the Indian war debts incurred in protecting the western frontier. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the western portion complained that the jurisdiction of the courts was not extended over them, so as to protect them from the incursions of the outlaws from adjoining states.

In the year 1784 the legislature of North Carolina ceded what is now the State of Tennessee to the United States, coupled with the condition that within two years it should formally accept the gift; and further, that until the expiration of that period, North Carolina should exercise sovereignty over it. On August 23, 1784, a constitutional convention was called at Jonesboro, of which John Sevier was president. A difference of opinion arose among the members as to whether their declaration of independence should go into effect at once, or at a future day;-but a vote being taken, two-thirds of the members declared for immediate secession. The same question divided the members when they met in November to frame a constitution, and the convention dissolved in utter confusion. In the meantime the State of North Carolina became alarmed at the attitude of the secessionists, and repealed its act of cession, which had not at that time been accepted by the United States, and Governor Sevier advised his followers to abandon the scheme for the organization of the new state. But his adherents would not recede. They met on December 14, 1784, at Jonesboro and adopted a constitution, subject to its ratification by a future convention, which was to meet at Greenville in November, 1785. In March, 1785, the two houses of the Legislature met and elected John Sevier Governor of the new state, and organized courts, and passed general laws. Among these acts of the Legislature was one authorizing the payment of taxes and of salaries to be made in various articles of merchandise. Among the articles in which taxes were payable were the following: Beaver, otter and deer skins, which were rated at six shillings each; raccoon and fox skins, rated at one shilling three pence each; beeswax, at one shilling per pound; rye whiskey, at three shillings six pence per gallon; peach brandy, at three shillings per gallon. The salaries of all officers were to be paid wholly in skins. The following is a copy of one of the acts of the Legislature:

"Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Franklin, and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same,

that from and after the first day of January next the salaries of this commonwealth shall be as follows, to wit:

His Excellency, the Governor, per annum, 100 deer skins. His Honor, the Chief Justice, 500 deer skins.

The Secretary to His Excellency, the Governor, 500 raccoon skins.

County Clerk, 300 beaver skins.

Clerk of the House of Commons, 200 raccoon skins. Members of the Assembly, per diem, three raccoon skins. Justice's fee for serving a warrant, one mink skin."

Among the names proposed for the new state was that of Frankland, or the "Land of freemen;" but by a very small majority it was decided to call it Franklin in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, however, did not know that the new state had been named for him until eighteen months after its organization. Seemingly this name was given for the purpose of securing the friendship of Franklin for the new state;but the wily statesman, while expressing his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him, was loth to avow himself on the side of the secessionists, and advised them to submit their claims to Congress for adjustment. He pointed out to them the excellence of a system of paternal government which provided for a Congress which could act as a judge in such matters.

Governor Sevier apprised Governor Alexander Martin of North Carolina that the inhabitants of the counties west of the mountains had declared themselves independent and had formed a separate State. Governor Martin replied that he could not consent to such an irregular mode of separation, and intimated that the Congress of the United States would interfere to prevent it.

The convention which was expected to ratify a constitution met at Greenville on November 14, 1785. A new constitution was presented, which, after an angry discussion, was rejected, and one similar to that of North Carolina was adopted. The rejected constitution was a curious document. Full religious liberty was established, so far as it related to forms of worship, but no one was allowed to hold office unless he believed in Heaven, Hell, and the Trinity. Neither could sabbath breakers, immoral men, clergymen, doctors, nor

lawyers hold office. Five days after the adoption of the constitution, the Legislature of North Carolina assembled at Newbern, and granted amnesty and full pardon to all who were engaged in revolt against the authority of the State; and many men of influence returned to their allegiance, and resistance to the authority of the state of Franklin assumed a more determined form. Congress finally interfered, put an end to the new State, and restored the country to North Carolina. Indignant at the interposition, the secessionists persisted in their designs, and through their displaced governor, Sevier, on the 12th of September, 1788, informed the Spanish minister, Gardoquoi, that they were unanimous in their vehement desire to form an alliance and treaty of commerce with Spain and put themselves under her protection. The settlers of the district of Cumberland river, who were also under the jurisdiction of North Carolina, gave the name of Miro to a district they had formed, as evidence of their partiality for the Spanish government. The promise of protection which the inhabitants of the two districts received from Gardoquoi was so modified by Miro that the scheme, though prosecuted for a time with great vigor, finally failed from inability on the part of the secessionists to comply with the conditions of recognition.

