From the correspondence of Joseph Martin and Patrick Henry, it would appear that Martin, on Henry's advice, had acted as a spy upon the Spaniards, in order to discover the views of McGillivray, to protect the exposed white settlements from the Indians, and to fathom the designs of the Spaniards against the United States.
The sensational disclosures of Martin's intercepted letter had no deterrent effect upon James Robertson in the attempted execution of his plan for detaching the Cumberland settlements from North Carolina.

History has taken no account of the fact that Robertson and the inhabitants now deliberately endeavored to secure an act of separation from North Carolina.

In the event of success, the next move planned by the Cumberland leaders, as we have already seen, was to send delegates to New Orleans for the purpose of placing the Cumberland region under the domination of Spain.
A hitherto unknown letter, from Robertson to (Miro), dated Nashville, September 2, 1789, proves that a convention of the people was actually held--the first overt step looking to an alliance with Spain.

In this letter Robertson says: "I must beg your Excellency's permission to take this early opportunity of thanking you for the honor you did me in writing by Mr.White.
"I still hope that your Government, and these Settlements, are destined to be mutually friendly and usefull, the people here are impressed with the necessity of it.
"We have just held a Convention; which has agreed that our members shall insist on being Seperated from North Carolina.
"Unprotected, we are to be obedient to the new Congress of the United States; but we cannot but wish for a more interesting Connection.
"The United States afford us no protection.

The district of Miro is daily plundered and the inhabitants murdered by the Creeks, and Cherokees, unprovoked.
"For my own part, I conceive highly of the advantages of your Government." A serious obstacle to the execution of the plans of Robertson and the other leaders of the Cumberland settlements was the prompt action of North Carolina.