Robertson’s Letter to MacGillivray.

In this same letter, [Footnote:  Robertson MSS., James Robertson to Alexander McGillivray, Nashville, Aug. 3, 1788.] Robertson frankly set forth his belief that the West should separate from the Union and join some foreign power, writing:  “In all probability we can not long remain in our present state, and if the British, or any commercial nation which may be in possession of the Mississippi, would furnish us with trade and receive our produce, there cannot be a doubt but the people on the west side of the Apalachian mountains will open their eyes to their real interests.”  At the same time Sevier was writing to Gardoqui, offering to put his insurrectionary State of Franklin, then at its last gasp, under the protection of Spain. [Footnote:  Gardoqui MSS., Sevier to Gardoqui, Sept. 12, 1788.]

    British Intrigue.

Robertson spoke with indifference as to whether the nation with which the Southerners allied themselves should happen to be Spain or Britain.  As a matter of fact, most of the intrigues carried on were with or against Spain; but in the fall of 1788 an abortive effort was made by a British agent to arouse the Kentuckians against both the Spaniards and the National Government, in the interest of Great Britain.  This agent was Conolly, the unsavory hero of Lord Dunmore’s war.  He went to Louisville, visited two or three prominent men, and laid bare to them his plans.  As he met with no encouragement whatever, he speedily abandoned his efforts, and when the people got wind of his design they threatened to mob him, while the officers of the Continental troops made ready to arrest him if his plans bore fruit, so that he was glad to leave the country. [Footnote:  Do.  Gardoqui to Florida Blanca, Jan. 12, 1789, inclosing a letter from Col.  George Moreau.  See Green, p. 300.  Also State Dept.  MSS., No. 150, vol. iii., St. Clair to John Jay, Dec. 15, 1788.  This letter and many others of St. Clair are given in W. H. Smith’s “St. Clair Papers.”  VOL III-9]

    Other Separatist Movements.

These movements all aimed at a complete independence, but there were others which aimed merely at separation from the parent States.  The efforts of Kentucky and Franklin in this direction must be treated by themselves; those that were less important may be glanced at in passing.  The people in western Virginia, as early as the spring of 1785, wished to erect themselves into a separate State, under Federal authority.  Their desire was to separate from Virginia in peace and friendship, and to remain in close connection with the Union.  A curious feature of the petition which they forwarded to the Continental Congress, was their proposition to include in the new State the inhabitants of the Holston territory, so that it would have taken in what is now West Virginia proper, [Footnote:  State Dept.  MSS., Memorials, etc., No. 48, Thos.  Cumings, on behalf of the deputies of Washington County, to the President of Congress, April 7, 1785.] and also eastern Tennessee and Kentucky.