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Show Thursday, November 22, 1954 The THE r arm k x nvv' 7ohn -- -r -- i Franklin f rRA V NEPHI. UTAH S. Li a, noxvlllcOL-Orw'- vi JFtM v ... TL 'yf V Scenes and Persons in the Current News 1 JJ M7 xL v V X - y I Sir Ronald Lindsay. British ambassador, buying a poppy from little Eva l.eulinun at benefit bull of British War Veterans of America, in New York. 2 l'lerre Ktlenne Klnndin, who became premier of France following the resignation of Douniorgue. 3 Memorial to George Rogers Clark, soldier and pioneer, and his followers, dedicated by President Roosevelt at Harrodsburg, Ky. .Sevier By ELMO PACE THREE State Short-Live- d of TIMES-NEW- SCOTT WATSON hundred and fifty years ago there came Into being an American commonwealth that was In but not of the United Stutes. That was the state of Franklin or Frank land which, during Its stormy existence I DECLARATION or RIGHTS of four years, bad the equivocal 'A status of being at one and the same time an Independent state, a district In another state and an ' ; unorganized federal territory, and which linully came Into the Union as a part of a state of an entirely different name. Closely associated with the history of the short-live"State of Franklin" In fact, the very storm center of Its turbulent career was that frontier Immortal, John Sevier, "Nollchucky Jack," whose record Is Inscribed upon the tall shaft In Knoxvllle, Tenn., as follows: "Governor of the stnte of Franklin; six terms governor of Tennessee; Four times elected to congress; A projector and hero of King's Mountain; 85 battles 85 victories; Ills Indian war cry was: 'Here they are I Come on, boys, come on !' The Immediate Incentive for founding the State of Franklin came out of conditions which prevailed after the close of the Revolution. On June 2, 17S4, the legislature of the new state of North Carolina ceded to the congress of the United States its lands west of the Alleghenles I 1 i on the conditions that this territory should be l. 1 'jYionu.menz Yn Tfnnin ji llo formed Into a separate state or states and that Gov. Alexander Martin congress should give due notice of Its acceptance of the lands within two years, otherwise ard Henderson, founder of Transylvania and Franklin to exercise her authority over the cltl. employer of Daniel Boone In the settlement of zens of what It considered an outlaw state. Haythey would revert to North Carolina. No sooner bad this news reached the settle- Kentucky), to Investigate conditions in the West. wood's History of Tennessee, printed during thu ments beyond the mountains than the Western- He found that Sevier had already been elected early part of the last century, gives a vivid pic ers began making plans for setting up a local governor of the new State of Franklin, that ture of the state of affairs existing: "In the early part of the year 17S0 was pre government which should form the basis for a William Cocke bad been appointed as a delegate new state. There were seveal reasons for their to the Continental Congress to nrge Us accep- sented the strange spectacle of two empires ex haste. North Carolina's delay in sending goods tance of North Carolina's cession and that the ercised at one and the same time over one and to the Indians, promised under a former treaty, legislature bad established an academy named the same people. County courts were held in the same counties, under both governments; the had Irritated the tribesmen and the threat of after Governor Martin. Henderson delivered to the Franklin legisla- militia were called out by officers appointed by Indian hostility hung heavy over the pioneers. If it should burst Into flame, they could not look ture, then In session In Jonesborough, a letter both; laws were passed by both assemblies, and for prompt aid from the home authorities be- from Governor Martin demanding an "account taxes were laid by the authorities of both states. "The Judges commissioned by the state of cause of the long intervening distance and the of the late proceedings of the people In the lack of quick communication, not to mention the western country" and in reply received two let- Franklin held supreme courts, twice In each fact that North Carolina was so occupied with ters, one from the legislature and one from year. In Jonesboro, Colonel Tipton openly re civil problems that It could Sevier, which, although conciliatory In tone, fused obedience to the new government There Its give little thought to the needs of Its remote frankly expressed a doubt as to North Carolina's arose a deadly hatred between him and Govfrontier settlements. Another reason, no doubt, willingness or ability to protect her borderers ernor Sevier and each endeavoured, by all the was that the formation of a new state meant or give them a stable form of government and means In his power, to strengthen his party." In the So Involved and desperate had become the sit high offices to be filled and ambitions for prefer intimated their determination to persist ment to be satisfied, for the frontiersmen were movement for Independence. uation that Cocke and Sevier In turn appealed The result of this was a "manifesto" from to wise old Ben Franklin, for whom their state Just as politically minded as their Eastern breth to declare had been Ten, once the wilderness was conquered and Its Martin in which he denied their right named, for aid and advice. In 17S6 themselves independent of North Carolina and Franklin advised Cocke to submit the points In dangers safely past. still be should the