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( )I<l Series —Vol. 25, I>To. 122.
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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST
FRIDAY, May SI, 1875.
MECKLENBURG !
This is another clay of glory for the
Constitutionalist 1 We point with
pride to the extraordinary report of
the Mecklenburg Centennial. In order
to fully comprehend the gigantic feat
in journalism we have accomplished,
the reader must remember that Char
lotte,, the scene of the celebration, is
two hundred miles from Augusta,
across an entire Slate, and all the events
spread before them this morniDg, oc
curred yesterday—commencing at 9
o’clock in the morning and ending at
12 last night. We doubt if the New
York Herald, or any paper on the
American continent, beats it. It is
impossible, for our report is simply
exhaustive. News dealers and all oth
ers wishing extra copies can get them
at the office, 43 Jackson street.
As foreshadowed in this paper yes
terday morning, Gen. Mcßae has de
clined to accept the office of Superin
tendent of the Georgia Railroad. We
do not know any one more competent
to lilt the position than Col. S. K.
Johnson, and hope the place will be
given to him.
Mas. Abraham Lincoln has been sent
to the Insane Asylum. Notwithstand
ing her advertisement a few years ago,
offering her old clothes for sale, she
now has the comfortable sum of sev
enty-live thousand dollars. The cause
of the woman’s aberration of mind was
uo doubt excessive avarice.
The tribute paid to the-remains of
Breckinridge yesterday by a concourse
of dignitaries and citizens, “larger than
since the death of Henry Clay,” was
littiug and altogether proper. Death
never claimed a nobler victim; the
Sou tii, siuce Calhoun, has not lost a
truer or greater frieud. He was buried
by the Knights Templar. He was one
of the most exalted Masons in the
world, having taken the 33d degree.
FOREIGN NEWS.
Russia ami the Usages of War.
London, May 20.—A dispatch from
St. Petersburg says the Russian Gov
ernment will await the replies of the
several States to its communication iu
relation to the conference upon the
usages of war.
THE DEAD BRECKINRIDGE.
Burial of the Departed Statesman ami
Hero —The Largest Funeral Since the
Death of lleury Clay.
Lexington, Ky., May 20.—The funeral
of Geu. John C. Breckinridge took
place to-day. It was attended by an
immense throng of people, auxious to
pay the last sad honors to the memory
of a great and good man. Officers of
State, headed by Gov. Leslie, were
present in a body, as were also Sena
tors Stevenson ami McCreery, and
many other distinguished men. The
funeral was conducted by Knights
Templar, of Which order Gen. Breck
inridge was an exemplary member.
No such outpouring of people has been
witnessed since the death of Henry
Clay.
M rs. Lincoln Sent to an Insane Asylum.
Chicago, May 20.—Mrs. Lincoln, upon
the petition of her son Robert, was
sent to the insane asylum. Her prop
erty exceeds seventy-live thousand
dollars, which she is incapable of man
aging.
The German Catholic Union,
Cincinnati, May 20. —The German
Catholic Union to-day adopted a reso
lution that all societies of the Central
Association give proper information of
the adoption of the constitution at the
oext General Convention, which is to
be held at Philadelphia, commencing
on Pentecost, Monday, 1876. The fol
lowing named officers were elected :
H. A. Spaunhorst, of St. Louis, Presi
dent, and oue Vice-President for each
State represented; Rev. Schwenner
ger, of Cincinnati, Recording Secreta
ry F. Hoefner, of Buffalo, Correspond
jug’ Secretary ; Joseph P. Strack, of
New York, Treasurer. The Conven
tion then adjourned for the day.
Newspaper Postage,
The postmaster-General to-day is
sued an order modifying the postal
regulations by striking out that part
providing that no subscription to news
papers for less than three mouths shall
be considered a regular subscription
within the meaning of the law. the
effect of this order Is to allow newspa
per officer to send papers to subscrib
ers at regular rates, whether for one
week or three months. Heretofoi'e
subscribers for less than three months
have had to pay transient rates. — Bal
timore San’s Washington Telegram.
people visiting the springs, or their
•country friends, or city friends as to
that, will thank Mr. Jewell for his new
regulation.
Foreign Postage.— The Postmaster
General has issued an order reducing
ttse postage to and from all countries
with which postal conventions have not
been concluded from ten cents to live
cents for each half ounce or fraction
thereof.— Baltimore Sun.
The Isle of Man is said to be the
climatic paradise of Europe. The mean
temperature varies less than sixteen
degrees between Winter and Summer
unless the women make it hot.
MECKLENBURG!
*
THE CENTENNIAL OE THE SOUTH.
THE BEACON FIRES OF 1775 AND 1875.
CHARLOTTE A BLAZE OF
GLORY AND PATRIOTISM.
Twenty-Five Thousand People
Present.
A Dazzling Civic and Military-
Display.
The Pulpit and Hie Forum Otter Their
Wreathes of Eloquence.
RESPONSE OF THE LIVINC
TO THE DEAD.
SPEECHES IN FULL OF 31A AOR JOHN
STON, GOV. RROGDE.V, HON.
WM. A. GRAHAM, HON.
JNO. KERR, mid J.
31. BRIGHT.
Sermon by Rev. A. W. Miller.
"What! silent still and silent all ?
Ah, no ! the voices of the Dead
Bound like a distant torrent's fall,
And answer: "Let one living head,
But ONE arise—we come ! we come !
’Tis hut the living wliio are dumb.”
[Special Dispatches to Constitutionalist ]
Charlotte, N. C., May 20, 1875.
