quest, they published a recommendation that, on a certain day, each military company in the District should elect one representative, and that these representatives should meet at Danville, on December 27, 1784, to "devise if possible some means of preserving their country from that immediate destruction which seemed then impending." 1

The suggestion was well received, and on the proposed day, the representatives met at Danville, formed themselves into a deliberative assembly and proceeded at once to business.2 There were a number of spectators present, who listened with interest to the prolonged debate upon the advisability of a separation from Virginia, and, although there was considerable difference of opinion upon that question, there was a unanimous desire manifested that, whatever was done should be done in strict accordance with the laws of the parent State. A large majority favored the plan of petitioning the Assembly of Virginia, and, through it, Congress, for the passage of an act by which Kentucky might become an independent member of the Confederacy. They felt, however, that, as this had not been clearly and specifically proposed in the recommendation which had caused their election, they had not the authority to take so decided a step. They therefore contented themselves with passing a resolution earnestly recommending that the people of Kentucky, at the next regular election of delegates to the Virginia Legislature, should choose representatives, who should meet in the following May, with full power to petition the Assembly

1 Littell's "Political Transactions," p. 16. See also "Appendix," p. 1, for date, etc.

2 The earliest known copy of the Minutes are given in "Lettres d'un Cultivateur Américain-De Crève Coeur à Paris-1787," Tome, III, pp. 438-440.

of Virginia for an act of separation,' and, through it, to petition Congress for admission into the Confederation.

Accordingly, on the 23rd of May, 1785, the "Second Assembly of Kentucky" met at Danville and drew up the following five resolutions: 2

"1. Resolved (unanimously), as the opinion of this convention, That a petition be presented to the Assembly, praying that this District may be established into a State, separate from Virginia.

"2. Resolved (unanimously), as the opinion of this convention, That this District, when established into a State, ought to be taken into the Union with the United States of America; and enjoy equal privileges in common with the said States.

"3. Resolved, That this Convention recommend it to their constituents, to elect deputies in their respective counties, to meet at Danville on the second Monday of August next, to serve in convention, and to continue by adjournment till the first day of April next, to take further under their consideration the state of the District.

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4. Resolved (unanimously): That the election of the deputies for the proposed convention, ought to be on the principle of equal representation.'

"5. Resolved: That the petition to the Assembly for establishing this District into a State, and the several resolves of the former and present Conventions, upon which the petition is founded, together with all other matters relative to the interest of the District, that have been

1 The Constitution of Virginia had made provision for the erection of one or more governments in the Western territory when occasion might require. Littell's "Political Transactions," p. 15.

2 Marshall, 1824 Ed., I, p. 196.

under their consideration, be referred to the future convention, that such further measures may be taken thereon as they shall judge proper." 1

The "Second Assembly of Kentucky" thus signally failed to accomplish the object of its meeting, in that it refused to take the final step, and make application for the desired separation, although it had been elected for that specific purpose, and a feeling of uneasiness and impatience began to manifest itself in the community, due not only to the failure of the convention to do its duty, but also to the unfortunate impression which the Confederation was making upon the people of the District. They were coming to realize, more fully each day, the utter imbecility of the central government, which either could not, or would not, protect them from the dangers incident upon the British possession of the posts in the Northwest; and vague rumors were being circulated, to the effect that Congress was on the point of abandoning all claim to the navigation of the Mississippi, for twenty-five years; 2 which act they knew would destroy for them all chance of commercial prosperity. They realized that they could not trade, with either safety or profit, if they had to carry their goods overland to and from the eastern States, as the country lying between was wild and mountainous, and the passes were beset with bands of savages.

It was at this point that the feeling first arose that, if the Confederation could do no better than this for her struggling frontier colony, it would be far better to cut themselves off entirely from the central government and

1 Extracts from the "Journal." Cf. Littell's "Political Transactions," Appendix, I.

* Woodrow Wilson's "History of the American People," III, p. 51, for details of this report.

its control; and, although this idea had not yet become very general, it afforded a plausible basis for the agents of Spain to work upon.

Having provided for another Assembly1 upon which to place the responsibility for action, if anything was to be done, the "Second Assembly" adopted two addresses, one "To the Honorable General Assembly of Virginia," and the other "To the Inhabitants of the District of Kentucky." 2

The author of those two addresses cannot be positively ascertained, but it seems probable that in them we have the first work of General James Wilkinson, as their tone, and the extreme manner in which they are drawn up, agree very closely with some later work of the same nature which can with certainty be assigned to his pen. Although he was not a member of this Assembly, his talents were, by this time, very well recognized throughout the District, and Marshall thinks that the author was not a member of the convention.3

The address to the Assembly of Virginia was never delivered, this task being left for the next Assembly, which refused to perform it. It expressed the desire for separation from Virginia, and for admission into the Union of States.

The address to the "Inhabitants of the District of Kentucky,” however, is of more importance, as it was widely circulated and had the effect of stirring up discussion upon the subject of separation, and of increasing the desire to hasten that result. It also gives us a concise view of 1 Littell's "Political Transactions," p. 18, and "Appendix," p. 6.

2 Full texts given in Marshall, 1824 Ed., I, pp. 200-202, and also in Littell's "Political Transactions," Appendix, p. 2.

3 Marshall, 1824 Ed., I, p. 206.

the political and social conditions of the District at this time.

"Friends and Fellow Citizens: We, your representatives, met in convention in consequence of your appointment, beg leave to address you on a subject which we consider of the last importance to you, to ourselves, and to unborn posterity.

"In every case when it becomes necessary for one part of the community to separate from the other; duty to Almighty God and a decent respect for the opinions of mankind require that the causes which impel them thereto should be clearly and impartially set forth.

"We hold it as a self evident truth that the government is ordered for the ease and protection of the governed: and whenever these ends are not attained, by one form of government, it is the right, it is the duty, of the people to seek such other mode as will be likely to insure to themselves and to their posterity those blessings to which, by nature, they are entitled.

"In the course of our enquiries, we find that several laws have passed the Legislature of Virginia, which, although of a general nature, yet in their operation are particularly oppressive to the people of this district; and we also find that, from our local situation, we are deprived

of many benefits of government which every citizen therein has a right to expect; as a few facts will sufficiently demon

strate.

"1. We have no power to call out the militia, our sure and only defence, to oppose the wicked machinations of the savages, unless in case of actual invasion.

"2. We have no executive power in the District, either to enforce the execution of laws, or to grant pardons to