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At a meeting of the subscribers, the
12th day of January, 1789, to consult on
some plan to defend our frontiers from
the common enemy, unanimously agreed
that it is a voluntary plan, and not
under the authority of any State, or
name of State, nor in opposition to the
laws of any State, or the United States,
but purely to defend ourselves from the
savage enemy.
Present: Mr. Outlaw, Mr. Roddy, Mr.
McCay, Mr. Gest, Mr. Buckingham, Mr.
Gibson, Mr. Crosby, Mr. Weir, Mr.
Taylor, Mr. Smith, Mr. Henderson, Mr.
Lee, Mr. Coulter, Mr. Adear, Mr.
Gillaspie.
Unanimously agreed that Colonel Gest be
chosen chairman. Agreed unanimously that
Henry Rowan be chosen clerk for said
committee.
On motion of Mr. Crosby, seconded by Mr.
Adear, the house adjourned till tomorrow
at 8 o'clock.
On the IA of January, the council met
agreeable to adjournment, and it
appeared from the report of some members
present the names of Mr. Buckingham and
Mr. Gillaspie were not inserted in the
list of members. On motion of Mr. Outlaw
seconded by Mr. Smith, their names were
entered on the list.
The members of the Assembly from Greene
county, at the general request of the
meeting, gave information that the
General Assembly had made no provision
to assist the frontiers in defending
themselves from the savages, except a
small station of 36 men, including
officers, on the north side of
Tennessee; that they declared the
campaign ordered by General Martin in
August last, was contrary to the orders
of the Governor and Council, and,
therefore, refused to pay any part of
the expense incurred thereby, and
resolved that the fines levied on any
person for refusing to obey said
Martin's orders should be restored. That
an act was passed consigning to oblivion
the supposed offenses and misconduct of
certain persons among ourselves. That,
agreeable to a requisition of Congress,
and also from General Wynn, the Indian
Commissioner for the Southern District,
a commissioner was appointed to make
peace and fix out a certain boundary
between us and the Indians. That the
treaty was to be held in May next, at
the upper ford on French Broad, above
the mouth of Swanano. That the committee
was directed to purchase the land of
French Broad, if possible, and that the
people in that quarter were directed to
continue in possession of said land
until the treaty.
Wherefore, after maturely considering
the said information, and our present
distressed situation, we conceive that
our lives and properties are in
continual danger until peace is made, as
the Indians still continue their
depredations, unless we agree on some
plan to defend and secure ourselves from
their inroads. We conceive also that
General Martin is a person unworthy our
confidence as an officer from the
partial representation he has given of
us; witness, his conduct at the treaty
of Hopewell, from his not residing in
the district, and from the declaration
of the Assembly that he has not acted
agreeable to the orders of the
Government. In order, therefore to
secure our lives and properties from the
present dangers that threaten from the
frequent incursions of the savage enemy,
we unanimously agree to adopt the
following plan, viz:
1st. That we mutually lay aside all
animosities and disputes that so much
distract us, and unite against the
common enemy, and make legal application
for redress for grievances.
end. That we recommend it to the people
to petition the next Assembly to divide
the State at the Appalachian Mountains,
or cede the territory west of said
mountains to Congress, with such
restrictions and reservations as will
guarantee to us our just rights and
privileges.
3rd. That, sensible of the disagreeable
situation under which we labor by the
rejection of the Federal Constitution by
the State of North Carolina, we think it
would be good policy, and of great
advantage to this Western Country to
raise a fund to defray the expense of
sending some person to lay before the
first meeting of Congress under the new
Constitution, our present situation, and
to express our earnest desire to be
admitted into the Union as soon as
possible.
4th. That the peculiar situation of the
people of this country and laws of
French Broad, require that the people
should appoint a Council of Safety for
the regulation of their affairs, and
whose business it shall be to endeavor
to hold talks with the Indians, to
procure an exchange of prisoners and
bring about peace whenever it is
practicable; to make any contract or
agreement with the Indians that they may
think most advantageous for this
country, and lay the same before the
commissioners at the treaty of May, if
they think proper. If the Indians do not
agree to a peace or truce, they may keep
out spies and call for assistance
whenever it shall be necessary to defend
the settlements, or pursue after any
party of Indians who come in with a
hostile intent.
5th. That John Sevier keep the command
of the inhabitants on the frontiers, or
any that may come to their assistance,
when ordered to march for defense of the
country; that we endeavor to raise by
voluntary contribution a support for the
commander and the spies and scouts that
may be necessary until the peace.
6th. We also conceive that it would be
good policy, and of essential service to
this country if the Indians will agree
to give up
any of the country south of Tennessee
river to our Council of Safety. That
they agree to give them a compensation
for the same in blankets and lindsey,
and that the inhabitants pay the same by
voluntary contributions, and lay the
same before the Commissioners of Indian
Affairs in May next.
7th. We are also of opinion that this
plan, if justly carried into effect,
will entitle our brave volunteers to a
right of pre-emption in a legal and
constitutional manner, proportioned
agreeable to their services and
expenses.
8th. They unanimously agree his Honor,
John Sevier, by and with the advice of
the Council of Safety, hold all the
talks with the Indians.
9th. We also agree that every man in
this Convention raise what cash he can
by donations from the neighborhoods and
deliver the same to the Committee of
Safety in one month from this date, to
raise a fund to defray the expense of a
representative to Congress.
l0th. Also recommend to the different
Captains of companies in this country to
divide themselves into three classes, in
order to march with twenty days
provisions, when called on by the
Council of Safety, to the assistance of
the frontiers.
11th. We also request John Sevier,
Alexander Outlaw, Archibald Rowan
[Roane] David Campbell, and Joseph
Hamilton to draw a representation of our
situation and our earnest desire to be
in the Federal Union, and lay it before
the Council of Safety for their revisal
[so] as copies may be circulated as soon
as possible, to be signed by all
friends.
12th. We also agree to request William
Nelson to wait on Congress with such
instructions and powers in him invested
as the Council of Safety think right to
give him; and that he be furnished with
two hundred silver dollars to defray
expenses. And in case Mr. Nelson refuse
to wait on Congress, we request
Alexander Outlaw to attend the
Honourable body.
13th. We also agree to request Joseph
Hardin to wait on Cumberland Settlement
with our plan of Safety and Redress of
Grievances, and with such instructions
and requisitions as the Council of
Safety think it right to give him.
14th. We also agree to meet at Greene
Court House on the first Tuesday in
February next to consult with any number
of gentlemen who shall attend from
Washington and Sullivan Counties to
consult on our voluntary plan of safety
and that we send a request to the
Inhabitants of said Counties to meet at
the time and place above mentioned, and
that each County, previously mentioned,
elect five members on the twenty-third
of this instant. Likewise, the
settlements of Little Pigeon and South
of French Broad elect three members to
attend at the time and place above
mentioned.
15th. We, the subscribers, agree to
persevere in supporting the above plan
and in recommending [it] to the people
in general as the most likely method
that we can devise at present for the
safety and protection of our Country. |
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