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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Martin to John Sevier
Martin, Alexander, 1740-1807
Volume 19, Pages 940-941

GOV. MARTIN TO THE HONOURABLE BRIGADIER GENERAL SEVIER.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Sir:

With some concern I have heard that the Counties of Washington, Sullivan and Greene have lately declared themselves independent of the State of North Carolina and have chosen you Governor, that you have accepted the same, and are now acting with a number of officers under the authority of a new Government.

As I wish to have full and proper information on this subject, Major Samuel Henderson waits upon you with this, by whom you will please to transmit to me an account of the late proceedings of the people in the Western Country, that I may have it in my power to communicate the same to the General Assembly.

The general discontent that prevailed through the State at the late Cession Act, and the situation of our public Accounts not being as favorable as they were taught to believe, caused the Assembly to repeal that Act by a large Majority. And to convince the people of the Western Country, that the State shall retain her affection for, and was not desirous to part with such a respectable Body of Citizens in the present situation of affairs, attempted to make government as easy as possible to them by erecting a new Superior Court District, Creating a Brigadier General of the Militia and an assistant Judge of the said Superior Court, which was in short redressing every grievance, and removing every obstacle out of the way that called for a separation, and which the Legislature were induced to expect, from one of the members of that district, would give full satisfaction.

It has also been suggested that the Indian Goods are to be seized and the Commissioners arrested when they arrive on the business of the Treaty as infringing on the powers of your new Government, for which reason they are stopped and I shall not proceed with the

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Commissioners until we are assured how far the Militia of Washington district may be relied on for guards in conducting the Treaty, whom alone I intend to call upon to attend this business.

You will also please to inform me respecting the late Proclamations to remove off all intruders on the Indian Lands; and what is done in Hubbard’s case, of which I wrote you by Colonel Martin.

In the mean while, I am, &c.,
ALEX. MARTIN.