USA > Tennessee > The history of Tennessee, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 12
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Painfully impressed with the necessity of af- fording more efficient protection to a people who had already suffered but too severely, the con- gressional committee to whom the subject was referred, recommended "that the President should be authorized to call out an adequate mi- litary force to carry on offensive operations against any hostile tribe, and to establish such posts and defences as would be necessary for the permanent security of the frontier settlers."
The first legislative council commissioned by the President of the United States, consisted of Griffith Rutherford, John Sevier, James Win- chester, Stockley Donaldson, and Parmenas Tay.
203
COLLEGES ESTABLISHED.
1795.]
-
lor : these, with the governor and the members of the house of delegates, constituted the general assembly for the South-West Territory.
One of the earliest measures adopted by the new assembly was to pass an act, establishing a college at Greenville. At the same session an- other institution for educational purposes was provided for in the vicinity of Knoxville. The latter, which received the name of Blount Col- lege in honour of the governor, still exists under the title of the University of East Tennessee. The details of the tax-bill having been adjusted, though not without some discordant feeling be- tween the upper and lower branches of the legis- lature, and another memorial to Congress drawn up, asking protection from Indian inroads, the assembly finally requested the governor «to di- rect that, when the census is taken next June, the sense of the people may at the same time be inquired into how far it may be their wish for admission into the Union as a State." The bu- siness of the session being thus completed, the two houses were prorogued, at their own request, until the 1st of October, 1795. Governor Blount, however, thought fit to summon them to meet again at Knoxville on the 29th of June. The session only lasted thirteen days, but during this period an act was passed incorporating Washing- ton College, and provision made for calling a convention of delegates from the people to adopt
204
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1796,
a constitution for the new State, in the event of its being ascertained that the population of the territory exceeded sixty thousand. The census returns made in the autumn of the same year showing sixty-seven thousand free white in- habitants and ten thousand slaves, a convention was held at Knoxville on the 11th of January, 1796, and a constitution adopted for the State of Tennessee.
The territorial government being thus abro- gated, fresh writs of election were issued, which resulted in the choice of General John Sevier as governor of the new state. The delegates of the state legislature, who had been voted for at the same time, assembled at Knoxville on the 28th of March, and presently elected ex-Governor Blount and William Cocke senators of the United States. To the reception of the latter, however, Congress raised objections. It was argued that the authority for taking the census, and for es- tablishing the new state, ought to have emanated from Congress. The report of the committee in favour of admitting the new state finally passed the house. The senate was less compliant. The new state was, however, after considerable oppo- sition, admitted into the Union; but when the senators elect presented their credentials and claimed their seats, it was decided that their election was invalid, because "their credentials
205
1798.] GENERAL JACKSON.
were of a date prior to the act admitting the state into the Union."
It was not long before this objection was re- moved. The legislature of Tennessee, in obe- dience to a summons from Governor Sevier, met at Knoxville toward the close of July, and very early the following month re-elected their sena- tors to Congress, taking occasion, at the same time, to correct certain errors in the enactments of the previous session, by providing for the election of a single member to Congress instead of two, and for the choice of three presidential electors instead of four. When these amendments had been made, Andrew Jackson, a young lawyer of Davidson county, who had already distin- guished himself by his firmness in the discharge of his professional duties, and his courage in de- fending the frontiers from the predatory incur- sions of the savages, was chosen to represent the State of Tennessee in the Congress of the United States.
At this period Jackson was about thirty years of age. He is remembered by Gallatin "as a tall, lank, uncouth-looking personage, with long locks of hair hanging over his face, and a cue down his back, tied in an eel skin: his dress sin- gular, his manners and deportment that of a rough backwoodsman.
Re-elected governor in 1798, Sevier found him- self under the necessity of restraining the en-
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206
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1798,
croachments of the people upon the Indian lands. The Cherokees were especially desirous that the integrity of their boundaries should be respected, but they addressed their complaints to men ac- customed to perfect freedom of action, and but little likely to observe a courteous forbearance toward those from whom they had suffered so much in times past. The general government, however, evinced a proper regard for the rights of the Indians, by instructing Colonel Butler, who was in command of the United States troops on the frontiers of Tennessee, to order all the squatters upon Indian lands to recross the boun- dary. But imperative as this mandate was, it was found impossible to enforce it. The people to whom it was especially addressed indignantly refused to recede a single step; and as the affair presently assumed a threatening aspect, the legis- lature amicably interposed.
