As early as 1783, the territory of Kentucky had been laid off into three counties, and was that year, by law, formed into one District, denominated the District of Kentucky.  Regular courts of justice were organized—­log court-houses and log jails were erected—­judges, lawyers, sheriffs, and juries were engaged in the administration of justice—­money began to circulate—­cattle and flocks multiplied—­reading and writing schools were commenced—­more wealthy immigrants began to flock to the country, bringing with them cabinet furniture, and many of the luxuries of more civilized life—­and merchandize began to be wagoned from Philadelphia across the mountains to fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, from whence it was conveyed in flat boats to Maysville and Louisville.

In 1785 a convention was convoked at Danville, who adopted a memorial, addressed to the Legislature of Virginia, and another to the people of Kentucky—­suggesting the propriety, and reasons for erecting the new country into an independent state.  In the discussion of this question parties arose, and that warmth and excitement were elicited, which are inseparable from the free and unrestrained discussion of public measures.

In 1786 the legislature of Virginia enacted the preliminary provisions for the separation of Kentucky, as an independent state, provided that Congress should admit it into the Union.  About this time another source of party discord was opened in agitating debates touching the claims of Kentucky and the West to the navigation of the Mississippi.  The inhabitants were informed by malcontents in Western Pennsylvania, that the American Secretary of State was making propositions to the Spanish minister, to cede to Spain the exclusive right of navigation of the Mississippi for twenty-five years.  This information as might be supposed, created a great sensation.  It had been felt from the beginning of the western settlements, that the right to the free navigation of the Mississippi was of vital importance to the whole western country, and the least relinquishment of this right—­even for the smallest space of time, would be of dangerous precedent and tendency.  Circulars were addressed by the principal settlers to men of influence in the nation.  But before any decisive measures could be taken, Virginia interfered, by instructing her representatives in Congress to make strong representations against the ruinous policy of the measure.

In 1787 commenced the first operations of that mighty engine, the press, in the western country.  Nothing could have been wider from the anticipations, perhaps from the wishes of Boone, than this progress of things.  But in the order of events, the transition of unlettered backwoods emigrants to a people with a police, and all the engines of civilization was uncommonly rapid.  There was no other paper within five hundred miles of the one now established by Mr. Bradford, at Lexington.  The political heart-burnings and slander that had hitherto been transmitted through oral channels, were now concentrated for circulation in this gazette.