The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-06-13

IS strong IS The 6rsi impressions IN their /
infancy. and % vivid 20 The remembrance |
of their fathers who periled their lives
and their fortunes in support Of their |
pledge on that extraordinary occasion.
Previous 10 and on The 2OIh Of May
l775. the present county Of csbsrrus. a.
you all know. was psrt Of the old eoun-
y Of Meeklenburg. and so continued iill
1872; ss therefore. This county was .
constituent part Of Merklsnburg AZ that
time. and Was fully represented IN her "a
nous convention Having no, less. ! be-
liese. Than one third Of all The delegates,
and equally entitled IN lhe honors we this
day render; 90 the observations which
are made are intended 10 apply equally 10
both counties. between whom the only
rivalry should be. which shall most sp.
proprisIely commemorate the dsed-snd
most successfully maintain the principles
il promulgated.
In the early part Of The year IT'S the
British troops were stationed in The city
Of Boston. and % that city had always
been distinguished for its enthusiasm in
the cause Of The colonies, the eyes Of our
counirymen were snxiously turned 10 the
early cradle OF republican liberty, in live
~ expectation Of some hostile movement.
that would bring the unsettled affairs Of
the two countries 10 crisis-snd make
up the issue OF liberty or submission, TO
be decided only by The God Of bsIIles.
In May Of that year, the then county
of Mecklenburg. always conspicuous Tor
It's attachment 90 the Wing cause Of the
revolution. and once honored by Cornwall
lis with the compliment Of being denounc.
ed a. Z" the most rebellious county in
America" held detached meetings OF The
lpeople in the different neighborhoods: q.
which neighborhood meetings, (some oil
which are doubtless remembered by the
veterans who sic before mel the people
discussed the general state Of affairs. ex.
pressed their sympathy Tor the common
cause, and especially for their suffering
brethren in The city Of Boston, in whose
fate were identified the interest Of their
cnunIrymen,-ssserted their determine.
ton never 10 submit TO the exactions oil
the British Crown; and TO support their
brethren in liberty throughout all the ui'
ais Of their perilous situation. These
meetings and discussions, prompted By
the love Of liberty among the peopl,
themselves. prepared them for the even
Of which we now speak, and this day ce
iebrste.
. Accordingly an order was issued b,
the Colonel Commandsn, Of the County
! directing every militia company to elec
, two delegstes-snd TO yes, them with IN
. limited powers for the general good an
= safety. This order met With heart
: response from The people. The dele
} gates were elected ss required, and me
in the town OF Charlotte on the l9th @
, May, ITS. A remarkable coincidenc
: occurred on that occasion. When III
| delegates were assembled and in the pei
: torrance Of the high trust committed o
, their charge. greeted and urged on BY III
warm appreciation Of their assemble
= countrymen. an express arrived announc
0 ing that the first hostile blow had bee
|. struck in defence of liberty: that the 70
}. lies Of negotiation were ended: that III
, Rubicon had been passed: that the swor
: was unshea,hed and its scabbsrd throw
Z away: and tina. the blood. the FIRST bloc
: Of American Citizens, had been shed o
l. the plains Of Lexington and cried alou
for vengeance! The very Goddess Of
d berry herself could not have furnished
II more powerful motive for prompt and d.
!, cisive action, more irresistible incentiv
Il to that noble deed which has crowned GU
e patriotic forefathers with imperishable rs
= nown. Suppose, Fellow-Ci,izens. on
n beloved country now insulted-and on
= rights trampled under foot by an imper
2 lous enemy; suppose that enemy TO invad
= our shores with an hired soldiery--an
o besiege our ci,ies--and TO complete III
" climax OF insul, and injury, suppose hi
}. lenemy to make our free soil drink Oh
blood of American citizens, inhumanl
IT lbutchered! What son Of hers would n,
= lquit his fireside and meet in the ,ente
'r l6eld the viola,or of his country's injure
q rights and honor! Yes, my friends
!. thousands of swords would leap froI
!. their scsbbard 10 avenge the wrong-an
e defend our coun,ry-,nousands OF pairl'
warriors would lead us on TO BATH,
a. Blu, the deed we now celebrate, as "
e shall presently show. was Of still highs
lie daring and glory.
re When the messenger Arrived and con
e municated The momentous purport OF hi
,f intelligence, our delegates were surrouI
l. ded, but no, overwhelmed with new di
h ficulties and still greater responsibilities
W They still proceeded in their noble worl
IN with unfiinching irmness. The ls'
M passed over. The night was consume
le 10 sleepless and grave but nnwesried d.
IS alterations. The sun Of the 10Th I
5. May rose upon their iabors. They fe
j. the awful responsibility Of their situation