demanded that "governmant Accordingly, on August 23, 1784, a convention dispute between North Carolina and its illegiti assembled at Jonesborough composed of dele supported and anarchy prevented." mate to congress for a decision and to To this manifesto Governor Sevier sent back abide offspring Its decision. But a year later his views gates from the Western counties of Washington, an by equally fiery one and Martin countered with had changed and he advised Sevier to try to Sullivan and Greene, who passed a resolution the appointment of Evan Shelby In Sevier's about some satisfactory compromise with declaring: "We have a Just and undeniable right of the militia and of bring to petition Congress to accept the cession made place as brigadier-genera- l the mother state. In as colonel of his county. Jonathan Tipton In September, 1787, the Franklin legislature by North Carolina, and for that body to counte nance us for forming ourselves into a separate June, 1785, Richard Caswell succeeded Martin met for the last time and conditions were so new ex as and North the of Carolina governor or govern inert and to frame either a permanent unsettled and uncertain that no attempt was ecutive proceeded in a conciliatory but at the made to hold another election. In February, temporarj constitution, agreeably to a resolve of same time sovassert manner firm to his state's adherents of Tipton and Sevier had an Congress . ." In the meantime Gov. Alexander 1788, over the disputed territory. Jlartln of North Carolina had decided that his ereignty In which two men were killed armed collision Meanwhile Sevier and his legislature were state had acted too hastily In ceding valuable and several wounded. "Soon afterward Sevier lands to the federal government and he used continuing to function as state authorities. The sent word to Tipton that on condition his life acts the with various dealing his Influence to get the state assembly to repeal legislature passed be spared be would submit to North Carolina,' property rights of the citizens of the new state. writes the cession act late In November. Henderson. "On this note of But the Westerners were going ahead with education, currency, militia, elections, organiza the State of Franklin appeared quietly to ex their plans and on December 17 a second conven- tion of new counties, taxes, etc In connection pire." It drew Its final breath the following tion assembled at Jonesborough. This time senti- with the currency there arose a problem which month, March, 1788, when Sevier's term as gov ment' was somewhat divided. Rumors of the was solved In a manner characteristic of the ernor ended. genius of the American frontiersman for adapt At that time he was a fugitive In the distant intending repeal of the cession act bad reached the settlements and some of the delegates fa- ing himself readily to circumstances. With no settlements because, through the action of Govvored continuing as a part of North Carolina facilities for issuing either currency or hard ernor Johnson of North Carolina, he had been rather than as a separate state. One of these money, skins of animals were made legal tender. attainted of high treason. Later he was arrested Late in 1785 the legislature met at Greeneville by was John Sevier, if we are to believe a later Tipton on the treason charge, handcuffed and statement of his that he was "Draged Into the and there a committee, headed by Rev. Samuel taken first to Jonesborough, then to Morganton. Franklin measures by a largo number of the Houston of Washington county, presented for There the sheriff, who had fought with him at adoption a constitution which Is an oddity in King's Mountain, knocked the Irons from his people of this country." One delegate, after reading tfie Declaration of American Jurisprudence. It provided for a legis wrists and released him on parole. When some from this were to of his devoted friends heard of the arrest of Independence, declared that the same reasons lature of a single house and which had moved the Colonies to separate from be excluded not only "ministers of the gospel. their beloved "Nollchucky Jack," they rode swiftbut also ly across the mountains to Morganton and bore England could be applied to their decision to attorneys at law and doctors of physics" desert the uncertain protection of North Caro- those who were "of Immoral character or guilty him away to a place of safety. as enormities such of gam drunkenness, flagrant In November, 1788, the North Carolina legis lina and set up a government of their own. Ills Sabbath-brealature passed an act of pardon and oblivion in Tiew had enough supporters so that the conven- ing, profane swearing, lewdness. tion adopted a temporary constitution for six lng and such like, or who shall deny the existence regard to the State of Franklin which automat months with provision for a convention to be of God, of heaven, and of bell, the inspiration ically cleared Sevier of the charge of treason held within a year, at the end of which time this of the Scriptures, or the existence of the Trln and removed any stigma there might have been full religious liberty was guaran upon the institution should be altered or adopted as the lty." Although citizenship of any others. Thus the the only teed, strictly orthodox might hold of- State of Franklin's turbulent existence of four was new To state. It the of charter permanent was who "not the Land of the fice but It was barred to anyone given the name of "Frankland" years came to a close. Free. Later, for reasons of policy, the name