Commissioners having already been appointed by the United States to obtain a cession of the lands illegally occupied, Governor Sevier was authorized tó apply to the President for a tem- porary suspension of the obnoxious order. The effect of this application is not recorded, but it may be presumed to have been favourable, as the trespassers were unmolested.
In the early part of the following July a council was held at Tellico; but the chiefs ma- nifesting a reluctance to part with any portion
207
1798.] BLOUNT EXPELLED THE SENATE.
of their territory, the negotiation was postponed until September, when Colonel Butler, on the part of the United States, assisted by Governor Sevier, who attended the conference to watch over the interests of Tennessee, succeeded in extinguishing the Cherokee claim to certain lands between the Tennessee and Clinch Rivers, and embracing those already settled upon.
In the mean time Senator Blount had been expelled from the Senate of the United States, on a charge of conspiring to set on foot a mili- tary expedition against the Spanish territory in Florida and Louisiana. Andrew Jackson was elected to fill the vacancy. Blount returned to Tennessee before articles of impeachment were preferred against him. His arrest being ordered, the sergeant-at-arms repaired to Knoxville for the purpose of taking him prisoner to Philadel- phia; but though this official was courteously received by Blount, and hospitably entertained by the citizens of Knoxville, so great was the popularity of the accused that the sergeant-at- arms, finding it impossible to obtain the co-opera- tion of the state authorities, was compelled to return home without executing his mission. As an evidence they regarded that project as praiseworthy which Congress had denounced as criminal, the inhabitants of Knox county pre- vailed upon General White to resign his seat in the senate of Tennessee in favour of Mr. Blount,
208
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1800.
who, on taking his seat in that body at the en- suing session, was unanimously chosen its pre- siding officer.
But while he was thus honoured at home the charges against him were brought to a trial in the Senate of the United States. On the 18th of December, Jared Ingersoll and A. J. Dallas appeared as his counsel and objected to the juris- diction of the court. After considerable discus- sion this objection was admitted to be valid, and on the 14th of January, 1799, the Vice-President declared the opinion of the court, dismissing the impeachment.
It needed not this decision to increase the popularity which Blount enjoyed in Tennessee. Having won the good opinion of the inhabitants while governor of the territory, it was now thought they would manifest their regard for his previous services, and their emphatic disapproval of the indignity which had been put upon him, by choosing him governor of the state, but his death in the spring of 1800 put an end to the project. The following year Archibald Roane was elected chief magistrate, and was continued in that office until 1809, when he was succeeded by Willie Blount, a younger brother of the de- ceased senator.
The perfect quiet and prosperity which pre- vailed for several years subsequent to the election of Roane, render the history of Tennessee during
209
1800.] PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.
that period barren of incidents sufficiently strik- ing to be worthy of record. Emigrants continued to pour into the territory in such numbers that the census of 1800 exhibited a population of one hundred and five thousand six hundred and eighty-two, of which thirteen thousand five hun- dred and eighty-four were slaves.
The rich valleys of East Tennessee and the fertile plains of the Cumberland bountifully repaid the labours of the husbandman. The hardy and courageous race which had grown to manhood amid the horrors of an unceasing war- fare now exchanged the rifle for the plough, and found leisure almost for the first time to culti- vate the amenities of life. The earlier borderers were rough uneducated men, careless of danger from being inured to its constant presence, and enjoying a precarious existence with a keener zest from a knowledge of its uncertain tenure. But as the cluster of log cabins, originally built around or connected with the old picketed sta- tions, gave place to the neat and well-ordered village, as the village became a town of some consequence, as the mechanic arts began to flourish, and education extended itself to that class which had hitherto remained in ignorance, the nomadic habits of the people were gradually subdued, local attachments sprang up, domestic comforts increased, the manners and habits of the people experienced insensibly a change, and
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210
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1804.
luxuries hitherto unattainable became requisites in every respectable household.
