University of Virginia Library

REPORT.

"Your committee are of opinion and judge it expedient, that the
counties of Washington, Sullivan and Greene, which the Cession
Bill particularly respects, form themselves into an association and
combine themselves together, in order to support the present laws
of North Carolina, which may not be incompatible with the modes
and forms of laying off a new State. It is the opinion of your
committee that we have a just and undeniable right to petition to
Congress to accept the cession made by North Carolina, and for
that body to countenance us in forming ourselves into a separate

government, and either to frame a permanent or temporary constitution,
agreeably to a resolve of Congress in such case made and
provided, as nearly as circumstances will permit. We have a right
to keep and hold a convention from time to time, by meeting and
convening at such place or places as the said convention shall
adjourn to. When any contiguous part of Virginia shall make
application to join this association, after they are legally permitted,
either by the State of Virginia or other power having cognizance
thereof, it is our opinion that they be received and enjoy the same
privilege that we do, or shall enjoy. This convention has a right
to adopt and prescribe such regulations as the particular exigencies
of the times and the public good may require; that one or more
persons ought to be sent to represent our situation in the Congress
of the United States and this convention has just right and authority
to prescribe a regular mode for his support."

This report was received by the convention and adopted, and
the convention, by a vote of 28 to 15, declared in favor of forming
a separate and distinct State at this time, and appointed Messrs.
Hardin and Cocke to draw up articles of association, which they
did and which articles were approved by the convention. Pursuant
to the Articles of Association, the first members of the General
Assembly of the State of Franklin were chosen, and assembled at
Jonesboro in the month of March, 1785, at which time officers were
elected and laws adopted for the government of the State of Frankland.
The officers elected were as follows:

Governor, John Sevier.

Secretary of State, Landon Carter.

Treasurer, William Cage.

Surveyor-General, Stockly Donaldson.

Brigadier-Generals, Daniel Kennedy and William Cocke.

Council of State, William Cocke, Landon Carter, Francis A.
Ramsay, David Campbell, Daniel Kennedy and Colonel Taylor.

Member of Congress, General William Cocke.

The government as thus organized, proceeded in an orderly way
to administer the affairs of the people.

There can be but little question, that Colonel Arthur Campbell,
the author of the idea of a new State, played a leading part in the
organization of the State of Frankland. During the years 17831784,
he was constantly engaged in organizing this new government

and enlisting the sympathies of the people of Washington and
Montgomery counties in behalf of the same. He drew up a Declaration
of Rights and a Constitution for the new government, and
while I am unable to obtain a copy of the Constitution that he
proposed for the new State, still I am able to give the Declaration
of Rights prepared by him, which is as follows: