James Allison and James Sevier came into open court and prayed to be admitted to take the benefit of the act of pardon and oblivion by taking the oath provided by law, which was deferred till tomorrow for want of the acts of the General Assembly. On the next day the following entry was made: James Sevier, James Allison and Francis Baker, persons _who had withdrawn their allegiance_ [from North Carolina] came into open court, and availed themselves of the act of pardon and oblivion by taking the oaths prescribed by law. At the February term, 1788, of the court, the following order was made and entered of record: Ordered by the Court that Johnathan Pugh Esqr, Sheriff of Washington County, Take into custody the County court docket of said county, supposed to be in the possession of John Sevier Esqr, And the same records bring from him or any other person or persons, in whose possession they are now, or hereafter shall be, and the same return to the Court or some succeeding court for said county. At the May term, 1788, this order was made: Ordered by the court that the Sheriff of this County demand the public records of this County from John Sevier, former clerk of the court. The records referred to were lost, or remained in the cave where they were hidden. All opposition to North Carolina authority was now virtually withdrawn, but the people west of the Alleghanies worked quietly for a separation and a new state. North Carolina passed a second cession act, under the provisions of which, February 25, 1790, Samuel Johnston and Benjamin Hawkins, Senators in Congress from North Carolina, deeded the territory to the United States, and the sovereignty of North Carolina over it instantly expired. It has been aptly said that “the separation was not like that of a disconsolate mother parting from a beloved daughter, but rather like that when Abraham said to Lot, ‘Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.’” President Washington appointed William Blount Governor of the territory, August 7, 1790. On the 10th day of the following October, Governor Blount organized the territorial government, at the house of Mr. Cobb, in Sullivan county, on the north side of Watauga river, since known as the Massengale farm, above and opposite where Austin Springs are. The population of the territory in July, 1791, was 36,043, including 3,417 slaves. The whole population of the Cumberland settlement at that time was 7,042. November 5, 1791, the second printing press introduced in the “New World west of the Alleghanies” was set up, at Rogersville, by Mr. George Roulstone.