The first earnest action looking to
the Celebration of to-day as the Cen
tennial of the Mecklenburg Declaration
of Independence was taken by a mass
meeting of the citizens of this town and
county held on the 4th of February,
1875. Before this assemblage an able
and elaborate historical address was
delivered by Hon. Willian A. 'Graham,
ex-Governor ol' North Carolina, which
has been embodied in book form with
all the important documentary evidence
to which it alludes appended and thus
presents a valuable and interesting dis
quisition upon the authenticy of the
quoted Mecklenburg Declaration and
upon the yet more extreme question
whether the whole affair as alleged is
not a cuuning romance.
Until 1819 the fact and circumstan
ces of the declaration had never been
doubted; but at that time doubt was
adroitly thrown upon the subject in an
allusion to it by the Essex Register, of
Massachusetts, in an editorial comment
upon certain papers regarding the
event it had copied from the Raleigh,
(N. C.) Register. While never question
ed by the people of the Old North
State, and familiar as household words
iu the tradition of the people of Meck
lenburg anil adjoining counties, still
this resulting discussion of the matter
induced the General Assembly of North
Carolina to appoint a committee to col
lect documents concerning and fully
investigate the fact from a historical
view and for preservation in the ar
chives of the State, and the report of t his
committee, adopted at the session of
1830-1, amply and undeniably affirmed
the true history of the event and em
bodied its record in thesubjoined state
ment of the proceedings and copy of
the resolves passed by the meeting of
the men of Mecklenburg;
Declaration of Independence, May 20,
1875—Names ol' tlie Delegates Pres
ent.
Col. Thomas Polk, J. McK. Alexander,
Eph’ui Brevard, Heze’h A lexander,
Heze’h J. Baleh, Adam Alexander,
John Phifer, Charles Alexander,
James Harris, Zaoheus Wilson, sr.,
William Konnon, Waightstill Avery,
John Ford, Benjamin Patton,
Richard Barry, Matthew McClure,
Henry Downs, Neil Morrison,
Ezra Alexander, Robert Irwin,
John Quearg, John Flenniken,
Abra’m Alexander, David Reese,
Richard Harris, sr.
Abraham Alexauder was appointed
Chairman, and John McKnitt Alexan
der Clerk. The following resolutions
were offered, viz.:
1 st. Resolved, That whosoever directly
or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form
or manner countenanced the unehartered
and dangerous invasion of our l ights as
claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to
this country, to America and to the inher
ent and inalienable rights of roan
‘2d. Resolved, TtwKFilre. the citizens of
Mi cklonburg county, do hereby dissolve
the political bonds which have connected
us with the mother country, and hereby
absolve ourselves from all allegiance to
the British Crown, and abjure all political
connection, contract or association with
that nation, who have wantonly trampled
on our rights and liberties and inhumanly
shed the bio and of American patriots at
Lexington.
3d. Resolved, That we do hereby declare
ourselves a free and independent people;
are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign
and self-governing Association, under the
control of no power other than that of our
God aud the General Government of the
Congress; to the maintenance of which in
dependence, we solemnly pledge to each
other our mutual co-operation, our lives,
our foi tunes and our most sacred honor.
ith. Resolved, That as we acknowledge
the existence and control of no law, or lugal
officer, civil or military, within this coun
try, we do hereby ordain and adout as a
rule of life, ail, each, and every of our for
mer laws—whereiu, nevertheless, the Crown
ol Gieat Britain never can be considered as
holding lights, privileges, immunities, or
authority therein.
(ith. Resolved, That It is further decreed
that all, each and every mililary officer in
thi; county, is hereby reinstated in his for
mer command and authority, he acting con
formably to tht-ise regulations. And that
every member present or this delegation
shall henceforth be a civil officer, viz: a
justice of the peac , in the character of a
• committeeman,” to issue process, hear and
determine all matters of controversy, ac
cording to said adopted laws, and to pre
serve peace, union and harmony in said
county; and to use every exertion to spread
the love of couutry and tiro of freedom
throughout America, until a more general
and organized government be established
in this province.
Arter discussing the foregoing re
solves and airangmg by-laws and regu
lations for the go\eminent of a stand
ing Committee of Public Safety, who
were selected from these delegates, the
whole proceedings were unanimously
adopted and signed. A select commit
tee was then appointed to draw a more
full and dettnite statement of grievan
ces, and a more formal Declaration of
Independence. The delegation then
adjourned about 2 a. m., May 2t)th.
The session was from 12 in., the 19th
to 2 a. m., May 20th.
Without entering into the
discussion that has grown out of the
doubts oast upon the authenticity of
the declaration and the fact of
the meeting at which it was
promulgated, it may be at this mo
ment not uninteresting to refer to
the manner iu which the memorial of
this Declaration of Independence was
preserved to later times. The expla
nation is, the journal of the proceed
ings of the Mecklenburg Committee,
originating at the incipient period of
the revolution and continuing long
years afterward as a county organiza
tion, which contained the Declaration
of Independence of 20tli of May, 1775,
was preserved in the care of John Mc-
Knitt Alexander, as secretary, and was
consumed in the destruction of his
mansion by fire, in the year 1800. And
that prior to its destruction he had
endeavored to give this document pub
licity by furnishing one copy to Dr.
Hugh Williamson, who had announced
his purpose to publish a history of
North Carolina, and another to General
Wm. li. Davie, a distinguished soldier
of the revolution and subsequently
Governor of the State. It is probable,
also, that he or his son before named,
who was of mat ure years aud the head
of a family before 1800, retained still
another copy, which escaped the con
flagration of his house. The aver
ment which we have from Mr. Alexan
der of his delivering the copies to Wil
liamson and Davie is confirmed.
First —Bv the testimony of Gov.
Stokes, stating in substance that in the
year 1793 Dr. Williamson exhibited to
him, in the city of New York, a copy of
the said Mecklenburg Declaration in
the handwriting of John McKnitt Alex
ander, which was shown to Gov. Stokes.
