The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 251 



cused North Carolina of not giving to the Cherokees 

 a quantity of goods promised them, and asserted 

 that this disappointment had caused the Indians to 

 commit several murders. In his answer the Gov 

 ernor admitted that the goods had not been given, 

 but explained that this was because at the time the 

 land had been ceded to Congress, and the authori 

 ties were waiting to see what Congress would do; 

 and after the Cession Act was repealed the goods 

 would have been given forthwith, had it not been 

 for the upsetting of all legal authority west of the 

 mountains, which brought matters to a standstill. 

 Moreover, the Governor in his turn made counter 

 accusations, setting forth that the mountaineers had 

 held unauthorized treaties with the Indians, and had 

 trespassed on their lands, and even murdered them. 

 He closed by drawing a strong picture of the evils 

 sure to be brought about by such lawless secession 

 and usurpation of authority. He besought and 

 , commanded the revolted counties to return to their 

 allegiance, and warned them that if they did not, 

 and if peaceable measures proved of no avail, then 

 the State of North Carolina would put down the re 

 bellion bv dint of arms. 



* ' 



At the same time, in the early spring of 1785, 

 the authorities of the new State sent a memorial to 

 the Continental Congress. 3 Having found their nat 

 ural civil chief and military leader in Sevier, the 



3 State Dept. MSS., Papers Continental Congress, Memo 

 rials, etc., No. 48. State of Franklin, March 12, 1785. Cer 

 tificate that William Cocke is agent; and memorial of the 

 freemen, etc. 



