pioneers of the old southwest-第29部分

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fused　to　follow。　The　adventure　too　greatly　appealed。　Obliged　to　choose　between　North　Carolina　and　his　own　people；　Sevier's　hesitation　was　short。　The　State　of　Frankland；　or　Land　of　the　Free；　was　formed；　and　Nolichucky　Jack　was　elevated　to　the　office　of　Governorwith　a　yearly　salary　of　two　hundred　mink　skins。

Perhaps　John　Tipton　had　hoped　to　head　the　new　State；　for　he　had　been　one　of　its　prime　movers　and　was　a　delegate　to　this　convention。　But　when　the　man　whom　he　hatedapparently　for　no　reason　except　that　other　men　loved　himassented　to　the　people's　will　and　was　appointed　to　the　highest　post　within　their　gift；　Tipton　withdrew；　disavowing　all　connection　with　Frankland　and　affirming　his　loyalty　to　North　Carolina。　From　this　time　on；　the　feud　was　an　open　one。

That　brief　and　now　forgotten　State；　Frankland；　the　Land　of　the　Free；　which　bequeathed　its　name　as　an　appellation　for　America；　was　founded　as　Watauga　had　been　foundedto　meet　the　practical　needs　and　aspirations　of　its　people。　It　will　be　remembered　that　one　of　the　things　written　by　Sevier　into　the　only　Watauga　document　extant　was　that　they　desired　to　become　〃in　every　way　the　best　members　of　society。〃　Frankland's　aims；　as　recorded；　included　the　intent　to　〃improve　agriculture；　perfect　manufacturing；　ENCOURAGE　LITERATURE　and　every　thing　truly　laudable。〃

The　constitution　of　Frankland；　agreed　to　on　the　14th　of　November；　1785；　appeals　to　us　today　rather　by　its　spirit　than　by　its　practical　provisions。　〃This　State　shall　be　called　the　Commonwealth　of　Frankland　and　shall　be　governed　by　a　General　Assembly　of　the　representatives　of　the　freemen　of　the　same；　a　Governor　and　Council；　and　proper　courts　of　justice。。。。　The　supreme　legislative　power　shall　be　vested　in　a　single　House　of　Representatives　of　the　freemen　of　the　commonwealth　of　Frankland。　The　House　of　Representatives　of　the　freemen　of　the　State　shall　consist　of　persons　most　noted　for　wisdom　and　virtue。〃

In　these　exalted　desires　of　the　primitive　men　who　held　by　their　rifles　and　hatchets　the　land　by　the　western　waters；　we　see　the　influence　of　the　Reverend　Samuel　Doak；　their　pastor；　who　founded　the　first　church　and　the　first　school　beyond　the　great　hills。　Early　in　the　life　of　Watauga　he　had　come　thither　from　Princeton；　a　zealous　and　broadminded　young　man；　and　a　sturdy　one；　too；　for　he　came　on　foot　driving　before　him　a　mule　laden　with　books。　Legend　credits　another　minister；　the　Reverend　Samuel　Houston；　with　suggesting　the　name　of　Frankland；　after　he　had　opened　the　Convention　with　prayer。　It　is　not　surprising　to　learn　that　this　glorified　constitution　was　presently　put　aside　in　favor　of　one　modeled　on　that　of　North　Carolina。

Sevier　persuaded　the　more　radical　members　of　the　community　to　abandon　their　extreme　views　and　to　adopt　the　laws　of　North　Carolina。　However　lawless　his　acts　as　Governor　of　a　bolting　colony　may　appear；　Sevier　was　essentially　a　constructive　force。　His　purposes　were　right；　and　small　motives　are　not　discernible　in　his　record。　He　might　reasonably　urge　that　the　Franklanders　had　only　followed　the　example　of　North　Carolina　and　the　other　American　States　in　seceding　from　the　parent　body；　and　for　similar　causes；　for　the　State's　system　of　taxation　had　long　borne　heavily　on　the　overhill　men。

