Petition of citizens to the Legislature to move the county seat
August 1822
Contributed by: Robbie Burnett
The following petitions can be found on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee. The original petitions are also available.
Memorial of the Citizens of the County of Perry
To the Honorable, the Senate, and House of Representatives, of the State of Tennessee The Memorial, of the Citizens of Perry County, humbly represents to your honorable body, That, in obedience to an Act passed at the first Session of the present General Assembly, the Commissioners, appointed by that Act, entered upon the duties of their Office, and ascertained the boundary lines, of Perry County. They then found the Centre of the County, which being in a place, totally unsuitable for the situation of a Town, it became necessary, that some other spot should be selected, with “due regard to the Central situation of said County, its Commercial advantages, and its navigations.” The Commissioners found three places, which were, in the opinion of some amongst them, suitable for sites of a Town, but, were unable to agree amongst themselves, as to which, of those places, should be selected, for the location of their seats of Justice.
It then became necessary, that the umpires, appointed by the Act aforesaid, should be called on to determine the dispute. They, accordingly, on the eighteenth day of July last, discharged that duty, in such a manner, as to give to nearly every Citizen of Perry County, the most complete and unmingled dissatisfaction. The only individuals, who seem to think their choice judicious are a few, who reside, near the chosen spot, together with the owner of the land, to which the preference was given, and who is also one of our commissioners.
Your Memorialists are unwilling to impute, to the Umpires, improper or corrupt motives: but, they must, at least, have been most grossly deluded in making their selection. Passing in haste, and scarcely glancing upon two of the places chosen by the commissioners, they proceeded to the third the object of their infatuated choice, and made a decision, which your Memorialists believe to be ruinous to the interests of their County.
The town, thus fined upon, is to be situated on both sides of a small and sluggish stream, dignified with the name of Beech River; on the Western bank of the Tennessee, at the confluence of those streams; seven miles from the South boundary line of the county, and twenty miles from the North. There are not more than twenty acres, of the land allotted for a Town, which do not overflow, at each periodical innundation of the Tennessee River. The part, not overflowed, is surrounded by water, on every side, except, where a narrow Ridge leads from the River, towards the Country, which,, at present thinly inhabited, can never be otherwise. Four families during the four last years, have successively been compelled to abandon the place, in order to preserve the lives, of those members of their domestic circle, whom the first attack of sickness had not destroyed. Repeated experiment has shown it to be impossible, to preserve life, at that place, throughout the lapse of one year. There is no Spring at or near the place, except a very small one, in the bank of the Tennessee, a short distance above low water mark, which, during the greater part of the year, is totally covered with water, from the River. No road __________ opposite to the place, from the Eastern bank of the Tennessee, can ever be made in consequence of the Ponds and Swamps, in the low or bottom ground; which will also forever prevent settlements, in the vicinity of the town, on that side.
Your Memorialists have ever been aware, that their County possessed few natural advantages, to induce emigration, or to give it a rank, among the more favored parts of the State. Their hopes have been fixed upon a Town situated on some spot, judiciously selected, and concentrating all the advantages, to be derived from a Central position, Navigable streams, Health, and case of _____ by. land. In perspective, they have viewed it as the Depot of Trade, for the Counties of Hickman, Maury, Giles and several west of the river. But the conduct of the Umpires, from the County of Hickman, has blasted every prospect, of that nature, and given them a despicable sickly Village, instead of a populous, commercial town.
Believing that a County is always aided, in its progress toward improvement, by a town, so situated as to invite the residence of individuals, who unite Wealth and a spirit of Enterprise, your Memorialists feel the deepest interest, in having such advantages offered to their County. They do not presume to arraign, either the conduct of the Legislature, or of their own immediate Representatives; but, they are induced to believe, that, the task of composing a difference, so important, as one relative to the site, of a seat of Justice, might, with greater propriety, have been placed in the hands of any other individuals, than men, whose minds are entirely occupied and distracted by ____________ of a similar nature at home. Far from having any confidence in the prudence, or efficacy of their prescriptions, they feel disposed to dismiss them, with the salutary advice, “Physician, heal thyself!”–
Of the places, mentioned as suitable for the location of our seat of Justice, none are so miserable deficient, in every necessary qualification, which would meet the wishes of the Citizens of the County, in every respect. Elevated, healthy, well watered and commanding a beautiful view, of the Tennessee river, it offers advantages, to which, the choice already made, has not the slightest pretensions.
Your Memorialists humbly concede, that the evil complained of may be much more effectually remedied at the present juncture, that at any subsequent period. Having before their eyes the example, of an adjacent county, in which disunion as to the location of its seat of Justice, has long prevailed, and is not even yet at an end, they feel peculiarly anxious to preserve their still infant county, from the complicated injuries flowing from that fountain. When public monies have been expended, in the erection of necessary buildings and when private funds have been vested in the purchase of town property, it is better to submit to some inconvenience than to render such expenditures to no avail. But, whilst yet not expense has accrued, when no injury can result to any individual, and when the greatest public good is anticipated with __________ confidence, your Memorialists expect, from the known wisdom and justice of their Legislature, every assistance requisite, and proper, for carrying their wishes into effect.
Should your honorable body think proper, to lend your sanction to their desires, they may still look forward to a period, when their town, the seat of commerce, wealth and enterprise will diffuse its prosperity throughout the adjacent county, and cause it though marked by the hand of Nature, with the attributes of a Wilderness to “blossom as a Rose”. But, should the low unhealthy, inundated and almost insulated mouth of Beech River, continue to be the seat of Justice, the county of Perry must ever be a prey to every discontent and sterile wretchedness.
From such a consummation of Misfortune, your Memorialists pray your Honorable body, to release them, by the passage of a Law annulling the acts of the Umpires from Hickman County; and appointing the Honorable, The Speaker of the Senate Col. Thomas Coleman and Abiram Caldwell Esquire Commissioners ,to fix on a site for their seat of Justice, with due regard to health and local advantages, as well as central position.
In the integrity and ability of those Gentlemen, your Memorialist have the most unlimited confidence, and to their decision, they feel willing to submit this question, which they accent of the most vital importance to the interest of their county.
August 16th 1822
V.D. Barry Secry of the committee of the Citizens of Perry County