A company composed of Alexander Moultrie, Isaac Huger, Major William Snipes, Colonel Washington, and other distinguished South Carolinians was formed at Charleston in 1789, which purchased from the State of Georgia fifty-two thousand nine hundred (52,900) square miles of territory extending from the Yazoo to the banks of the Mississippi near Natchez. The Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Spain claimed a portion of this territory. The ulterior designs of the company in the purchase and settlement of the country were carefully concealed for some time. Wilkinson, who was still engaged in the effort to dismember the Union, having heard of this purchase, lost no time in communicating his views to the company and expressing a desire to coöperate with them as their agent. At the same time he addressed a letter to Miro, in which, after telling him that he had applied to the company for an agency, he says:—

"If I succeed, I am persuaded that I shall experience no difficulty in adding their establishment to the domains of His

*

Majesty, and this they will soon discover to be to their interest. You will have the opportunity to modify the plan of the company as your judgment and prudence will suggest and the interest of the King may require. I will keep you informed of every movement which I shall observe, and it will be completely in your power to break up the projected settlement, by inciting the Choctaws to incommode the colonists, who will thus be forced to move off and to establish themselves under your government."

Wilkinson's application for an agency was declined because of the appointment of Dr. O'Fallon before it was received. He wrote to Miro on the subject of the company's purposes. After speaking of the dissatisfaction of the members of the company with the Federal Government, he states that he has induced them to become subjects of Spain, "under the appearance of a free and independent state, forming a rampart for the adjoining Spanish territories, and establishing with them an eternal reciprocal alliance offensive and defensive. This," he continues, "for a beginning, when once secured with the greatest secrecy, will serve, I am fully persuaded, as an example to be followed by the settlements on the western side of the mountains, which will separate from the Atlantic portion of the Confederacy, because, on account of the advantages which they will expect from the privilege of trading with our colony under the protection of Spain, they will unite with it in the same manner and as closely as are the Atlantic States with France, receiving from it every assistance in war and relying on its power in the moment of danger."

In a letter written to Miro on the 20th of June, Wilkinson fully endorses the plans of the company. Miro submits to the Court at Madrid the documents unfolding these plans, accompanied by a dispatch in which he sums up the advantages and disadvantages of "taking a foreign state to board with us." When near the conclusion, he explains how he has excited the hostility and secured the opposition of all the Indian tribes to the Americans. "I have recommended them," says he, "to remain quiet, and told them if these people presented themselves with a view to settle on their lands, then to make no concessions, and to warn them off, but to attack them in case they refused to withdraw; and I have promised that I would supply them with powder and ball to defend their legitimate rights."

INVASION OF LOUISIANA THREATENED.

Both Louisiana and the United States became at this time apprehensive that an invasion of the former would be attempted by the British from Canada. Such an event would impose upon our Government the necessity of determining a course proper to be pursued should a passage be asked by Great Britain for her troops through our territory, or should that passage be made without permission. The opportunity was deemed favorable to the prosecution of our claim to the navigation of the Mississippi, and negotiations were opened with Spain for the purchase of the Island of New Orleans and the Floridas, but Spain declined our offer of friendship, the only consideration we were then able to give, and the project failed. Miro's administration terminated in 1791. He was succeeded by the Baron de Carondelet.

Such was the confidence inspired in the Government by the adoption of the Constitution and the firm and watchful administration of Washington, that not only in the Eastern States but in the Western districts also, all intrigues, cabals, and schemes of dismemberment, during the first three years of Carondelet's administration had seemingly expired. A brighter era had dawned upon the country; hope had taken the place of doubt in the minds of the people, and the old patriotism which had borne us through the Revolution reinstated loyalty in the bosoms of thousands whose thoughts had been for years ripening for revolt. But the danger was not all over. Some discontented and some ambitious spirits yet remained in the West. Great Britain cast a greedy eye occasionally at the mouth of the Mississippi, and poor torn, bleeding France, which had just murdered her king, sent a sufficient number of her maniac population to our shores to keep the spirit of misrule in action.

Early in the year 1794 a society of French Jacobins, established in Philadelphia, sent to Louisiana a circular which was widely distributed among the French population of the province, appealing to them to take up arms and cast off the Spanish yoke. The alarm which this gave the Baron de Carondelet was increased by a knowledge of the efforts put forth by Genet, the French minister to the United States, to organize and lead an expedition of French and Americans against Louisiana.