But this happy improvement in the social con- dition of the people did not tend to lessen in any marked degree their original force of cha- racter; for when, at a later day, a formidable Indian conspiracy threatened to devastate their fertile and well-cultivated fields, and a foreign invader disembarked an army of veteran soldiers upon the southern coast, they manifested the same martial ardour, power of endurance, elas- ticity of spirit and sturdy courage which so emi- nently distinguished their progenitors.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Aaron Burr-His duel with Hamilton-His journey to the West-Account of his projects against Spain and the United States-Co-operation of Blennerhasset-Burr publicly wel- comed at Nashville-Becomes the guest of Andrew Jackson -Descends the Mississippi-Returns to Philadelphia-In- trigues with Eaton, Truxton, and Decatur-Eaton's visit to Jefferson-Reappearance of Burr in the West-Military pre- parations in the Ohio valley-Burr's correspondence with Wilkinson-Denounced by the latter-Jackson's warning to the Governor of Louisiana-Jefferson's proclamation- Arrest of Burr in Kentucky-His acquittal-Suddenly ap- pears at Nashville-Frustration of his schemes-Burr de- scends the Cumberland-Encamps on the west bank of the Mississippi-His arrest, trial and acquittal-His subsequent fortunes.
IN 1804, having lost the confidence of the republican party of which he had been a distin-
211
AARON BURR.
1805.]
guished leader, Aaron Burr, a native of New Jersey, a graduate of Princeton, a colonel in the War of Independence, an eminent lawyer, a pro- minent legislator of New York, a senator and subsequently a Vice-President of the United States, determined, in default of a regular nomi- nation, to run independently for the office of go- vernor of New York. Depraved in morals yet artful and dissembling, with brilliant talents, a fascinating address and polished manners, Burr still possessed many warm friends among the young and enthusiastic of his own party. He greatly depended for success, however, upon the votes of the Federalists, who had not considered it worth while to nominate a candidate. Failing to be elected, the disappointed office-seeker at- tributed his defeat to the influence of the great federal leader Alexander Hamilton, whom he de- liberately forced into a duel and killed. To avoid the first outbreak of public indignation, Burr fled to South Carolina, but presently re- turned to Washington and served out his unex- pired term as Vice-President.
When Congress closed its session in March, 1805, Burr, not venturing to return to New York, set out for the West. He had several ostensible objects in view, one of which was to offer himself as a candidate for Congress from Tennessee, where no previous residence was required. Sug- gested by Matthew Lyon, a Kentucky congress-
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1805.
man, whose district adjoined Tennessee, the pro- position had been supported by a former com- panion-at-arms, General Wilkinson, who feared that if some legitimate field of action was not thrown open to him, he would betake himself to unlawful and desperate courses.
Already, however, as subsequently appeared, Burr was contemplating far other than the inno- cent objects which he pretended to have in view.
To a considerable portion of the southern and western people Spain had become particularly odious, partly on account of the difficulties which she had for so long continued to throw in the way of navigating the Mississippi, and partly from her intrigues with the southern Indians. Aware of this feeling, and ready himself for any enterprise, however repugnant to common justice, in which he might hope to better his present for- tunes, Burr meditated the organization of a mi- litary force in the West, to descend the Mississippi and wrest from Spain a portion of her territory bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. As the execu- tion of this scheme could not but implicate the whole South-West, it was contemplated, in the expected event of a dismemberment of this por- tion of the country from the Union, to establish New Orleans as the capital of a new empire. Of this, either as dictator or president as cir- cumstances might determine, Burr was to be made the chief.
213
BURR AT NASHVILLE.
1805.]
With this scheme yet dimly shadowed out in his mind, Burr started on his voyage down the Ohio, during which he stopped for some time at the island of Blennerhasset, subsequently so called from the name of its wealthy proprietor and occupant, Herman Blennerhasset. This warm-hearted but impulsive and visionary Irish- man, the artful adventurer found little difficulty in winning over to his vaguely defined but ambi- tious purposes.