Second—By the statement of Duncan
Camerou, then practicing lawyer, sub
sequently a Judge of the Superior
Courts and Presidi nt of the principal
bauk of the State, to the effect that
Mr. Alexander hail informed him of
the circumstances of this declaration
and of his placing a copy iu the pos
session of Gen. Davie; and that after
the destruction of the original iu his
dwelling he referred again to the same
topic, remarking that by reason of this
deposit “the document was safe.” Dr.
Williamson was a Pennsylvanian who
came to the State about the close of
the Revolutionary War, and resided in
Edenton. He represented North Caro
lina in the Continental and first Federal
Congress and in the Federal Conven
tion, after which lie went to reside in
New York. His work entitled “A His
tory of North Carolina,” published iu
1812, is confined to the colonial period,
and extends only to the time of the
Regulators, in 1771.
Third—lt is likewise corroborated by
a letter from Mr. D. G. Stinson, a gen
tleman now above eighty years of age,
who, in a recent letter from Rock Hill,
S. 0., to Governor Graham, states that
in 1813, when himself a student in the
academy of the Rev. Mr. Wallace, of
Providence, Mecklenburg, a son-in-law
of John McKnitt Alexander, he heard
said Alexander, upon the occasion >f a
visit of a month at that place, relate
the circumstances of the Declaration of
Independence on the 20th of May, 1775,
and t.tlH fm-thr-r foot limb, Ut.iu 6 t'CCll
in Philadelphia afterward in that year,
he communicated the facts and circum
stances to Dr. Franklin, who expressed
approbation of the fact.
Not only- do the sons of these sires of
Mecklenburg claim that their patriot
forefathers were first to take the bold
position of independence of Great Brit
ain, but they claim that the first blood
spilt in the Revolution War was sl ed,
not at Concord and Lexington in the
North, but at the battle of Alamance iD
their own State in the South.
Mecklenburg Centennial anil Monu
iimental Association.
While the immediate purpose of the
Association has been the adequate and
fit observance cf the first centennial
celebration in honor of the Mecklen
burg Declaration of Independence, a
further and more lasting design is em
braced within the scope of its organi
zation, namely, the erection of a mon
ument to occupy the site of the old
court house in Independence Square,
in the centre of the city, at the int er
section of Try on (running east aud
west) and Trade (running north and
south) streets, in which the delibera
tions of that memorable citizens’ meet
ing, mostly fanners, were held a hun
dred years ago, and the inscription of
the names of the signers of that decla
ration upon enduring marble.
Charlotte Then and Now.
The passing of a century bears with
it a thousand changes, aud the one
just closing to-day has transformed
Charlotte town of 177a, a village of
perhaps thirty buildings in all and none
of pretentious proportions, into a pros
perous railroad centre through which
trains are rushing winged with steam
on their various courses, a city
of nearly eight thousand inhabitants,
with elegant and cosily commercial
buildings, line hotels, machine shops
and factories, and homes of beauty and
muniliceuce fashioned and decorated
by art aud adorned with flower gar
dens, grassy lawns and shady parks.
It has one military company, the
Zouaves, three fire organizations, and a
full municipal government including a
tine police force.
Visiting Military.
The volunteer military organizations
present iu force and fully equipped, as
invited guests, are as follows :
1. Richmond Howitzers, of Richmond,
Virginia, with forty men and four
twelve pound Napoleons, commanded
by Captain Henry C. Caiter, who was a
field officer of artillery during
the war iu the army of North
ern Virginia. The Howitzers, com
posed of three gallant compa
nies when in service iu the Confederate
Army, were organized into one company
in 1870. The flag with them is almost
an exact copy of the Confederate hau
lier, and was presented to them upon
reorganization by the ladies of Rich
mond aud the surviving veteran Howit
2. Raleigh Light Artillery, of Ra
leigh, N. C., with thirty men aud two
pieces, commanded by Captaiu A. E.
.Stronack. Their guns are two Napo
leons, and their colors is a guidon of
white and red silk, with gold letters a
late present from the 6th Artillery of
Maryland. The battery is anew one,
organized in November, 1871.
3. Raleigh Light Infantry, with forty -
two men, commanded by Captain B. C
Manly, who was a Major of artillery iu
General Lee’s army. Their stand of
colors is fresh from the hands of the
ladies of Raleigh, is of blue silk with,
gold letters, on one side the coait of
arms of North Carolina, and on the
other the company’s name in a semi
circle, aud beneath it a wreath and the
date of organization, Juiy 28, 1874.
Theeompauy maneuvred on the streets
yesterday afternoon, and presented a
tine appearance.
4. Fayetteville Independents, of Fay
etteville , N. C., with fifty men, com
manded by Brevet Captain W. F.
Campbell. The company was organ
ized in 1793, and in compliment all. its
officers were breveted by act of the
AUGUSTA, GA., FRIDAY MORNITsTQ, MAY 21. 1875.
Legislature. Organized for eighty-two
years, it served iu the old revolution,
in the war of 1812 to 1815, in 1845 with
Mexico, and in 1865 with the First
North Carolina. Their United States
flag is one they owned before the war.
5. LaFayette Light Infantry, of Fay
etteville, with fifty-six men, command
ed by Capt. A. B. Williams, was organ
ized in 1856, on the 10th of May, and
are now celebrating their own anniver
sary. They served first with the First
North Carolina in 1861 and then be
longed to Frazer’s, afterwards Starr’s
Battery. Their flag is a beautiful new
one, with a picture of the Marquis de
LaFayette on one side
The latter two companies are formed
into a battalion in command of Brevet
Major Chas. Haig.
Companies C and D, of the First
Virginia Volunteers, of Richmond, Va.,
commanded as a battalion by Col.
