Throughout the year ’86 the confusion gradually grew worse.  A few days after the Greenville convention met, the Legislature of North Carolina passed an act in reference to the revolt.  It declared that, at the proper time, the western counties would be erected into an independent state, but that this time had not yet come; until it did, they would be well cared for, but must return to their ancient allegiance, and appoint and elect their officers under the laws of North Carolina.  A free pardon and oblivion of all offences was promised.  Following this act came a long and tedious series of negotiations.  Franklin sent ambassadors to argue her case before the Legislature of the mother State; the Governors and high officials exchanged long-winded letters and proclamations, and the rival Legislatures passed laws intended to undermine each other’s influence.  The Franklin Assembly tried menace, and threatened to fine any one who acted under a commission from North Carolina.  The Legislature of the latter State achieved more by promises, having wisely offered to remit all taxes for the two troubled years to any one who would forthwith submit to her rule.

Neither side was willing to force the issue to trial by arms if it could be helped; and there was a certain pointlessness about the struggle, inasmuch as the differences between the contending parties were really so trifling.  The North Carolinians kept protesting that they would be delighted to see Franklin set up as an independent state, as soon as her territory contained enough people; and the Franklin leaders in return were loud in their assurances of respect for North Carolina and of desire to follow her wishes.  But neither would yield the points immediately at issue.

A somewhat comic incident of the affair occurred in connection with an effort made by Sevier and his friends to persuade old Evan Shelby to act as umpire.  After a conference they signed a joint manifesto which aimed to preserve peace for the moment by the novel expedient of allowing the citizens of the disputed territory to determine, every man for himself, the government which he wished to own, and to pay his taxes to it accordingly.  Nothing came of this manifesto.

    Decline of Franklin.

During this time of confusion each party rallied by turns, but the general drift was all in favor of North Carolina.  One by one the adherents of Franklin dropped away.  The revolt was essentially a frontier revolt, and Sevier was essentially a frontier leader.  The older and longer-settled counties and parts of counties were the first to fall away from him, while the settlers on the very edge of the Indian country clung to him to the last.

    Attitude of Neighboring States.

The neighboring States were more or less excited over the birth of the little insurgent commonwealth.  Virginia looked upon it with extreme disfavor, largely because her own western counties showed signs of desiring to throw in their fortunes with the Franklin people [Footnote:  Va.  State Papers, iv. 53.] Governor Patrick Henry issued a very energetic address on the subject, and the authorities took effective means to prevent the movement from gaining head.