At the Falls of the Ohio Burr met Lyon, by whom he had been preceded. From him he learned that his delay had proved fatal to his prospect of being elected from Tennessee. Nevertheless he accompanied Lyon to his home at Eddyville, on the Cumberland, whence he journeyed on horseback to Nashville. Here he was honoured by a public welcome, hearty and enthusiastic, and remained for several days under the hospitable roof of General Andrew Jackson. Of this gentleman, with whom he had become acquainted while both were in Congress, Burr at this time remarked, in a journal which he kept for the entertainment of his gifted but unfortu- nate daughter, that he "was once a lawyer, after- ward a judge, and now a planter, a man of in- telligence, and one of those prompt, frank, ardent souls whom he loved to meet."
Returning down the Cumberland to Fort Mas- saç, Burr there met Wilkinson, through whose
214
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1806.
influence he was provided with a well-manned officer's barge, in which he proceeded to New Orleans, where he arrived late in June. After a brief stay in the Orleans Territory, where he found the authorities highly unpopular, he re- ascended the Mississippi to Natchez, whence he travelled by land to Nashville. Again compli- mented with a public reception, he enjoyed the hospitalities of Jackson for another week, and then proceeded through Kentucky and the In- diana Territory to St. Louis.
It was here that Wilkinson, according to his own story, first suspected Burr of meditating a desperate and illegal enterprise. Assuming an air of mystery, the artful plotter hinted at some glorious undertaking favoured by the general government. Yet that government he asserted was imbecile, and darkly spoke of the western people as being ripe for revolt.
Returning to the east, Burr spent the ensuing winter, spring, and summer in Washington and Philadelphia. Mystery still attended all his proceedings. Nevertheless he began to talk more boldly, and to tamper with prominent public men at Washington, assuring some of them that Wilkinson was a party to his enterprise. But from such men as Eaton, Truxton, and De- catur he received no countenance ; though to the two latter he represented his project to be merely the establishment of an independent government
1806.] BURR S MILITARY PREPARATIONS. 215
in Mexico in the event of a war between Spain and the United States, which then seemed by no means improbable. Speaking more freely of his designs to Eaton, that officer visited the president and suggested Burr's appointment to a foreign mission, declaring it to be his belief that a revo- lution in the West would thus be prevented. Jefferson, however, expressing his firm confidence in the patriotism of the western people, demanded no further explanation, and Eaton did not feel authorized to give it unasked.
Late in August, 1806, Burr again made his appearance in the West, and began to make active preparations to carry out his designs. In com- pany with Blennerhasset, he contracted for the building of fifteen boats on the Muskingum; authority was given to a mercantile house at Marietta to purchase provisions; a kiln was erected on Blennerhasset's island to dry corn for shipment; and numbers of the young and adven- turous were enlisted to participate in some splen- did enterprise, of the true nature of which they were told little or nothing.
In the mean time Wilkinson had taken com- mand at Natchitoches. While at this point there came to him a messenger bearing a letter in cipher from Burr. This letter, in disjointed phrases and a tone of mystery, announced that Burr had nearly completed his arrangements for some enterprise, which, judging from the tenor
216
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1806.
of the communication, Wilkinson was tolerably cognizant of, and in which he was expected to engage. How far the latter was implicated in the conspiracy it is difficult to determine. Sub- sequently Burr charged him with having carried on a correspondence in regard to the expedition, and with being privy to his designs. But ad- mitting the fact of the correspondence, Wilkinson alleged that it was continued solely for the pur- pose of drawing Burr out. However this may have been, the course he now adopted left no room for suspicion. Gathering from Burr's messenger all the particulars he could of the projected enterprise, he sent the intelligence in a letter to the president; despatched an order to the commanding officer at New Orleans to put the place in the best state of defence; warned Claiborne, the governor of the Louisiana Terri- tory, that his government was threatened by a secret plot; made a requisition upon the acting governor of the Mississippi Territory for a re- inforcement of five hundred militia to proceed to New Orleans; and, in short, did all that it was possible for activity and energy to accomplish.
Meanwhile it had been widely rumoured that Wilkinson himself was concerned in the scheme of Burr-a fact that caused the former no little embarrassment, and for which as we have seen his conduct had afforded no slight ground. Writ- ing to Governor Claiborne, General Jackson
1806.]
