Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-06
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, N. G." MONDAY. MARCH q. 1857
mOore's Creek Celebration.

The multitude present on the occasion was con-
sideraby greater than that assembled on the same
spot last year. 1t is always difficult TO estimate
meeting in the open air, and that fact is proven by
the very different figures given by equally good judges
Not far from a thousand persons went up in boats
from Wilmington and think that about twice
as many reached the ground In other ways, from this
and other counties Perhaps we would not be far
from the mark in saying that there were three
thousand persons on the g1ound-among them, the
very handsome Company of Lafayette Light Infan-
try from Fayetteville, under the command of MAJOR
John Cook the Light Infantry, The German Volun-
teers, the Rife Cadets, and the Cadets OF Mr. Rad
cliffs School, from Wilmington; and though last
by no means least, the members OF the Howard kn'
CINE Company in their Firemen's costume all add
ing to the interest of the OCCASION and lending an
imposing character 10 the display.
The steamer Champion, with the Volunteer and
Fire Companies from town; the Magnolia, with the
Fayetteville Company the Flora Macdonald, and
the Spray with the & citizens generally" reached the
landing not much after eleven O'Clock, and those on
board started for the grolnd-some two or three
miles off-in procession, consisting OF cVn anu
military, pedestrians and equestrlans Win aii ma"
ner Of vehicles nterspersed these Ia'er NANNY hleu
by ladies', who, by the way turned OUT IN Tar larger
numbers than they did last year
After some time spent in viewing the ground, trac
inc out the lines of nearly defaced entertainments,
marking the stump of what was tree when Mcleod
fell by it pierced by several bullets, specializing on
the precise location of the spot consecrated by the
blood of John Grady, the only martyr to indepen-
dence who fell during the battle, and Otherwise
deepening the impressions of the event, by dwelling
on the remaining souvenirs which the sceLe afford
el the meeting gathered about the spea kers stand
where the exercises of the day opened by a
solemn and impressive appeal to the throne of Grace
offered up by the Rev. Mr. Grier of Wilmington, in
voking the Divine blessing and countenance upon
those gathered together and upon the objects which
had led to their assembling.
1t would be impossible for US, in the brief limits to
which the necessities of restricted space compe
US TO confne our notice of Mr.. Wrighs address, to
do anything like justice to that able and eloquent
effort. We can only attempt brief aud inadequate
synopsis; but while regrettng the briefness and In
adequacy Of report, we are consoed by the re-
Election that so many, so very many or our readers
enjoyed the privilege of hearing the orator himself
and want not our slight transcript to render more
vivid the impression made by his glowing periods.
Mr.. Wright congratulated his hearers that they
had again the privilege OF meeting upon ground con-
secrated by the gallant deeds OF their patriotic ances
tors, and upon the anniversary of day illustrated
by feat of arms whose glory heralded the still
greater glory of their country's freedom. He well
coined them 10 the spot and could only wish that it
were in his power 10 do justice 10 the occasion.
Meet and proper was it that they should assemble
to do honor o q day ond decd omnently worthy
of commemorative homage. Too long had that hon.
age been withheld-too long had the field consecrated
to patriotism remained unmarked and unvslted-too
seldom had the deed which hallows it been the theme
of patriotic econium. 1t may be that the lustrious
dead need no monument-their glorious deeds no
formal commemoration-that both are alike present
to our memories and enshrined in our hearts. But,
whether they need it or not, it is due from us that
they should be honored otherwise and elsewhere
than in our hearts. This duty of the living to their
dead benefaotors had been recognized in all ages and
in every land, and the column and the cenotaph had
been caused TO ascend, and song and story, and for
NAL celebration, had appealed to the hearts of the
nations in honor of the great and the great deeds
of their history. Prompted by kindred feeling, we
had met together 10 indulge in grateful recolIectons
of the men and the deed of the 9th of February,
1776
He would open to them the volume of our country's
history wherein is written the story of the tyrannes
which were practised by England and endured by US
for ten long years. before goaded by ntoerable op
preston North Carolina broke out in rebellion after
having in vain exhausted remonstrance and appeal
Tyannous taxes inposed appropriations refused for
the relief of the colony the courts of justice closed
to her citizens, the asylum of her legislative rights
violated, the sanclity of life and property longer
respected, all these called for redress, which all felt
could now only be looked for from their own stout
hearts and strong arms The spirit of rebellion per-
vaded the province, it blazed out in the stamp act
dition in the streets of Wilmington, it was felt in
every town and hamlet in the land. But this was
not the occasion, bis the duty to dwell
longer upon theme which belonged more properly
to the annalst. He would turn to the events bear
ing more strictly upon the subject then before him
and more directly connected with the occasion of the
meeting
In the month of January 1915, royal cruiser
foated upon the Cape Fear behind whose wooden
walls Martin, the last royal Governor of North Car
DINA had taken shelter. Driven from his palace at
Newbern, which he had vanly attempted to fortify,
he had sought refuge under the better protection
which be supposed was to be found behind the guns
of Fort Johnston But the eagle eyes of the patriots
of the Cape Fear were upon him. They discovered
his plotngs against their libertes-his attempts 10
arm and excite the slaves against their masters-and
they determined 10 dislodge him. There re-appeared
on the scene one who perhaps did more to knde and
Keep burning the fires of freedom than any other
man OF that perilous time. That man was Col. John
Ashe, of whom his native county and State