Bradley T. Johnson (formerly Major
General C. S. A.). Capt Jos. E. Bidgood
is commanding Company C, and Capt.
li. M. Taylor Company D.
Raising tlie Pole.
At 12 o’clock yesterday, the hour
one hundred years ago when the com
mittee met in the old Court House to
deliberate upon the state of the coun
try aud determine what to do—the flag
pole was formally raised iu Independ
ence Square, the site of that aucient
Court House buildiug. There was do
military demonstration attending the
ceremony. A circle of firemen formed
around the square, closely pressed by
crowds of spectators, as Col. William
Johnson, Mayor of the city, raised a
large flag to its place at tiic top of the
staff, which is 195 feet high, bearing
upon its pinnacle a hornet’s nest, the
symbol of what Mecklenburg was in
the Revolutionary war. Tlie Newberne
Silver Cornet Band played the “Old
North State ” as the flag went up, and
the assembled spectators cheered lust
ily. The Mayor, Col. Johnson, from a
platform at the base of the pole, said :
Remarks of tlie Mayor.
As Mayor of the city of Charlotte it
is my pleasure to announce to you that
I am authorized to inaugurate the cere
monies of this centennial occasion. On
this day one huudred years since, the
representatives of Mecklenburg county
were assembled in a log Court House,
which stood upon the spot we now oc
cupy, deliberating on the civil aud re
ligious rights of man. It was upon this
same spot that they first enunciated
those great principles of civil and re
ligious liberty, on the 20Lh of May,
1775, that gave an important direction
to the public mind of this colony, as
well as that of the others, which re
sulted in tlie formation of the best Con
stitution of a civil government, known
to mankind. Its influence iu securing
the blessings of liberty to all the States
of this great Union, cannot be over
estimated, nor have these principles of
government been confined to thiscoun
try alone. By tlie example of our
government the hand of tyranny and
oppressions has been weakened, and
paralyzed iu almost every arbitrary
0 ......luicnu me political conuiuon
of Europe as that of the republics of
South America, has been greatly
ameliorated and popular rights and
freedom are becoming leading ideas in
the progress of civilization.
Iu the colouy of North Carolina fla
grant men had existed years before the
20th of May declaration. The first
blood spilled iu the cause of the Revo
lution was by the regulators in the
then County of Orange, now Alamance,
in this State, iu the year 1771. The
battle of Moore’s Creek in New Han
over county had been fought and won
by Caswell and Lillington. Blackes
Billy Alexander, with six other patriots
had captured tiie King’s powder in old
Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus county;
the Cumberland Association had been
formed when our ancestors assembled
ou the 20th of May and promulgated
the flrst resolutions known as the
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independ
ence. The preceding acts of vio
lence and war, naturally gave develop
ment to the expression of principles
that were deemed to bo right and just
by the patriots assembled on Ibis sa
cred spot on that day. That such was
the fact is established by the direct
and positive testimony of many wit
nesses who were present on the occa
sion, as well as by a universal tradition
of the peoplo of Mecklenburg, and
throughout the State, as well as bj T the
eoi current history of the limes. This
was the Declaration of Independence.
The delegates on that occasion tesolv
ed themselves into committeemen, and
not having established a government
fully adapted to the new order and
condition of things, adjourned to meet
ou the 31st of the same month, when
the resolves of that date were adopted.
These resolves do not profess to be a de
claration. They constitute a system of
government, the best and most advanc
ed. that had been made in the history
of civil liberty up to that period. They
were permed by the immortal Brevard,
wkogaUantlymaiutainedwiththesword,
with tiis compatriots, the rights therein
claimed. It is to the discredit of North
Carolina that no stone or column
marks the spot where this accomplish
ed scholar aud patriot lies buried, be
neath the soil of his own loved mother
State, and that no monument is erected
on this hallowed spot where civil lib
erty was first proclaimed. These re
solves commence with the informal in
troduction: “The Committee for Meck
lenburg county met &c.” What com
mittee? The committee which ad
journed after the meeting on the 20th.
The convention of the 31st was a neces
sary sequence, to make a more per
fect government, and provide munitions
of war to maintain the bold Declaration
made eleven days previous. But
time aud the occasion will not per
mit mo to pursue this train of
thought further. We stand to-day
in the midst of many memorable events
connected with the great revolution
which followed. Right where you
stand, Gen. Davie with a small band of
patriots gallantly defended this town
against its occupation by the British
army, under Lord Cornwallis. Over
powered, iu his retreat, Locke and Gra
ham fell within a few miles from where
we stand, the former moi tally wouudod,
and near where we stand were the cele
brated battles of McTntire’s Branch,
Cowan’s Ford, Torrence’s Tavern, and
not remote the battles of King’s Moun
tain, Hanging Rock, Eutuw Springs and
old Guilford Court House. J hese are
some of the historic associations by
which you are surrounded. I may well
say that Charlotte presents the high
est association of revolutionary remin
iscences of any spot ou the American
continent. Her patriots had fought
Lord Dunmore, near Norfolk, as well
as co-operated in the defence of South
Carolina anterior to the Declaration of
Independence.
To this consecrated soil, in behalf of
old Mecklenburg, I extend to you, one
and all, a hearty welcome. May you
renew your devotion to the principles
of liberty bere declared and so gallant
ly maintained, aud may the inspiration
which you imbibe on this occasion bo
transmitted to future generations un
impaired. But I am trespassing ; my
province is to announco to you that a
distinguiahed son of North Carolina is
with us, oue who has often held posi
tions of honor and trust from the peo
ple of his native State, who will extend
to the lovers of liberty from all coun
tries and climes a cordial welcome on
the soil of North Carolina. I have the
honor to present to you His Excellency
the Governor of North Carolina.