The　whole　transmontane　populace　welcomed　Frankland　with　enthusiasm。　Major　Arthur　Campbell；　of　the　Virginian　settlements；　on　the　Holston；　was　eager　to　join。　Sevier　and　his　Assembly　took　the　necessary　steps　to　receive　the　overhill　Virginians；　provided　that　the　transfer　of　allegiance　could　be　made　with　Virginia's　consent。　Meanwhile　he　replied　in　a　dignified　manner　to　the　pained　and　menacing　expostulations　of　North　Carolina's　Governor。　North　Carolina　was　bidden　to　remember　the　epithets　her　assemblymen　had　hurled　at　the　Westerners；　which　they　themselves　had　by　no　means　forgotten。　And　was　it　any　wonder　that　they　now　doubted　the　love　the　parent　State　professed　to　feel　for　them？　As　for　the　puerile　threat　of　blood；　had　their　quality　really　so　soon　become　obliterated　from　the　memory　of　North　Carolina？　At　this　sort　of　writing；　Sevier；　who　always　pulsed　hot　with　emotion　and　who　had　a　pretty　knack　in　turning　a　phrase；　was　more　than　a　match　for　the　Governor　of　North　Carolina；　whose　prerogatives　he　had　usurped。

The　overmountain　men　no　longer　needed　to　complain　bitterly　of　the　lack　of　legal　machinery　to　keep　them　〃the　best　members　of　society。〃　They　now　had　courts　to　spare。　Frankland　had　its　courts；　its　judges；　its　legislative　body；　its　land　officein　fact；　a　full　governmental　equipment。　North　Carolina　also　performed　all　the　natural　functions　of　political　organism；　within　the　western　territory。　Sevier　appointed　one　David　Campbell　a　judge。　Campbell　held　court　in　Jonesborough。　Ten　miles　away；　in　Buffalo；　Colonel　John　Tipton　presided　for　North　Carolina。　It　happened　frequently　that　officers　and　attendants　of　the　rival　law　courts　met；　as　they　pursued；　their　duties；　and　whenever　they　met　they　fought。　The　post　of　sheriffor　sheriffs；　for　of　course　there　were　twowas　filled　by　the　biggest　and　heaviest　man　and　the　hardest　hitter　in　the　ranks　of　the　warring　factions。　A　favorite　game　was　raiding　each　other's　courts　and　carrying　off　the　records。　Frankland　sent　William　Cocke；　later　the　first　senator　from　Tennessee；　to　Congress　with　a　memorial；　asking　Congress　to　accept　the　territory　North　Carolina　had　offered　and　to　receive　it　into　the　Union　as　a　separate　State。　Congress　ignored　the　plea。　It　began　to　appear　that　North　Carolina　would　be　victor　in　the　end；　and　so　there　were　defections　among　the　Franklanders。　Sevier　wrote　to　Benjamin　Franklin　asking　his　aid　in　establishing　the　status　of　Frankland；　and；　with　a　graceful　flourish　of　his　ready　pen；　changed　the　new　State's　name　to　Franklin　by　way　of　reinforcing　his　arguments。　But　the　old　philosopher；　more　expert　than　Sevier　in　diplomatic　calligraphy；　only　acknowledged　the　compliment　and　advised　the　State　of　Franklin　to　make　peace　with　North　Carolina。

Sevier　then　appealed　for　aid　and　recognition　to　the　Governor　of　Georgia；　who　had　previously　appointed　him　Brigadier　General　of　militia。　But　the　Governor　of　Georgia　also　avoided　giving　the　recognition　requested；　though　he　earnestly　besought　Sevier　to　come　down　and　settle　the　Creeks　for　him。　There　were　others　who　sent　pleas　to　Sevier；　the　warrior；　to　save　them　from　the　savages。　One　of　the　writers　who　addressed　him　did　not　fear　to　say　〃Your　Excellency；〃　nor　to　accord　Nolichucky　Jack　the　whole　dignity　of　the　purple　in　appealing　to　him　as　the　only　man　possessing　the　will　and　the　power　to　prevent　the　isolated　settlements　on　the　Cumberland　from　being　wiped　out。　That　writer　was　his　old　friend；　James　Robertson。

