The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 273 



rival, and he succeeded admirably. The Franklin 

 man proclaimed that he would allow no one to vote 

 who had not paid taxes to Franklin; but after 

 three or four votes had been taken the approach of 

 a body of armed adherents of the North Carolina 

 interest caused the shutting of the polls. The 

 Franklin authorities then dispersed, the North Caro 

 lina sheriff having told them plainly that the matter 

 would have to be settled by seeing which party was 

 strongest. One or two efforts were made to have 

 an adjourned election elsewhere in the neighbor 

 hood, with the result that in the confusion certifi 

 cates were given to two different men. 23 Such dis 

 orders showed that the time had arrived when the 

 authorities of Franklin either had to begin a bloody 

 civil war or else abandon the attempt to create a 

 new State; and in their feebleness and uncertainty 

 they adopted the latter alternative. 



When in March, 1788, the term of Sevier as Gov 

 ernor came to an end, there was no one to take his 

 place, and the officers of North Carolina were left 

 in undisputed possession of whatever governmental 

 authority there was. 



The North Carolina Assembly which met in Nov 

 ember, 1787, had been attended by regularly elected 

 members from all the western counties, Tipton be 

 ing among them; while the far-off log hamlets on 

 the banks of the Cumberland sent Robertson him- 



83 Tennessee Hist. Soc. MSS. Report of "Committee of 

 Privileges and Elections" of Senate of Franklin, Nov. 23, 

 1787. 