Thus introduced, Governor Brogden
spoke as follows:
Welcome from the Governor of North
Carolina.
Fellow-Citizens —l congratulate you
upon this interesting and glorious occa
sion. It was on this day one hundred
years ago that the patriots of Meek
lenburg county assembled od this spot,
and after anxious and earnest delibera .
tion on the transcendant importance
of this great subject, they solemnly
pledged to each other their mutual
co-operation, their lives, their fortunes,
aud their most sacred honor.
On this day one hundred years ago,
a committee representing tlie county of
Mecklenburg, raet on this sacred spot,
and continued their deliberations until
two o’clock in the morning of next day,
when they proclaimed the great princi
ples of civil and religious liberty,
whose echoes yet ring throughout the
world. We have met ou this occasion
to inaugurate the ceremonies, which
are to take place to-morrow—our cen
tennial anniversary—of this immortal
Declaration of Independence, which
when once proclaimed was taken up by
State after State, until the western
Centineut was ablaze with enthusiastic
and determined patriotism, adding fuel
to the flames which are kindled in the
hearts of the patriots who met on that
day on Independence square.
Tlie high and patriotic emotions of
the people absorbed by oue inspiring
thought of tlie good and glory of our
common country, has brought its re
ward. Thousands of hearts which
thou palpitated with rapturous glow of
patriotism have been translated to
brighter worlds, to the abode of more
than mortal freedom, while other gen
eration; have arisen to receive from
their parents and benefactors the in
estimable recompense of their achieve
ments. Under these great principles
the human mind has seemed to pro
ceed with a sort of geometric velocity,
accomplishing for human lights and
human freedom more than had been
done in tlie five centuries preceding.
In contemplating the object of the
occasion for which we are assembled,
we may appropriately allude to the
growth and progress of our country.
Under the benign influences of tlie
great principles or civil and religious
liberty then proclaimed, our country
has increased in population, wealth
and power beyond all precedent, or
example. One hundred years ago
there were but four or five post offices
Iu the whole Btate of North Carolina,
now there are nearly 900. One hundred
eniAlm*Hk.a ,> ABitei>iw!S
and sciences; now, steam is used
to run nearly all kinds of machinery.
One hundred years ago there were no
railroads in this State or in the whole
country, now there are nearly twelve
hundred miles of railroads in success
ful operation in our State aloue. One
huudred years ago the profound and
useful benefits we now derive from the
magic use of the magnetic telegraph
slept securely iu the bosom of nature,
and It, was reserved to human ingenu
ity iu the century in which we live to
discover and utilizo the electricity
which until our time had no applied
use.
The principles proclaimed from the
steps oF the little log Court House on
this spot, one hundred years ago, still
live iu all their original strength and
power, while tho illustrious patriots
who proclaimed them have loug since
passed away and other generations
have succeeded them, thus testifying
that while principles are eternal the
flight of time is rapid and unceasing.
Alas! how swift the moments fly.
How flash the years along,
Scarce hero, yet gone already by,
The burden of a song.
See childhood, youth, and manhood pass;
And age with furrowed brow;
Time was—dims shall be, drain tlie glass,
13ut where in time is now ?
Time is the measure but of change;
No present hour is found;
The past—the future till the range
Of Time’s unceasing round.
Where then is now ? The realms above,
With God’s atoning Lamb,
In regions of eternal love,
Where sits enthroned I am.
Then, Pilgrim, let thy joys and tears,
On lime no longer leant
But henceforth all thy hopes and fears
From earth’s affections wean.
To God! let votive accents rise—
With truth—with virtue live;
So all the bliss that time denies,
Eternity shall give.
It is my pleasure as the highest Ex
ecutive officer in the State of North
Carolina, to extend a sincere and cor
dial invitation t o all citizens of other
States, who have come here to join with
us in commemorating the memory of
the patriots of Mecklenburg, who pro
claimed the liberty and independence,
which we now en joy.
The flag of our country which floats
proudly over us is the emblem of our
appreciation of these principles Which
secure protection to every American
citizen, at home and abroad, on the
land and at sea, and in every country
throughout the world. If we are true
to the principles proclaimed by our
forefathers, and which we have met
here to celebrate, which guarantee
the rights of the people and tjie rights
of the individual Sta tes, they will stand
As some tall cliff that rears its awful form,
Swells from the plain, and midway leaves
the storm,
Though round its base, the rolling clouds
arc spread;
Eternal sunshine settles on its head,
At the conclusion of this address,
the band played “Hail Columbia,” and
subsequently the “Mecklenburg Pol
ka,” composed in honor of the occa
sion.
While these ceremonies were pro
gressing, a salute of one gun for each
State was being tired in the western
suburbs of the city, by the Raleigh
Light Artillery, Oapt. Stouacb.
No other ceremonies attended the
prelimiuury inauguration.
Decorations.
From the flag pole to four lesser
poles, on the four street corners,
flags, banners, pennants, streamers,
and bunting of every description flut
tered to the winds. Every house front
was gaily adorned with similar em
blems of sympathy with the occasion.
Borne of the private residences are most
beautifully decorated with wreaths and
garlands about the portico posts, aud
evergreen lettering, besides countless
miniature Federal, Confederate and
fancy flags.
Across Tryon street just west of In
dependence square a large United
States flag idly waves in the breeze on
which huge letters in white bid visitors:
“Welcome!” Over Trade street south
of the square hans a similar banner.
Illumination.
At night the whole city was glowing
and twinkling with manifold lights and
lamps. From the liberty pole in Inde
pendence square to each of the four
minor flag staffs tjiat surround it,
Ciiinese lanterns of divers patterns were
suspended, and there hung in front
and candles in windows were to be seen
all over the place. It was exceedingly
beautiful, and the surging crowds of
lively spectators gazed aud gazed upon
the brilliant scene and yet seemed ne-ver
to grow weary.