In　1787；　while　Sevier　was　on　the　frontier　of　Greene　County；　defending　it　from　Indians；　the　legal　forces　of　North　Carolina　swooped　down　on　his　estate　and　took　possession　of　his　negroes。　It　was　Tipton　who　represented　the　law；　and　Tipton　carried　off　the　Governor's　slaves　to　his　own　estate。　When　Nolichucky　Jack　came　home　and　found　that　his　enemy　had　stripped　him；　he　was　in　a　towering　rage。　With　a　body　of　his　troops　and　one　small　cannon；　he　marched　to　Tipton's　house　and　besieged　it；　threatening　a　bombardment。　He　did　not；　however；　fire　into　the　dwelling；　though　he　placed　some　shots　about　it　and　in　the　extreme　corners。　This　opera　bouffe　siege　endured　for　several　days；　until　Tipton　was　reinforced　by　some　of　his　own　clique。　Then　Tipton　sallied　forth　and　attacked　the　besiegers；　who　hastily　scattered　rather　than　engage　in　a　sanguinary　fight　with　their　neighbors。　Tipton　captured　Sevier's　two　elder　sons　and　was　only　strained　from　hanging　them　on　being　informed　that　two　of　his　own　sons　were　at　that　moment　in　Sevier's　hands。

In　March；　1788；　the　State　of　Franklin　went　into　eclipse。　Sevier　was　overthrown　by　the　authorities　of　North　Carolina。　Most　of　the　officials　who　had　served　under　him　were　soothed　by　being　reappointed　to　their　old　positions。　Tipton's　star　was　now　in　the　ascendant；　for　his　enemy　was　to　be　made　the　vicarious　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of　all　whom　he　had　〃led　astray。〃　Presently　David　Campbell；　still　graciously　permitted　to　preside　over　the　Superior　Court；　received　from　the　Governor　of　North　Carolina　the　following　letter：

〃Sir：　It　has　been　represented　to　the　Executive　that　John　Sevier；　who　style's　himself　Captain…General　of　the　State　of　Franklin；　has　been　guilty　of　high　treason　in　levying　troops　to　oppose　the　laws　and　government　of　the　State。。。。　You　will　issue　your　warrant　to　apprehend　the　said　John　Sevier；　and　in　case　he　cannot　be　sufficiently　secured　for　trial　in　the　District　of　Washington；　order　him　to　be　committed　to　the　public　gaol。〃


The　judge's　authority　was　to　be　exercised　after　he　had　examined　the　〃affidavits　of　credible　persons。〃　Campbell's　judicial　opinion　seems　to　have　been　that　any　affidavit　against　〃the　said　John　Sevier〃　could　not　be　made　by　a　〃credible　person。〃　He　refused　to　issue　the　warrant。　Tipton's　friend；　Spencer；　who　had　been　North　Carolina's　judge　of　the　Superior　Court　in　the　West　and　who　was　sharing　that　honor　now　with　Campbell；　issued　the　warrant　and　sent　Tipton　to　make　the　arrest。

Sevier　was　at　the　Widow　Brown's　inn　with　some　of　his　men　when　Tipton　at　last　came　up　with　him。　It　was　early　morning。　Tipton　and　his　posse　were　about　to　enter　when　the　portly　and　dauntless　widow；　surmising　their　errand；　drew　her　chair　into　the　doorway；　plumped　herself　down　in　it；　and　refused　to　budge　for　all　the　writs　in　North　Carolina。　Tipton　blustered　and　the　widow　rocked。　The　altercation　awakened　Sevier。　He　dressed　hurriedly　and　came　down。　As　soon　as　he　presented　himself　on　the　porch；　Tipton　thrust　his　pistol　against　his　body；　evidently　with　intent　to　fire　if　Sevier　made　signs　of　resistance。　Sevier's　furious　followers　were　not　disposed　to　let　him　be　taken　without　a　fight；　but　he　admonished　them　to　respect　the　law；　and　requested　that　they　would　inform　Bonnie　Kate　of　his　predicament。　Then；　debonair　as　ever；　with　perhaps　a　tinge　of　contempt　at　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　he　held　out　his　wrists　for　the　manacles　which　Tipton　insisted　on　fastening　upon　them。

It　was　not　likely　that　any　jail　in　the　western　country　could　hold　Nolichucky　Jack　overnight。　Tipton　feared　a　riot；　and　it　was　decided　to　send　the　prisoner　for　incarceration　and　trial　to　Morgantown　in　North　Carolina；　just　over　the