The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-31
the MtCkleNBuaG DECLARATION or INDEPENDENCE

OUR NORTH CAaoLISA CoRREsPoNDEHos.
CHARLOTTE, MecKLENBuRG COUNTY,
NORra CAROLINA, May 20, 1857.
arrived here this morning, after o moss narrass'
ipg travel Of over thirty hours. l contemplated
some days ago, to have left Richmond, virginia on
the 18th, but ascestsiping that could aceomp 1so
within much shorter lime what had then allotted
10 myself Se;esred my departure until the evening
sf the 18th. Could but have realized week ago
The advantages OF nights rest at this place in ed
vance of the celebration, I would certainly have
made provisjon for py earlier departure. Such
.deprivaton NJ that Of two nights rest witha pros
nee, of third is matter veil worthy of considera-
ton, where health and efficiency in the discharge Of
duty, are involved.
OF the incidents along the journey little can be
sad. Until had reached Weldon, in this State,
which is about ninety miles from Richmond there
was nothing more than ordinary 0bservable-no
movement whatever in reference to this celebra-
ton II was at this point that noticed the first
preparations In regard 70 1t. There was an unusual
rush for tickets at the office of the Raliegn and
Charlotte line but I soon discovered that this was
prOdaced rather by the accession Of q dozen or 30
from this cause TO the ordinary passenger traffic,
upon the line, than in view Of this celebration.
Upon reaching Raleigh, however, found the rush
was tremendous 30 much 80 az to give rise to the
necessity Of adding several to the regular train
and as It approached this town the numbers in
creased by scores at every station, until the cars
were 6Iled to inconvenience.
whie waiting at the Weldon depot for the start
ing Of the train to Raleigh en route to this town,
was for the urs; time recognised by gentlemen as
the reporter for the HERALD. As is customary In
country regions the fac. vas instantly made known
70 o hers and before five minutes was surrounded
hto loos ffv al am viz
to see " Benefits reporter" l was at once beset
by series Of inteSrogations in reference to the pro-
bable future course OF the hsRALD in the political
way and his object In the caution recently given TO
the friends of Fremont to rally for 1860. gave all
the Information / possessed. which was none; but
like that line chivalIic feeling ID characteristic Of
Boushern gentlemen, they manifested no displea-
sure at, az they supposed, my affected ignorance
spen hese points, but rather treated me with unu-
sual RESPECTS aud such was the wherever by any
chance, the object Of my mission was ascertained.
Indeed, was treated with more than ordinary cour-
tesy by all with whom came In contact.
THE TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
This town, though rather old, presents the ap-
pearance of one but q few years rounded. The
hui 6,ngs, which are oh ely OF wood, seem as IL
newly erected; bus this freshness is doubtless ow
ing TO the characteristic taste and cleanliness OF its
hhAbitants II approximstes more in this regard 70
snalI English country town than any have seen
In this country The hoei accommodations, which
consist of the Mansion House, the Charlotte House
and the Mecklenberg Hotel, il amply adequate TO
the ordinary pequheGents in this regard; but upon
any extraordinary Occasion, such as the present,
they are totally inadequate to the demand. Not q
vacant room nor even a bed was available upon
my arrival here this morning; and but for the kind
sess OF Mr.. W. Yates, proprietor and editor of the
Wssftrn Democrat, who courteousiy rendered me
been In predicament Through him was admit
TED to other PRIVILEGES which have materially facih
tatsd me in the discharge Of my duces.
The frat object which struck my eye on entering
sS,Ia AeoA and
nf feet high, erected In che cenre OF square close
BY MT upoo the SITE Of the old boildiag in which
.he Meckenburg Declaration OF Independence was
made, on May 70, IT'S, and whi,h has been ceIe,
brafed here 70 day. THIS il tee most elevated and
important part OF the town commercially. with IL
are connected intimately Gil the glorious asocii-
tons Of that period, and today u u tseemed hli-
lowed SCOT by every North aroliDian who prijes In
It, being the theatre of the inst practical move nent
made in behalf OF American Independence. But
few years ago there were many living 10 This town
and peighborhood who rene nberd well all the CIR
eumstances that glorious epoch, and giaddeued to
speak Of them; and now its history Is as familiar
to the people ~ the present day resident In this re-
zion as the current narkab vents OF ibe season.