a scholar to do the business." The later career of Sevier is too well know? "This remarkable document, which provided to demand more than brief mention. Restored to "Franklin" was chosen In honor of the sage of in curious Innovations other governfor many Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin. citizenship he was elected to the North CaroBack in North Carolina Martin and his assem- ment, was the work of pioneer doctrinaires lina legislature and given his former rank of deCocke and Tipton and brigadier-general of the militia. When North bly were taking steps to reassert sovereignty Houston, Campbell, over the Western settlements. The District of serves study as a bizarre reflection of the spirit Carolina ratified the Federal Constitution and western frontiersman," says became one of the United States of America Washington, composed of the four Western conn-ties- , and genius of the was set up with John Haywood as presiding Dr. Archibald Henderson In his "Conquest of under that document, Sevier was elected conOld Southwest" However, It was rejected Judge, and David Campbell as associate. Both the gressman from the North Carolina district beas a diplomatic gesture and for the better reason In favor of the North Carolina constitution and yond the mountains. In 1790 North Carolina ceded record made him boet this rejection was to have an Important effect her western lands again to the federal governthat his Indian-fightinfitted for the Job, Sevier was made brigadier- - on the later fortunes of the State of Franklin. ment and on April 2 of that year the cession For North Carolina's quiet and persistent as was accepted. On May 20 the Southwest terrigeneral of the state militia. Accompanying his commission, which was sent in December, 1784, sertion of Its authority was beginning to create tory was organized and Sevier made general of was an Inquiry whether. In view of the repeal a schism In the new commonwealth. Henderson Its mllftla. Six years later this territory became of the cession act, he Intended to persist In the says that the 'considerate policy" of Governor the state of Tennessee and he was her first govmovement for a new state or to await further Caswell, "coupled with the defection from ernor. So John Sevier entered the roll of "unique Sevier replied that: "We slm'l Sevier's cause of men of the stamp of Houston Americans" In that he was the only man who neveloDrnents. and Tlptm after th blundering and cavalier ever became governor of two states, even though pursue no further measures as to a new Stat But despite this avowal Governor Martlj rejection of their sirg'.lar constitution, under one of them was an outlaw commonwealth, a thought It best to send a personal representative. mined the foundations of Franklin." officers Into state which existed In fact If not In official .oral North Carolina began Bending Its of Judge Klca tT WMtero N'ewtppr Ulor CoL Samuel fi'roderson (brottw Parade of the Suffragettes of France I NK I (WW MW0GS$m CONSTITUTION f ; h - HIM M- I I'll'--- ! ''- - " - d - tragl-comed- y VN ntin m& ii f ii wvit tt ii ii mhiiii -- fi,,,, r Here Is a parade of French suffragettes In Nantes during the Radical and on their banner Is "French Women Ought To Vote." in t- Radical-Socialis- A'i f, If "i congress In t that city. The motto CHAMPION CORNHUSKER 'TiMfiniftTMiif Iowa's First Old Age Pensioner t Joseph Newt Finney, seventy-year-ol- d pioneer of Bremer county, Iowa, was the first man to receive an old-ag- e pension from the state of Iowa. He Is shown accepting the check from Postmaster Kohlmann of Waverly. And So They Were Married Theodore Balko, of Redwood Falls, Minn., new national champion cornhusker, who won the title by husking 1,805 pounds of corn (27.7 bushels). In 80 minutes. Fifty thout sand people from all over the gathered to see the national cornhusklng bee at Fairmont, Minn Mid-Wes- HAS HEYDLER'S JOB k ': x&z f f Irs hm After a lot of fuss about the nationality of her Intended, Ellen Wilson nineteen-year-ol- d daughter of Senator William Glbbs McAdoo of California, obtained her father's consent and was married to Rafael Lopea de Onate, screen actor and native of the Philippines. The happy couple is shown above, . McAdoo, r" i unit im.i rm Ford Frlck, former Denver and York newspaper writer and more recently head of the publicity bureau of the National league, pho tographed at his desk In New York following his unanimous election as the new president of the National Baseball league. He succeeds John Heydler, who resigned. New Largest Meteorite. The largest meteorite In the world is the Grootfonteln, found in Southwestern Africa. It Is an enorbut messengers. He mous block of metal almost recthas written messages on scraps of angular In shape, 9 by 10 feet and paper and fastened them to the of a thickness varying from 2',4 to backs of bees. The bees have almost 4 feet. It weighs at least quickly brought them back to the 50 tons. Another large meteorite is Trafalgar, Whcra Nelion Won Trafalgar, famous for the naval hive, and never has a bee failed to the Greenland meteorite that Adbattle In which the British won, al deliver the goods. The beekeeper miral Peary brought back and though Admiral Nelson was killed. says bees are less likely than placed In the American Museum of Is a cape to the south of Cadiz, cap pigeons to fall Into the wrong Natural History In New York. It hands. tons. ital of Spain. weighs Bee as Messengers A German beekeeper has found new use for bees. They're no longs and er to be mere honey-gatherer- s, |