Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-05
For the Spirit to the Age.
1.-The old North State"

@AS "A 0pUOVs
What man is there so dead to feeling, to
whatever nature or cline he may belong,
who feels not a patriotic glow of enthusiasm
at the recitalo of the heroic and patriotic deeds
of his ancestors The heart of the patriotic
Englishman, is filled with rapture in review
ing the daring and patriotic deeds of Alfred
the Great his mind recurs with pride to
the blood-sJalned scenes of Waterloo be-
cause it was there that another star was ad-
ded to the crown of glory that encircled the
brow of England, and another leaf to the
wreath of laurel that decked the brow of
Wellington.
The enthusiastic Frenchman recounts with
pleasure, The many hard fought and glori-
ously won battles of Napolean. Even the
breast of the rude barbarian is filled with
exultation at the mention Of the names of his
warlike ancestors. The unenlightened Amer
lean Indian, at the mentor of the name of
Tecumseh, will brandish his war-club above
his head, and scream his fearful war-whoop.
Indeed, all nations rejoice in their country's
honors, and the heroic deeds of their ances-
tors. Then how much cause have we Of the
new world to rejoice at the deeds Of our fore
fathers, who fought, bled and died in the
cause of liberty, and in the defence of the
rights of man.
As the patriotic American stands near the
resting place of the immortal Warren, the
daring Morgan. or the intrepid Pike, his
heart is filled with the strongest emotions,
too strong for expression, and tears of graf
itude to those immortal patriots sufuse his
eyes.
The North Carolinian welcomes with en-
thusiasm the return of the Fourth of July
the great Anniversary Of American indie
pendence but with how much more enthu
siasm does he behold the return of Goth O
May-the day on which his patriotic ances
tors met in Mecklenburg county, and Their,
placed theirhands to that paper which shoull
ever be held dear to the n orth Carolinian-
THE MEcKLENBURG DECLARATION OF INDIE
PENDENCE. From the scenes which transpi
red in Mecklenburg county, during the ear
ly stages of the American Revolution, hoy
many sacred recollections around it chung.
Though the Pennsylvania may pointwit
commendable State pride, to the old stat
house at Philadelphia, as the monument c
the patriotism of his ancestors; the Mort
Carolinian can with equal patriotism, poin
to the old county of Mecklenburg, and boas
of its being the first soilin Americaon whic
independence was declared. Though the en-
thusiastic son of Massachusetts, may point
Bunker Hill, and exclaim, there was one G
the first scenes of the Revolution enacted
the patriotic sons Of the old North State ma
point to old Alamance, and exclaim, thel
was split the first blood In the war for iii
erty.
North Carolina has long been honored {
with the appellation Of " Old SleepY r.
7 bestowed upon her this honora able (?l ev
| tibet, are nothing more than a few fooliI
t wags, more noted for wit than common sens
l will condescend to inform them, that
1 " old Rip" is asleep (which is far from /
e ing the case) he did enough in the early da
n of the revolution to entitle him to " a 90,
d long nap" But North Carolina is not aslee
70 she is wide awake to her own interests a
that of the country at large and thou
she has been for some time seemingly drows
it she is now awakening from her lethargy a
II pushing on the works of internal impro
IT ment.
Ii Within her borders, Commerce and As
a culture are making rapid strides towards
y zenith of their perfection. She boasts Of
IN seaport towns and some Of the best harb
in the Atlantic coast. She has BeaufC
Id promising soon to become a large eli
lie and situated at the junction of the Ne
er and Trent rivers is old NewBerne-her {
est town-around whose many ancient a
d~ilapidated buildings hang some of the m
er sacred recollections. Within her border
'rs the old Court House in which were 80 of
at, heard the burning sentiments of a Star
be and the heart thrilling eloquence of a G
To- ton-two of the most brilliant lights t
fe. have ever shone upon North Carolina to
y, lumine the paths of her patriotic sons.
NewBerne, whose soul gave birth to a Star
and contains within its bosom the ashes
he the immortal CASTOR. Ma. thy name 9
lc%ontinue Is it is, fair and u~nblenished