The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-26
THE ADDRESS.

DR.. Hawks was introduced to the audi
ence in a brief and appropriate manner by
the venerable Chief Justice NASH.
DIR. HAWKES. exordium was beautiful
and most touching enforcement of the idea
of generation with which we look upon
places, by which either our patriotism or
our affections are stirred. He applied this
thought, this feeling, to the present occa-
sion, in the following eloquent passage:
"When, therefore, in the distant home
where dwell. an unwilling exile from the
land of my fathers, l was honored with a
summons to meet you here to- day, | felt
that the only appropriate time is NOW; the
only proper place is HERE. for the COM
memoration of the events we would recall.
For on this day, fourscore and two years
ago, and on this spot, our fathers wrote
their part of q large chapter in history. in
the brave, but then perilous word-INDE
PENDENCE."
He next passed to the consideration of
the American Revolution, that |" spectacle
of unequalled moral sublimity,'' which,
whether considered with reference to the
motive that prompted it, the men who led
it, the patient self-denial, and the cheerfully
borne sacrifices involved in it, or the in
credibly marvellous consequences which
have flowed from it, looms up before us in
colossal proportions, and stands unequailed
IN ats magnif cent grandeur"
From the Revolution generally, he pas
sed on to q delineation of the character of
the people of this part of North Carolina,
their origin, training, and the principles of
civil and religious liberty which were in
stilled into their minds, more than in any
other parts of the colony, from their youth
up.
We pass over, as having neither time
nor room for them, brilliant passages re-
lating to the Union, to northern fanaticism,
to the southern duty of calm watchfulness.
preparation for whatever may happen, and
determination to stand by the Constitu-
ton. "Develope your resources" said he,
God has made them surprisingly great"
Open communication by railroads, allowing
no loo al rivalries to interfere. The interest
of each section of the State is the interest
of all.
Of the closing and historical part of the
address, we add the following carefully
prepared synopsis, in which we do not pro-
tend to completeness, but merely to give a
general idea of the very interesting facts
and arguments. And we will here remark
that we are indebted to our old friend E. J.
Hale, Esq, of the Fayetteville Observer,
for valuable assistance i'll preparing the alb
stract below, and thus enabling us to place
before the public so much important and
interesting testimony on the subject under
consideration:
STATEMENT OF THE QUESTION.
There are those who assert that no meet
ing was held in Charlotte on the 10Th and
goth of May, 1875, and no Declaration of
Independence then and there made; but
that meeting was held on the 30th of
May in that year, in which certain resolu-
tions were adopted, and that this eonsti-
tutes the only action ofthe people of Meek
lenburg during May, l775.
On the other hand the Legislature of N.
Carolina has affirmed, and the people of
the State have concurred in that affirma-
ton, that there acds meeting held in Char
lotte on the 10Th and Goth days of May,
l775; that certain resolutions declaring in-
dependence, abjuring allegiance to the Brit