The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-05-27
ADVERTISEMENTS
The Celebration at Charlotte N. C.


y correspondent of the Carolipiop
gives an interesting account of the cere
monies oi celebrating the anniversary of
the "Meeklenbwg Declaration of lndspen-
.lepce on "Wednesday last from which We
make some extracts:
The morning OF the ever memorable
20lh OF May, dawncd beautifully bright,
but probably colder than it has ever been
on that day during all the eighty two
years which have elapsed since the brave
Uand OF patriots appended their names
to what, for all that they could tell, Was
Sslikely to prove their own death-warrant
The rising sun was welcomed 10y salute
Of thirteen guns, in honor Of the original
throughout the day WAS 10y turns bright
"nd lowering, like the fortunes of,he peri.
od which 1t commemoratcd. At 10 l 2
a: NJ, the procession WAS formed on !he
public square, arranged under the super
vision Of Gen. Young.
Having reached tue spacious grove OF
ihe Presbyterian Church., bright with Al
large concourse ofloyeIy ladies, the process
sion approached the stand in inverted or
der, aud after burst Of music from the
band. the exercises commenced with an
eloquent prayer by the Rev. II. Lacey, -.
d., Ii. u. Gen. Young then introduced
the Hon. Mr.. Osborne Reeder, who, after
short but eloquent preface, read l.. pc
sUiiar happy style, the "MeckenLurg Dee
laration Of Independence Of the 2Oih Of
May, 1870" Tie assembly was again
regaled with soft music, and tie presi-
dent of the Day, Hon. Frederick Nash,
Chief Justice of North Carolina, in,roduc-
ed the Orator Of the Dav, Rev. i. l..
Hawkes., ID. ID. LII. ID. of New York.
This distinguished diviHe, in an able and
eloquent address Of three hours aud Il
halls duration, fully sustained the repu.
tation he has won for talent and oratolcaI
powers. In n few feeling remarks, Il,
claimed North Carolina rs his native
State, and the lifelong home of his ullec,
iians exclaiming in tie language Of thC
captive Israelitc, "lf forget thee, O Jeru
salem, may my right hauG forget hcrcun
ming" More than cnce he moved pOr
ton of his audience 10 tears. He then
entered INTO a detail ofthe historical bear.
ings ofthe subject; how his own research,
eS had traced the battle Of Lexington,
every mile Of the way, from New Jersey
10 Charlotte how the iron.hcar,cd sons
Of old MecklenbQrg had assembled at the
Court House, on the reception Of tie ii
dings, and scornng the tnint and penalty
of treason, boldly declared themselves in
dependant Of Great Britain and OF the
world. This, it will be remembered Was
more than a year before Congress declared
for freedom and the paper here promul-
gated, was undoubtedly the model on
Which Jefferson framed the declaration Of
July 4, l77G. In an abIe and well sus
tanned argument, the speakerthen utterly
faIsified and refUted the traduccrs who
have, with e sembancc Of truth, denied
The existence Of the Declaration. Those
who heard the oration will ever remember
DR.. bawkes as Al able and accomplished
orator, and Il proiouDd student of Ameri.
can history. After the Grafton the meet
ing adjourned to the public square, where
some patriotic hand had hung out the
yenerated emblem of old Mccklcnburg-
an immense hornets nest" taslfully dec
grated wiiA riIbons.
AT o'clock, We all proceeded to the
depot, where most sumptuous dinner
had Deen prepared by MeSsrs. oung IL
Williams, of the Mansion House. There
were three immense tables, groaning be .
meath every deIicacy which the most tasli-
dious taste could desire, and wine and
champagne was in abundance. 1t has
never been our fortune to sit at public
dinner where there was more order and
decoiuln. We did not sec single case
Of intoxication. After dinner, the regular
toasts were read and responded u by
Messrs. Biggs, Bragg, Osborne, Swayne
and Barringer, of North Carolina, and
Mr.. w. Il. Wilson, of York, S. G. We
teft the dining room amid the thunderino
of artillery, for sun set was the signal fcr
salute tpardon rhe al!iteration) of thirty
one guns, aud thus closed the festivities ot
the day.