occasion demanded, but he was never self-seeking or a swindler. His fame is now monumental, for he had no land to sell, no private fortune to make and his record is one of unsullied patriotism. He was simply a plain man but a man all through. He was neither Northerner nor Southerner, Easterner or Westerner, but all combined, and the men, women and children who followed the glowing footsteps of this backwoods lictor were the ancestors of those who people these United States today, and make it the most enlightened, the most progressive and the most democratic nation in the world."

WATAUGA-CUMBERLAND ROAD.

The Legislature of North Carolina made provision for laying out a road from Washington Court House to Burke County in North Carolina, which was opened, and the road extended on down to Campbell's Station in Knox County, Tennessee. There guards were provided to escort emigrants and settlers along the road. This road, however, was not sufficient for the travel that was increasing over it, and provision was made for a wider and more level road in its place. This last provision made by the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1787 resulted in a road, the completion of which was announced by Colonel James Robertson in the State Gazette of North Carolina, on November 28, 1788, as follows:

"The new road from Campbell's Station to Nashville was opened on the 25th of September and the guard attended at that tme to escort such persons as were ready to proceed to Nashville; that about sixty families had gone on, among whom were the widow and family of the late General Davidson and John McNairy, Judge of the Superior Court; and that on the first day of October next the guard would attend at the same place for the same purpose.'

The road from Campbell's Station ran through Roane County to South West Point, now Kingston, Tennessee and the route of the road to Nashville was largely along the line of the present Tennessee Central Railroad, touching well-known points as Kingston, Post Oak Springs, Crab Orchard, Crossville, Lebanon, Nashville.

In 1792 a fort was established at South West Point and Captain McClellan and a detachment of United States troops were located there to prevent incursions of Cherokee Indians. This garrison was maintained until 1806 or 1807 when it was moved to a point

on the right bank of the Tennessee River about six miles from Dayton, Tennessee.

The town of Kingston was established by Act of the Territorial Legislature on October 23d, 1799, on lands of Robert King, and the Act provided that the town should be called Kingston. King lived in a cabin where the present Exchange Hotel in Kingston is located. Matthew Nelson, who has descendants now living in Knoxville, established a tavern in Kingston in 1808. He subsequently became Treasurer of Tennessee.

Haywood says that about July 31, 1795, a wagon road from Knoxville to Nashville was so far completed that a wagon with a load weighing a ton had actually passed over it, and that the commissioners in charge of its construction had entered into a contract for its thorough completion in the month of October and that they had ample funds in their hands for the purpose; that a day or two before this, two wagons arrived at Knoxville from South Carolina having passed through the Mountains by way of the Warm Springs on the French Broad River, so that it could be said that a wagon road had been opened from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other Atlantic states, by way of Knoxville to Nashville, over which the stream of population began to flow to such an extent, that it was confidently expected at that time that the new census would show at least sixty thousand inhabitants.

THE CHEROKEE TREATY OF 1805.

"Articles of a Treaty between the United States of America, by their commissioners, Return J. Meigs and David Smith, who are appointed to hold conferences with the Cherokees, for the purpose of arranging certain interesting matters with the said Indians, of one part; and the undersigned chiefs and head-men of the Cherokees, of the other part.

"Art. 1. Whereas it has been represented by the one party to the other, that the section of land on which the garrison of Southwest Point stands, and which extends to Kingston, is likely to be a desirable place for the Assembly of the State of Tennessee to convene at, (a committee from that body, now in session, having viewed the situation) now the Cherokees, being possessed of a spirit of conciliation, and seeing that this tract is desired for public purposes, and not for individual advantages, reserving the ferries to themselves, quit claim and cede to the United States the said section of land, understanding, at the same time, that the buildings erected by the public are to belong to the public, as well as the occupation of the same, during the pleasure of the

Government; we also cede the United States the first island in the Tennessee, above the mouth of Clinch.

"Art. 2. And whereas the mail of the United States is ordered to be carried from Knoxville to New Orleans, through the Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw countries, the Cherokees agree that the citizens of the United States shall have, so far as it goes through their country, the free and unmolested use of a road leading from Tellico to Tombigbee, to be laid out by viewers appointed on both sides, who shall direct it at the nearest and best way; and the time of doing the business the Cherokees shall be notified of.

