The warfare with the Indians, and the quarrels with the British and Spaniards over boundary questions, reached no decided issue.

But the rifle-bearing freemen who founded their little republics on the western waters gradually solved the question of combining personal liberty with national union.

For years there was much wavering.

There were violent separatist movements, and attempts to establish complete independence of the eastern States.

There were corrupt conspiracies between some of the western leaders and various high Spanish officials, to bring about a disruption of the Confederation.