Havipg ssd thus much WI h reference to the locale
" this remarkable event, IL may be well To give
fe~ of the ead az facts and incidents come ted With
H. To do more eh-ctually will quote some re
marks upon this subject, from q lecture delivered BY
Or. Hawks, 10 1853. They are as follows:
NUT ask You imagine yourselves MP among the hills
and valleys OF which have been telling you. AMI % fancy
yourselves plea ant spring morning Of l17S, In the
village OF Charlotte, in the county Of NecSienoarF lis
ebv,es that from some cause thc,o has been brought 70
g.ther hrye aasembaso aud that 40 unusual .xocment
prevails You among the same Scotch irisb OF whom
I Told you before. II In busy scene. In yon.
der group may be observed some of the cerg
with deep eaneiness SpeakiDg TO the gray haired men
around them who dtiuH In with greedy all thai II
altered white. IN. outskirts Of the circles the sober
NATIONS ana The young stand, hearkcning With
breA'hless interest TO what Is passing:
Hard by may be aeon man. travel stained, as from
bong ouru,y, hastily performed aud at short intervals
and another 10 TO him from out tho group, and
holding him athor and hurried conversation, hasten
back again 10 listen 10 The reader, who holds printed
handb. before i'm. mat avel stained has ridden
empress and you begin 10 think iha, udngs he has
brought may have occasoned this unusual comnoion;
and 40 they have Cor ho has brought s, haodo which
shed by British soldiers at Concord and Lexington
the leih Of April, 1875. Thoy have ut received Tho
what on see Is the outbreak u the varied emotions
produced by the startling In diligence. But hos came
they assembled that day To explain that
/ must carry zen back a little in their history.
Amer tho departure Of Tryon hese peoplo were per-
NV s.,ver earned one Ies.on on he 81 Of Alamsnac
~ onfed accordingly. They ditrusiful, not OF
sbcmses but Of the govern nent and had learned that
courage worth t~ice much With Discipline II IL
without Il, and they had therefore sought by military
ar better ed ior battle field should hey ever be
uprr Carolns bal then no priruns press No regular
mail traversod the country then, and newspapers
sail The educated en q the region conved 9,
and when Intelligence Of interest arrived was
usually committed 10 writing, and the people supplied
The want Of the press among them by assembling in
tarvas In Charlotte where thcse written documents
read thcm Many az there payers were prepared by
their Clergy men, and when the pie met Tor Worship
Sundays u easy W disseminate through the county
tntelhgeuce that had arrived, the f"rtleuiars Of
which would be read 10 the people certain day This
insured an sssemblage.
These circumstances had therefore, led 70 frequent as
semblages Charlotte prior 70 the lsh Of Nay lI1s, 70
hsar M va nd sNn
Az matters approached crisis, Il was determined that
Colonel Thos Polk. Of worth and nhucucc, ana ex
Nnsvey known and esteemed through all that country,
should BE empowered 10 call for nal convention when
ever should be advisablo This Convention was % be
composed Of two rep esentauves rom esob militia
company district, chosen by the people themselves.
recent aiemp, by the Governor IN prevent the meet
inc Of tho Provincial Congress- and dissolution BY bin OF
~ povsc Of Asscby after OF foir days only,
together with the ale Of AFFAIR beth IN England and some
u the other coones Induced Col TON 70 sa' we oonyon
the selected doiesaie, bot the whole country and this
erpain the presence Of the excited multitude IN Chat
Ls.s 90, ti,a n which have