"Art. 3. In consideration of the above cession and relinquishment, the United States agree to pay the said Cherokee Indians, sixteen hundred dollars in money, or useful merchandise, at their option, within ninety days after the ratification of this treaty.

"Art. 4. This treaty shall be obligatory between the contracting parties as soon as it is ratified by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States. "In testimony whereof, the said commissioners, and the undersigned chiefs and head-men of the Cherokees, have hereunto set their hands and seals. Done at Tellico, this twenty-seventh day of October, A. D. eighteen hundred and five.

RETURN J. MEIGS,
DANIEL SMITH,

And a number of Indians.

3

CHAPTER 3.

Tennessee and its Pioneer Governments -State of Franklin Memorial at Greeneville, Tennessee.

The pioneers of Tennessee from the time that William Bean erected his cabin in 1769 to June 1st, 1796, when the State was admitted into the Union, lived under more different forms of government probably than any other people in a similar period in the history of the world. These governments were:

First, The Watauga Association from 1772 to 1777.

Second, Governed as a part of North Carolina under the name of Washington County from 1777 to 1784.

Third, The State of Franklin from 1784 to 1788.

Fourth, Governed again as a part of North Carolina as Washington County, 1788 to 1790.

Fifth, The Territory of the United States south of the Ohio River, governed by a territorial Governor and three Judges from 1790 to 1794.

Sixth, The Territory of the United States south of the Ohio River governed by a Governor, a Legislative Council and a House of Representatives from 1794 to 1796.

Seventh, The State of Tennessee, June 1st, 1796.

Submission to these numerous varieties of government proved that the pioneers believed in government and in the supremacy of law.

The Watauga Association was a voluntary organization formed by the people of Watauga in 1772 and based upon the inherent right of the people to govern themselves. They were in the wilderness surrounded by high mountains and protected by neither the Confederation on the one hand, nor North Carolina upon the other-thrown absolutely upon their own resources. The formation of the Association was a matter of necessity and was not instigated by opposition to any existing form of government, but simply because there must be a government of some kind and this was the simplest form of government. There were

five Commissioners, John Carter, Charles Robertson, James Robertson, Zach Isbill and John Sevier, who seem to have had authority to settle any kind of controversy and make rules and regulations affecting the general welfare. The Articles of Association are not in existence and there is no claim upon the part of any one to be able to state just what the articles were. The best information we have in reference to them is in the petition for annexation to North Carolina which susequently was made, and signed by all the men then in the country.

These early settlements had a share of escaped criminals, lawbreakers, horse-thieves and undersirable characters generally, and the pioneers had not only to protect themselves from the Indians but from the undersirable element in the community. The success with which the Committee of Five handled the situation was wonderful and argues in the pioneers' strong character, intense determination and general civic uprightness. It is difficult in all history to find a stronger argument in favor of any people than the Watauga Association furnishes in behalf of the pioneers of Tennessee. The five Commissioners who constituted the entire government were elected by the people and its sessions were held at regular periods. Finally the increase of business made necessary a Clerk, and he was employed. The laws of Virginia were taken as a standard by the Commission of Five.

But with the increase of population of all sorts and kinds, the menace from the Indians and the dangers of frontier life generally, the Watauga settlers concluded to make an application to the State of North Carolina to annex them to that State, and it is through the perseverance and painstaking search of Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey that the petition for annexation was found and given to the world in his "Annals of Tennessee." He says that he found the petition in an old bundle of papers on an upper shelf in the State Archives at Raleigh, North Carolina, where it had probably been lying for seventy-five years, and that it is in the handwriting of John Sevier. The historical value attached to this petition can hardly be overestimated in the light it throws upon the early history of Tennessee. It will be observed that there are but two signatures to the petition by mark, which speaks in high terms of the intelligence of the pioneers. Dr. Ramsey says that there is no date on the petition, but that it has endorsed upon it the words: "Received August 22, 1776."