Centennial Graves.
In the old Charlotte Cemetery sleep
in their last sleep not a few of the men
who helped to make memorable the
times we are recalling. Among these
sleeping sires are Gen. Geo. Graham,
Gen. Polk, Col. Alexander, and many
others. It was a tender aud loviug
thought of those to whom these old he
roes are especially near and dear to
go, as they have done, and wreath
their tombs with fresh garlands and
scatter odorous flowers un their graves
for to-day.
The Celebration.
The morning dawned to-day to start
ling peals of artillery tired by'the Rich
mond Howitzers aud Raleigh Light Ar
tillery. A hundred guns were booming
forth the glad announcement of the ad
vent of the first centennial morn,
church bells were rung, bands were
playing, and the whole moving world
of this crowded city pulsating with the
thrilling inspirations of the brightly
and gloriously dawning occasion. As
1 write you now the air is filled with
these jubilant and reveiberating
sounds.
Centennial Oration of Hon. John
Kerr, of North Carolina.
My Friends and Countrymen— lt has
been said that “the glory of our ances
tors is the light of their posterity.” We
recognize this truth on this ocaasion
and this day, made sacred by the
heroic action of our fathers. We hail
its centennial return, with hearts full of
gratitude to the Great Disposer of
events for the gracious influences which
led them to take the lead in the mighty
movement from which such rich bles
sings have flowed to us and to the
world.
We have come together now for the
laudable purpose of consecrating
anew the day and the place, so dear
to the votaries of civil liberty,
the hundredth anniversary of that
day on which our Fathers declared in
dependence of the British Government,
aud the place where the first altar was
erected to which the champions of a
distinct American nationality were in
vited to come and bring their offerings.
I stand not here as the mere advocate
of North Carolina—she has no cause
now pending to need such service.
Possessed in full proprietary right of
the honor of having been tiie first of
the thirteen colonies to declare inde
put herself into court to recover what
she already enjoys. Here she stands
to-day, on this august festival, in the
impressive fullness of her modest dig
nity, rejoicing in the honest fame of
her sous whoso brightly illustrated her
annals, and she has come with a true
mother’s unfailing affection to aid in
imparting additional force of perpetuity
to their memories, and to stretch forth
her venerable hand to relume the tires
they once kindled here aud to impart
uew impulse to the principles for which
they lived aud suffered, and for which
many of them died in battle.
She meets here with gladness and
greets with a most cordial welcome
those from other States who have come
up to rejoice with her sons on this
great day; and whilst she claims for
herself and her sufferings the heritage
which belongs to them, she has not one
word to utter in derogation of the
just claims of others to share with her
in the glorious traditions and histori
cal records of the past. Such influences
as actuated our North Carolina fore
fathers are of divine origiu and cannot
be confined to very limited localities.
The Spirit of God moves at times upon
the nations, as in the beginning he
moved upon the face of the waters,
and amid the deepest darkness of des
potism and slavery he has only to say,
“Let there be light,’’ and there is light.
All who have read and thoughtfully
digested the lessons of history must
have been struck with the fact that the
great discoverers of science and the
events which mark the epochs of
new departures in morals and in
politics have in their development
seemed to be the easy and surpris
ing results of previous inade
quate proximate causes, themselves
constituting extreme links of a chain
of special providence of God. The
earnest spirit of research necessary to
new discoveries in science has been
usually found to actuate different
minds at the same time in different
and very distant localities. When Kep
ler, Franklin and Leverier were each
pursuing investigations which to him
self seemed entirely new aDd hitherto
unthought of, other minds of congenial
structure iu other portions of the
world were following tlie same course
aud approximating the same great
ends. So, iu reference to the greet up
heavings of political communities which
have marked the history of our
race they have been the fruits of
a sprit working mightily at one
and the same time, iu different lati
tudes and upon different peoples. It
is, as I believe, to the force of this
great truth in philosophy that we are
to look for the ultimate fulfillment of
the hopes of the true philanthropist,-
the deliverance of nations from the.
consequences of war and their restora
tion to peace, unity and universal
brotherhood. The operation of the
love of liberty which animated our
Fathers at the era of 1776, was not
oonfiued to our State, nor to our hem
isphere. This love was handed down
to us from our British ancestors, aud
wherever the descendants of the Puri
tans, the Cavaliers or the Scoteh-Irish
were to be found, thero likewise
was to be seen in its full efficacy
this ennobling sentiment. Our success
ful action as colonies iu throwing off
the British yoke was potential in the
highest degree in its effects as was
quickly seen in the movement of op
pressed millions in Europe, who en
couraged by our example, rose up and
shook off their fetters as “ the lion
shakes the dewdrop from his mane.”
The spirit of liberty in a greater or
less force was at that time abroad in
the whole civilized world, but our
Fathers were its leading ehampions
then, as their descendants ought to be
now. Our pioneer ancestors had learned
from the trial p British patriotism how
oppressive power was to be resisted, and
they taught that lesson to their children
and accordingly our immediate progen
it rs, accepting the political maxims of
the heroes of the commonwealth and
of the statesmen of the Revolution of
i 1688, flew to arms to vindicate and
muiutaiu those maxims whenever their
infringement occurred, whenever it was
. even threatened Long before a sepa
[ ration from the mother country was
contemplated by any of the colonies
the Parliament of England infringed
one of these maxims by seeking to tax
us without our consent, and this act of
threatened aggression called forth here
in North Carolina a prompt and an in
dignant resistance. Our people on the
Cape Fear, anterior to any such action
on the part of the people of the colonies
elsewhere, under the lead of Cornelius
Harnett, John Ashe, Hugh Waddell
and others, threw a cargo of tea into
the Cape Fear River, and refused to
submit to the 4 stamp act,” and com
pelled the officer who had been ap
pointed to enforce it to leave bis sanc
tuary in the Governor’s palace acd to
repair to the marxet place aud there to
pledge himself under oath to an as
sembled multitude that he would fore
go the dischage oi Lis official functions.
