan and Greene, an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina was passed, ceding the territory west of the mountains, to the United States, for the purpose of being erected into a new government; but shortly after the aforesaid cession act was repealed. Before it was repealed, however, the people had become dissatisfied with it, because it provided that if Congress did not accept the cession within two years, it should be void; and the eitizens of these new counties believed that, during these two years, they would be exposed to all the dangers and

perils of Indian hostilities, without being provided with any means of defence. They, therefore, undertook to provide for their own safety and protection, by all the means within their power; and, as it was now absolutely necessary to have a government of some sort, the project of forming an independent State was set on foot, finally succeeded, and the citizens, with great unanimity, elected members to a convention, formed a constitution, and established an independent State, which they called Frankland, in defiance of the authorities of North Carolina. In accordance with the constitution, they elected members to constitute a General Assembly, composed of a Senate and House of Commons; and the General Assembly met at Jonesborough, in the year 1785, and elected Landon Carter Speaker of the Senate, and William Cage Speaker of the House of Commons. The Assembly then proceeded to elect the necessary officers for the organization of the government. Gen. John Sevier was elected Governor, David Campbell Judge of the Superior Court, and Joshua Gist and John Anderson Assistant Judges. Landon Carter was elected Secretary of State; Daniel Kennedy and William Cocke were elected Brigadier Generals; and Gen. Cocke was also elected a Delegate to Congress.. William Cago was elected Treasurer, and Stokely Donaldson Surveyor. The Assembly also laid off and established three new counties, Spencer, Caswell and Sevier. The county of Sevier covered nearly the same territory it now does, maintaining its position and name, through all the mutations of government that followed. Spencer county was where Jefferson now is, and Caswell occupied the territory now constituting the county of Hawkins. A law was also passed, providing for a new county to be laid out, including a part of Washington county, and that part of Wilkes county that lay west of the mountain. A

number of other laws were passed; amongst which was one for levying a tax, and for the support of government;" which made the taxes payable in country products, skins and furs.

The Governor of North Carolina, on being informed of the establishment of this new State, issued his manifesto, commanding the citizens to cease their operations, and return to their allegiance to the State of North Carolina; but the citizens disregarded this manifesto; and the Government of Frankland was carried on until the beginning of the year 1788. But a portion of the inhabitants continued to adhere to the Government of North Carolina; and conflicts arose. Courts were held, and public officers were in the daily exercise of their duties, under the authority of both Governments, and contests and rencounters frequently occurred between them. On one occasion, Col. John Tipton, who was a man of great influcnce, and the leader of the North Carolina party, went into one of the Frankland Courts and took away, by violence, having a strong party with him, all the papers and records of the Court, and carried them off; and shortly afterwards Gov. Sevier collected a party of his friends and marched into the Court held under the laws of North Carolina, and re-captured the papers and documents.

These unfortunate and perplexing contests finally ended in a battle between the two parties; in which Sevier was overpowered, and compelled to retreat, several of his party having been taken prisoners, and amongst the rest two of his sons. Sevier had one man wounded, who afterwards died; and Tipton had one killed and one wounded; and a woman, going to the house where Tipton and his party were forted, was accidentally shot, and wounded in the shoulder.

Sometime in the spring of the year 1788, Judge Spen

cer, of North Carolina, while holding Court at Jonesborough, issued a Bench Warrant against Gov. Sevier, and he was afterwards arrested by Tipton and his party, and sent in irons to Morganton, in Burk county, North Carolina. But he was followed and rescued from the custody of the Sheriff, by a few of his friends, amongst whom were Dr. James Cozby, and two of Sevier's sons. The plan to be pursued for the rescue of Gov. Sevier, was contrived by Cozby, who was an enterprising, artful, intelligent and fearless man. When the company arrived in the vicinity of Morganton, they separated, and entered the town, coming in from different directions. Cozby so managed as to convey a letter to Governor Sevier, informing him of the whole plan, and where he was to meet the party after his release; and advising him not to exhibit any evidence of his acquaintance with any of the party. The party permitted no one to see them together. Sevier was in custody of the Sheriff, but treated with lenity and politeness. It so happened, fortunately for the designs of the party, that the Court continued in session until after nightfall. It was raining, and the night was excessively dark. As the Sheriff was retiring, with a candle in his hand, and having Sevier in custody, just as the Sheriff and his prisoner stepped out of the door of the Courthouse, the candle was knocked out, Sevier thrown upon a fleet horse, and in an instant he was gone. When the candle was extinguished, one man could not be distinguished from another, and Cozby and his friends retired and met Governor Sevier at the place appointed; from whence they conducted him in safety, to the western side of the mountains. Gov. Sevier, on his return, immediately retired to the border settlements, raised troops, and continued to defend the inhabitants against the hostilities of the Indians, for some time; until his populari

ty became so overwhelming that he could with safety set at defiance all the opposition of his enemies; and he then went back into the midst of the settlements, mingled with the people at all their public assemblies, was elected a member of the Legislature of North Carolina, went on and took his seat, notwithstanding a law had been passed, expressly, disqualifying him to hold any office of honor, profit or trust.

Thus ended the Frankland government, the whole history of which, would form an interesting volume of itself; but we must here drop the curtain for want of

room.

The population of the country continued to increase briskly, mills were erected, mechanics came amongst the people, and the condition of the settlers became much more convenient and pleasant, than it had been in earlier days. In 1790, the State of North Carolina made a cession of the country to the federal government, which was accepted by Congress, and a territorial government established over the inhabitants. Gov. Blount arrived in the country, as stated in another part of this work, in 1790; but it was not until 1794, that a legislative council was convened, for the government of the territory.The Governor and judges, exercised the authority of enacting and executing such ordinances as were necessary, for the convenience and interest of the people; and thus they lived, for nearly four years, without a legislative assembly, to regulate the affairs of the territory.

In February, 1796, a constitution was adopted, by a convention of delegates, which assembled at Knoxville, for the establishment of a state government; and the State of Tennessee was admitted into the Union in the month of June following.

The manners and customs of the people had now un