136    UNITED STATES GAZETTEER.

settlers planted themselves in the eastern quarter of Tennessee, and, their numbers continuing
to increase, a large tract of land was purchased, though with much difficulty, in 1775. In
the succeeding year, however, a -warfare again occurred, which terminated in an arrangement
with the two colonies above mentioned, w hereby the boundaries of Tennessee were determined.
The settlers continued to proceed westward, and, in 1779, having crossed the Cumberland
Mountains, penetrated as far as the site on which Nashville now stands. The war of the
revolution raged at this period throughout the land, and the inhabitants of Tennessee
suffered greatly from the combined assaults of the British and Indians. In 1780, a memora-
ble battle was fought at King's Mountain, in which the hardy backwoodsmen signally defeated
the enemy; and in 1781, the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes were glad to negotiate for peace.
Up to the year 1790, North Carolina had exercised jurisdiction over this portion of the western
territory; although, in the mean time, numerous controversies had taken place among the
people, in regard to their political position, together with some contradictory legislation on
the same subject. In that year, the territory was duly ceded to the United States by North
Carolina, and Congress forthwith placed the “ country south-west of the Ohio " under an
appropriate form of government. The territory was repeatedly harassed by the Creeks and
Cherokees, whose object was to prevent the further progress of the whites, until the year 1794,
when a final and permanent treaty was concluded between those tribes and tire United States.
In 1795, the territory having acquired the requisite amount of population to become an inde-
pendent state, a constitution was framed; and, in 1796, Tennessee was admitted as a member
of the Union.

Boundaries and Extent. — This state is bounded on the north by the States of Kentucky and
Virginia, on the east by North Carolina, on the south by Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi,
and on the west by the States of Arkansas and Missouri, from which it is separated by the
River Mississippi. It lies between 35° and 36° 40' north latitude, and 81° 4(T and 90° 15'
west longitude; haying an average length, from east to west, of some 430 miles, with a
breadth of somewhat over 100 miles, and containing an area of 45,600 square miles.

Government. — By the constitution, as revised in 1835, the governor is elected every two
years by a plurality vote of the people, and can serve only three terms in any four. The
Senate is composed of 25 members, who are elected also biennially. The House of Rep-
resentatives consists of 75 members, chosen in like manner for the same period; and the
legislature convenes only once in two years. All free white citizens, resident in the county
where voting for six months previous to an election, are qualified electors. The right of
suffrage is not denied to colored persons, who are by law competent witnesses in courts of
justice.

Judiciary. — Judges of the Supreme Court are elected, by joint vote of the legislature, for
terms of twelve years, and judges of the inferior courts for eight years. There are three judges
of the Supreme Court, (one'for each of the judicial divisions of the state,) four chancellors, and
fourteen judges of the Circuit Courts. There is also a Criminal Court for Davidson county, and
a Common Law and Chancery Court for the city of Memphis. Justices of the peace are
elected in districts for six years ; sheriffs are chosen in counties for two years, and are ineligi-
ble for more than three terms in succession; registers hold office four years.

Education. — The school fund of Tennessee amounts to nearly $1,500,000. The interest
of this fund is annually apportioned to all the districts wherein a school-house has been pro-
vided; but the system of free education, which is the glory of many other members of the
Union, seems not yet to be fully understood or appreciated by the people of this state. Still,
the inhabitants support somewhat over 1000 common or primary schools, — perhaps a tithe of
what are needed, — 200 or 300 academies, some of which are of respectable rank ; and
six or eight collegiate institutions, of varied character and standing. The two oldest of
these latter are Greenville College, in East Tennessee, and Washington College, Washington
county, both founded in 1794; but the most prominent is the University of Nashville, founded
in 1806. And, after all, the number of white adults within the state who can neither read
nor write may be estimated at about 60,000.