Such was the prevailing temper of the
Colony, even while it remained in loyal
allegiance to the crown. The sentiment
of loyalty was never so potential with
our ancestors, as the love of liberty;
and when by any combination of
circumstances these two great virtues
of tho true British subject came iu
couflict, our Fathers always subordi
nated the former t o the latter. Loyal
ty was a virtue iu their esteem only
when it was rendered to agents of the
Government, who themselves respected
liberty and encouraged its sway in the
measures of government and iu tho
hearts of the people. A few years sub
sequent to the wants to which I have
referred, the great American family
were aroused to action by other ag
gressions oo the part of the mother
country, and as early as the year 1773
the representative man of Massachu
setts, Josiah Quineey, travelled on
horseback from Boston to Charleston,
in South Carolina, to confer with the
loading characters of the South as to
the measures proper to be adopted in
view of the approaching crisis.
In tiie course of that journey, he
stopped and sojourned for several days
with Cornelius Harnett at his beautiful
residence at Hilton, on the Cape Fear
river. In Harnett fie found a man of
soul congenial with his own—a true
aud dauntless patriot, ready for service
in the common cause in any positian
which might be assigned him. Harnott
was but a type of the men of the Cape
Fear and or those of the colony gene
rally.
In March 1774, the Boston Port (till
was adopted by Parliament, which in
terdicted all commercial intercourse
with Boston and prohibited the land
ing and shipping any goods at that
place. This was a measure of tyranny,
and worked cruel oppression to the
people of that city; but it secured
them the generous sympathy of all true
hearts in the colonies. When the news
of its passage was received iu Virginia,
the House or Burgesses
irche oppressive measures, they pro
claimed a ireueral fast, and the Ist dav
of June, 1774, was observed through
out the Old Dominion as a day of fast
ing, humiliation an I prayer to God,
“that he would avert the evils that
threatened our country, aud especially
that he would give them one mind and
one heart as a people, firmly to oppose
by all just means every injury to
American rights.” Our people of the
Cape Fear, touched with a like feeling
of sympathy with their oppressed
brethren of Boston, chartered a vessel
and sent them a ship load of provis
ions to meet their wants, in that their
great extremity. 80, we see that iu the
beginning of tho mighty crisis of our
great Revolution, aid continuously,
while that was in progress, Massachu
setts, Virginia and North Carolina
were linked by the strongest sympa
thies, and heroically struggled together
for the common rights of man, against
the greatest nation in the world. They
were in affectionate anion then— they
should be so now !
Each claims the donor of haviog
taken the lead iu the great decisive
movement which led to the Declara
tion of Independence. If history is not
merely what Sir Robert Walpole said,
he knew it was “ a lie, ’ then North Car
olina has the advantage o? her rivals
in the contest of pre-eminence. But,
how should she bear herself in view of
the high distinction ? Certainly not
with selfishness, nor with a spirit of
disparagement or depreciation of
others, not boastfully but modestly,
and with a generous appreciation of
the exalted merits of her sisters. The
two Sbit.es referred to are surely worthy
of her respect and high admiration.
Massachusetts has an illustrious re
cord in the past. She is rich at the
present in the resources of natural
wealth, in intellect and in learning—a
noble commonwealth, to which the civ
ilized world accords the tribute of its
highest respect. Virginia is the august
mother of Washington, and of vast
living empires; her’s is a fertile
soil of genius, talent and great
statesmen ; these, these are the as
sociates of North Carolina in the
Triad, that constitutes, when viewed
in reference to the cause of civil
liberty, one of the brightest glories ever
kindled in all the mural heavens. The
chief wealth of each, consists in her
sons, and these ar e jewels of which, the
three are tenantejin coparcenary. Mas
sachusetts points with pride to her
Hancock, her Adamseo, her Quincevs
and her Otises. Virginia to her all
peerless and matchless chieftain, who
stands forth in pre-eraaient singularity
of virtue, a model worthy of all ad
miration—the moral Apollo of the
world, and around him hangs in clus
tered brightness other stars in the
crown of her rejoicing ; her Henry, her
Lees, her Jefferson. Madison, Monroe
and Mason. While North Carolina ex
ulting in her maternal felicity points
with tiie complacency of Cornelia, to
her Caswell, her Johnston, her Nashe,
her Moores, her Brevard, her Harnett,
her Howe, her Polks, her Davidsons
her Ashes, her Waddell, her Avery, her
Alexanders and her Grahams, who, as
she believers, in the greal contest for our
nationality, took the lead of the majes
tic world. Methinks that from the
contributions of these three great
States is formed a constellated centre
of light, sufficient to Illume and lead
the population of the g obe, to the full
attainment of the rights, the enjoy
ments and the true and gnity of noble
manhood. Who can contemplate the
illustrious characters, I have named,
without feelings of indescribable satis
faction? Their light will sooner or
later go out to all the earth, and be
fore their superior brightness, all other
luminaries and leadens of nations
ancient and modern, will “pale their in
effectual fires.” When the lapse of
ages shall have shed its haU'wing in
fluences upon them, they wdl be held
in greater respect and reverence, than
Solon, or Aristides Efaminondus or
Cato, or Cicero. Their principles are
as immortal as the stars, nor is there
j any just cause to doubt their ultimate
New Series—Vol. 3. ]NTo. 100
tnumph| and universal prevalence.
