the rising tide of revolt, the grim war that almost failed and the establishment of the unified, independent Republic. Among the Houstons, he must rank as the outstanding statesman of this decisive era.

However, there were many others who served ably in congressional halls and district and state assemblies. Account has already been given of the career of John Houstoun of Georgia who served in the Continental Congress which adopted the Declaration of Independence and was President and later Governor of his province. Reference also has been made to his brother, William Houstoun, who was a contemporary of William C. Houston in Congress and in the Constitutional Convention.

Besides those mentioned, a stalwart array of Houstons served in essential positions on committees of public safety, in local offices, in provincial assemblies and state constitutional conventions. Often patriots considered service at the state level more fruitful than that in the Continental Congress due to the frustrating weakness of the central government.

In the matter of writing charters, one particular case holds special interest. Rev. Samuel Houston, Presbyterian minister whose "soldier’s diary" is quoted in the preceding chapter, had an important role in the colorful episode of the State of Franklin. During his long career the minister departed from Virginia for a few years to serve settlers beyond the mountains in what later became Tennessee.

Around the year 1784, the pioneers in that area, which belonged to North Carolina, lacking protection from the Indians, decided to form their own state. Rev. Samuel Houston was a member of the assembly called for this purpose. He was on the committee which drew up the constitution and is said to have done most of the writing. North Carolina refused to acknowledge the new state which had appealed to the Continental Congress for membership. For a time civil war threatened but the short-lived state of Franklin went out of existence in 1788 without bloodshed.