too far to back out.  The convention came together again in December, and took measures looking towards the assumption of full statehood.  In the constitution they drew up they provided, among other things, for a Senate and a House of Commons, to form the legislative body, which should itself choose the Governor. [Footnote:  Haywood, 142; although Ramsey writes more in full about the Franklin government, it ought not to be forgotten that the groundwork of his history is from Haywood.  Haywood is the original, and by far the most valuable authority on Tennessee matters, and he writes in a quaint style that is very attractive.] By an extraordinary resolution they further provided that the government should go into effect, and elections be held, at once; and yet that in the fall of 1785 a new convention should convene at which the very constitution under which the government had been carried on would be submitted for revision, rejection, or adoption.

    Meeting of the Legislature.

Elections for the Legislature were accordingly held, and in March, 1785, the two houses of the new state of Franklin met, and chose Sevier as Governor.  Courts were organized, and military and civil officials of every grade were provided, those holding commissions under North Carolina being continued in office in almost all cases.  The friction caused by the change of government was thus minimized.  Four new counties were created, taxes were levied, and a number of laws enacted.  One of the acts was “for the promotion of learning in the county of Washington.”  Under it the first academy west of the mountains was started; for some years it was the only high school anywhere in the neighborhood where Latin, or indeed any branch of learning beyond the simplest rudiments, was taught.  It is no small credit to the backwoodsmen that in this their first attempt at state-making they should have done what they could to furnish their sous the opportunity of obtaining a higher education.

    Backwoods Currency.

One of the serious problems with which they had to grapple was the money question.  All through the United States the finances were in utter disorder, the medium of exchange being a jumble of almost worthless paper currency, and of foreign coin of every kind, while the standard of value varied from State to State.  But in the backwoods conditions were even worse, for there was hardly any money at all.  Transactions were accomplished chiefly by the primeval method of barter.  Accordingly, this backwoods Legislature legalized the payment of taxes and salaries in kind, and set a standard of values.  The dollar was declared equal to six shillings, and a scale of prices was established.  Among the articles which were enumerated as being lawfully payable for taxes were bacon at six pence a pound, rye whiskey at two shillings and six pence a gallon, peach or apple brandy at three shillings per gallon, and country-made sugar at one shilling per pound.  Skins, however, formed the ordinary currency; otter, beaver, and deer being worth six shillings apiece, and raccoon and fox one shilling and three pence.  The Governor’s salary was set at two hundred pounds, and that of the highest judge at one hundred and fifty.