At length in May, 1783, North Carolina ceded its western lands to the United States, _provided_ that Congress should accept the cession within two years: until such acceptance the sovereignty of the State in the premises being reserved. The North Carolina Bill of Rights contained provision for the formation of a new State from that territory; and if its people, as they supposed, were to be left during two years to depend upon themselves for their protection and well-being, they considered it a propitious time to establish an independent State Government. The necessities of their civil society seemed to demand it, for the District of Washington was as yet without a Superior Court, and there was no existing law authorizing a call of the militia by its general to resist the Indians, whose hostilities continued. In this emergency a convention of delegates chosen by the people of Sullivan, Washington and Greene Counties, was held at Jonesboro, August 23, 1784, and formed an Association. It also declared the disadvantages to those counties from union with others more numerous and powerful east of the mountains, and the benefits they would derive from a separation. It provided for a delegate and memorial to Congress, and for the detention of all moneys collected by public officers “until some mode be adopted and prescribed to have accounts fairly and properly liquidated with the State of North Carolina.” The convention finally adjourned to meet again at Jonesboro, which it did in December of the same year, but before then the Legislature of North Carolina met and repealed the Act ceding its western lands to the United States, organized the counties established on those lands into a new District, for which a Superior Court should be held in Washington County, and provided for it judicial officers, formed the militia of the District into a brigade and appointed Col. Sevier its general. These acts were thought by that officer sufficient to redress the grievances of the offended counties, and both by speech and letter he endeavored to influence the electors to desist from further measures looking to a separation from North Carolina, but shortly he was persuaded to a different mind. The election of new delegates to a convention was completed, and when assembled in December, it adopted a State Constitution, subject to the will of its successor, to assemble in November, 1785; and also ordered the election of a Legislature, which should hold its first session early in the same year. The Legislature, upon convening, elected John Sevier Governor, and other State officials, and through the Speakers of its two Houses informed Governor Martin of North Carolina that the inhabitants of Sullivan, Washington and Greene Counties had declared themselves independent of the authority and government of the parent State.