ARREST OF BURR. 217
warned that gentleman of an enterprise being on foot against his territory, and advised him to guard against internal as well as external dan- ger-as well against Wilkinson as against Burr. " For my own part, I hate the Dons," continued Jackson ; "I would delight to see Mexico reduced ; but I would die in the last ditch before I would see the Union disunited."
At length, on the 29th November, finding it impossible any longer to doubt the dangerous and unlawful character of Burr's projected enter- prise, President Jefferson issued a proclamation calling upon all in authority to exert themselves for its suppression and for the arrest of the par- ties concerned in it.
A few days previous to the issuing of this proclamation, however, Burr had been arrested at Lexington, upon the affidavit of the United States district-attorney for Kentucky. But having all the influence of the district-judge in his favour, the conspirator was acquitted, and his triumph was celebrated by a ball at Frankford.
After the ball, Burr suddenly departed for Nashville. Scarcely had he gone when the Pre- sident's proclamation arrived. Its effect was completely destructive to Burr's plans. His boats on the Muskingum were seized; Blenner- hasset was compelled to fly down the river at the head of a few followers ; and every arrangement was made by the authorities of Kentucky and
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218
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
-1 [1806.
Ohio to intercept all suspicious parties descend- ing the river.
Meanwhile, having reached Nashville, Burr departed thence with a few followers and two boats down the Cumberland. On an island at the river's mouth he was joined by Blennerhasset. Finding that the whole number of those who still adhered to his desperate fortunes was less than two hundred, he endeavoured to draw recruits from the garrison of Fort Massac, in the neigh- bourhood of which he was encamped. proving signally unsuccessful, Burr once more took to his boats, and proceeded down the Mis- sissippi to Chickasaw Bluff, now Memphis, the only military station between Fort Massac and Natchez. Here the conspirator endeavoured again to raise recruits. The commanding officer of the fort so far yielded to his seductions as to promise to join him after he had visited his friends; but neither the arts nor the tempting offers of Burr had any effect on the soldiers of the garrison.
Resuming his voyage, Burr, before reaching New Orleans, upon which his sole hope now de- pended, became acquainted with the revelations made by Wilkinson. He saw at once that his whole project was baffled. Withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Territory, he formed an encampment on the west bank of the river, some thirty miles above Natchez. But he
219
TRIAL OF BURR.
1807.
was not secure even here. Influenced by the president's proclamation, the governor of Mis- sissippi sent a detachment of militia to arrest him. Surrounded, and hopeless of escape, he was at length induced to yield.
Thus once more a prisoner, Burr was taken to Washington, the capital of the Mississippi Ter- ritory, where he easily found sureties for his appearance at court. When the court met on the 5th of February, 1807, he appeared with his counsel, and demanded his release on the ground that thé attorney-general had given it as an official opinion that his offences did not come within the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Terri- tory. His application for a discharge being overruled by the judges, Burr fled the same evening. A reward was immediately offered for his capture. For nearly two weeks nothing was heard of him; but at length, on the 17th of Feb- ruary, he was arrested, in mean clothes, while travelling with a single companion through the westernmost settlements of what is now Alabama.
Of Burr's subsequent history, of his trial at Richmond, of his acquittal on account of the in- formality of the evidence brought. against him, of his wandering career in Europe and obscure and lonely life in New York, where he died at the advanced age of eighty years-it does not seem necessary to give any further account in a volume like the present.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. - -
[1806.
CHAPTER XIX.
Difficulties with Great Britain and France-Action of Congress -Increase of popular indignation against Great Britain- Congress declares war-Disastrous issue of the campaign at the north-Naval victories-Wilkinson calls on Tennes- see for volunteers-Prompt response-Reach Natchez under Jackson and Coffee-Ordered to be disbanded-Conduct of Jackson-Return to Nashville-Tecumseh-His attempt to form an Indian confederacy-Effect of his visit to the southern tribes-The Creeks become hostile-Massacre of Fort Mimms-Jackson reassembles the militia of Tennessee -Battle of Tallasehatche-Battle of Talladega-Successes of the Georgians and Mississippians.
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