The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-08-03
INCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF
NORTH CAROLINA.


AT the late commencement of the Univer'
sity of North Carolina an address before the
literary society was delivered by George Da'
Wis, Of Wilmington. His theme was, "T'ht
Early Times and Men of the Lo,oer Cape
Fear" The speaker reeited, during the
course Of his oration, the following thrilling
and ever memorable incident 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 1866, the soop oil
war Diligence arrived in the Cape Fear, bring
ing the stamps. Now look what shall hap
pen! She floats as gaiy up the river as
though she came on an errand Of grace, with
sails all set, and the cross of st. George
Haunting apeak, her cannon frowing 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 terrible lion of
England! Will you crouch submissively, or
redeem the honor that was pledged for you!
You have spoken brave words about the
rights of the peope-have ye acts as brave!
All! gentlemen, there were men in North Car
olna in those days.
Scarcely had the stamp ship crossed the
bur, when Colonel Waddell was watching her
from the shore. He sent messenger to
Wilmington to his friend Colonel Asbe. As
she rounded to her anchor, opposite the Gus.
tom House at Brunswick, they appeared up
on the shore, with two companies of friends
and gallant yeomen at their backs. Beware,
John Ashe!-Hugh Waddell, take heed
Consider WELL brave gentlemen, the perlous
issue you dare! Remember that armed re
sstance to the Kings authority is treason!-
In his palace, at Wilmington, the "Wolf of
Carolina" is already shafng against you; and
know you not that yonder, across the water,
England still keeps the Tower, the Traitors
Gate, the scaffuld aud the axe! Full well
they know; but
They have set their lives upon the cast,
And now must stand the hazard of the die.
By threats of violence they intimidate the
commander Of the sloop, and he promises
not to land his stamps. They seize the ves-
sells boat, and hosting mast and flag, mount
it upon cart and march in triumph to Will
mington. Upon their arrival the town is il
Illuminated. Next day, with Colonel Ashe at
their head, the people 90 in crowds to the
Governors house, and demand Of him James
Houston, the stamp master. Upon his relu-
sal to deliver him up forthwith, they set
about to burn his house above his head. Ter.
riiied, the Governor ut length complies, and
Houston is conducted to the market house,
where, in The presence of the assembled peo.
Pile, he is made to take the solemn oath never
to execute the duties of his Office. Three
glad hurraI,s ring through the old market
house, and the stamp act falls still-born in
North Carolina. Cheers. And this was
more than ten years before the Declaration
of Independence, nine before the Battle Of
Lexington, and nearly eight before the Bos-
ton Tea Party. The destruction of the tea
was done in the night by men in disguse,and
history blazons it, and New England boasts
of it, and the fame Of it is world wide. But
this oath act, more gallant and daring, done
in open day by well known men, with arms
IN their hands and under the Kings flag
who remembers or who tells of it! When.
will history do justice to North Carolna'-
Never, till some faithful and loving son of her
,wn shall gird his loins to the task with
inwearied industry and unllinching devotion
% the honor of his dear old mother.