Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-04
INCIDENT MTm HISTORY OF NORTH cARL1NA.

At the late commencement of the University
of North Carolina an address before the literary
societies was delivered by George Davis, of
Wilmington. His theme was, The Early
Times and Men of the Loaoer Cape Fear" The
speaker rected, during the course OF his oration,
the following thrilling and ever memorable Incl
dent in the history of the Old North State. In
speaking of the position of North Carolina in
the great struggle for American freedom, he
said:
In the first of the year l766, the sloop Of war
Diligence arrived in the Cape Fear, bringing
the Stamps. Now, look what shall happen! |!
She floats as gaily up the river as though she
came on an errand of grace, with sails oil set,
and the cross of St. George Haunting apeak,
her cannon frowning upon the rebellious little
town of Brunswick, as she yawns to her anchor.
People of Cape Fear, the issue is before you !!
The paw of the lion is on your heads-the ter
rible lion of England! Will you crouch sub
missivey, or redeem the honor that was pledged
for you! You have spoken brave words about
the rights of the people-have ye acts as brave
All! gentlemen, there were men in North Caro-
lima in those days.
Scarcely had the stamp ship crossed the bar,
when Colonel Waddel was watching her from
the shore. He sent messenger to Wilmington
to his friend Colonel Ashe As she rounded to
her anchor, opposite the Custom House ut
Brunswick, they appeared upon the shore, with
two companies of friends and gallant yeomen at
their backs. Beware, John Ashe Hugh Wad-
dell, take heeda Consider well, brave gentlemen,
the perilous issue you dare! Remember that
armed resistance to the Kings authority is trea-
son! In his palace, at Wilmington the "Wolf
tsof Carolina" is already cha6ng against you; /;
and know you not that yonder, across the water,
England still keeps the Tower, the Traitors
Gate. the scaffold and the axe? Full well they
know; but
They have set their lives upon the cast,
s.. And now must stand the hazard Of the die.
By threats of violence they intimdated the
commander of the sloop, and he promises not to
land his stamps. They sieze the vessels boat
and hosting mast and flag, mount it upon
cart and march in triumph to Wilmington. Up
OH their arrival the town is illuminated. Next
day, with Colonel Ashe at their head, the people
90 in crowds to the Governors house, and do.
mand of him James Houston, the stamp master.
Upon his refusal to deliver him up forthwith,
thev set about to burn his house above his
head. Terrified, the Governor at length COM
plies, and Houston is conducted to the market
house, where, in the presence Of the assembled
people, he is made to take the solemn oath new
ar to execute the duties of his Office. Three
glad hurrahs ring through the old market house,
and the stamp act falls s,illborn in North Carroll
ma TCheers And this was more than'ten years
before the Declaration of Independence, nine
before the Battle of Lexington, and nearly
eight before the Boston Tea Party. The de-
.truction of the tea was done in the night by
men in disguise, and history blazons it, and
New England boasts of it, and the fame of it
1, world. wide. But this other act, more gallant
and daring, done in open day by we'll known
men, with arms in their hands and under the
Kings fiag-who remembers or who tells of it !!
When will history do justice to North Carolina
Never, till some faithful and loving, son OF her
own shall grid his lions to the task with un'
wearied industry and uuAinching devotion to the
honor of his dear old mother.