Federal Constitution, and a member of the ratifying Con

On May 26, 1790, Congress created the South-
6

west Territory, and on August 8th, Washington commis-
sioned William Blount as Governor of the newly created
7
8
territory and Superintendent of the Indians. Since

the details of Blount's administration have been traced
by others, it is only necessary here to mention the main
problems that confronted the Governor in that position.
His efforts were directed toward establishing peace with
the Indians, preserving order among the frontiersmen, and
preparing the territory for statehood. 9 The attitude of
the war department complicated his administration, and
while Blount attempted to carry out his instructions to
act on the defensive toward the Indians, it was this poli-
cy that lengthened the period of frontier warfare in

5. Wright, p. 8.

6. Frederic L. Paxson, History of the American Frontier 1763-1893 (New York, 1924), p. 92.

7. Wright, p. 9.

8. Donald L. McMurry, "The Indian Policy of the Federal Government, and the Economic Development

of the Southwest" in Tennessee Historical

Magazine, I (1915), p. 25.

9. James G. M. Ramsey, The Annals of Tennessee (Phila

Tennessee.10

The Governor was criticized by the people

13

11

in Tennessee for not defending them, and by the Federal Government for allowing the offensive Indian warfare, but he managed to keep in the good graces of both.12 Blount showed a great capacity for adjustment considering that he was an aristocrat among frontiersmen. The characteristic attitude of the frontiersman was strong dislike for those who were different, but Blount was an attractive figure in Tennessee, a splendid-looking man with an impressive appearance and fine manners. Keen sympathy

14

with western problems and an earnest desire for the settler's welfare, combined to make Blount greatly admired in Tennessee.15

To have a fairly intelligent picture of the Tennessee environment in the 1790's, it is necessary to rapidly survey certain phases of the early history of Tennessee. The earliest settlements date back to 1769

10. W. T. Hale and D. L. Merritt, A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans (8 Vols., Chicago, 1913), 1, p. 204.

11. After appealing in vain to the Federal Government for aid, the Tennesseans took it upon themselves to punish the Indians, and the resulting Nickajack and Running Water expedition in 1794 paved the way to an effective peace treaty. See Albright, p. 199.

12. Albert V. Goodpasture, "William Blount and the Old Southwest" in American Historical Magazine, VIII (1903), p. 9.

13. Joshua W. Caldwell, Studies in the Constitutional History of Tennessee (Cincinnati, 1895), p. 83.

14. Ibid., Caldwell writes, "His lofty demeanor and splendid uniforms dazzled the Indians."