Temporary obstructions they have al
ready encountered and others they
doubtless will hereafter encounter; but
in the moral, as in the physical system,
there is a law of accumulation of force,
which exhibits its strength just in pro
portion to the opposition it encounters.
Currents are augmented by impedi
ments, and the temporary detention
of the mountain torrent only serves to
make more effectual its desolating
velocity. So, when great principles are
once developed and put in action they
increase in energy, in proportion to
the opposition they meet, and their
champions derive new ardsr of devo
tion, new vigor of effort from every
tempory check. Influences, as we be
lieve, unpropitious to the prevalence of
the political doctrines of our great
Fathers, have recently prevailed
in our country. Malignant power
has for a season btsen permit
ted to destroy our prosperity,
mortify our pride, and deprive us of
our heritago of civil liberty! Great ef
forts have been made to break and
crush the spirit of our peopl \ because
it would not with sufficient pliancy bend
to the degrading behests . f tyranny,
and we are taunted as “rebels” for our
devotion to the holiest cause that
“Tongue or sword of mortal
Ever Tost or gained."
From such trials truth always
emerges with augmented attractions,
and her votaries, tested iu fidelity by
their adversities, though often dimin
ished in numbers, are ever increased in
power; and the lessons which guide
them to ultimate and pre-eminent suc
cess are frequently learned in hours
of solitary reflection, upon mistakes
and blunders made and committed
for want of proper forecast aud consid
eration. It was Peter the Great who
said, when defeated again and again by
the victorious 1. gions of Sweden, that
he was learning in the school of uupro
pitious fortune how to conquer the ene
mies of his counrry. This is the spirit
of the truly great in every age. an I to
such aloue the world may look for final
redemption, regeneration and disen
thrallment from every form of tyranny,
injustice aud oppression that, now hangs
darkly brooding over the future. To
the truly virtuous, the truly great, a
fall is the cause of a high rebound, and
real elevation of character is often
obtained in consequence of what
appears to be a total irreme
diable overthrow. There are re
collections connected with the evil for
tunes of our glorious “Sunny South"
which assuredly in due time will illus
trate the truth ot what I novvsav. De
feated in our efforts to maintain invio
late the principles of government in
herited from our Fathers, those princi
ples, precious in themselves, do now
and will forever hereafter stand indis
solubly associated in our hearts with
the sacred memory of our sous, who
fought and bled and died in | heir. du
by this disparity we were finally forced to
yield, our gallant soldiers note on so
KMMIJ O-. 1.1.. .. f 1.... J . . .!. .
just claim to the honors of triumph.
And now' while they sleep in graves,
bedew’ed with the tears of their moth
ers, their wives, their sisters and
daughters, and while we an; annually
revisited aud readorned by fresh to
kens of unfailing love, they are
exercising a constant, eunobling in
fluence on their surviving country
men. The glory of our ancestors is
thus combiued with that of our sous,
aud the light they jointly give to guide
us iu the future is as animadug iu its
effects as it is brilliant in its rays. Oh!
who can resist one of the silent
where our heroic children sleep, aud
not feel his spirit stirred within him
and all the elements of his better and
higher nature called into action. Sum
moned by their country they obeyed
the call, and for the cause of rightful
government. In full devotion they fell,
and now the places of their repose are
the holiest sepulchres of our land, to
which patriots will henceforth resort
to increase the ardor of patriotism, as
pilgrims go to the shriues of the
Saints to obtain additional fervor
of piety. By the arbitrament of
arms we lost our cause; but,
but, thank God! we preserved our
honor. In consistency with : L.e char
acter of the truly brave, we respect our
adversaries for the courage and skill
they displayed in the bloody conflict.
We cherish no cowardly feeling or pnr
poees of malice against them. Having
capitulated in good faith, our soldiers
aud our citizens have ever been dis
posed to abide the honorable terms of
capitulation with no wish to renew the
contest with our late enemies in war.
We have sought by every means com
patible with proper self-respect to
make them our friends in peace. We
have offered no resistance to constitu
tional government. We have com
plained of wrongs and of oppres
sion, and should have been untrue to
our ancestore and regardless of our
birthrights if we had not done so. We
desire a restoration of brotherly love
between the peoples of the two great
sections of our country. The Union
we wish to see restored upon the basis
of the sovereignty of the States. As
American citizens we are proud of the
greatness of the Republic, and we are
ready whenever the Government shall
be administered in wisdom and in
equity to saiute its honored arid star
decke and ensign as
“Tbe flag of the free heart’s ho|>es and
home.”
Should that ensign hereafter be
unfolded at the head of the le
gions of the whole country,
summoned to maintain our rights
on sea or on land—iu that
event the sous of the South will be
as prompt in rallying under it, and
as bravo in bearing it aloft iu the battle
as any other class of our pepole Thero
are associated with that flag in the
memories of Southern people many,
very many, recollections of inspiring
influence. It is the flag under which
Truxton fought and couquered in the
old French war—it is the flag which
Decatur and Perry and Lawrence bore
victoriously on the ocean in \indica
tion of “free trade and sailor’s rights”
—it is the flag which waved over Jack
sou’s troops at New Orleans—it is the
flag that Taylor and Scott unfurled
in Mexico aud planted on the
town of Monterey and on the
halls of Montezuma—it is the
flag under which Jefferson Davis, Rob
ert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joseph
E. Johnston and Dave H. Hill have
often rallied and fought— this tag, so
endeared by its connection with the
names of the great of both sections of
the Union, is still loved by Southern
people in spite of all that has ot cur red
to destroy our national sympathies.
We are awaiting with anxious solici
tude for the restoration of such mutual
confidence and fraternity between the
alieQ&ted sections of our court ry as
will make that flag once more tbe era
( Continued on third page.}