The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-07
/. North. .Qsrsllna's osatsAnial.

On the 9Oth Of May, l775, The patriots
OF Mecklenhprg County. North Carolina.
promulgated declaration of indepen.
d1nce of THE Government OF Great
Britain, in the town Of Charlotte, and
boldly laid down the principles Of free
government iniAmorica. It was aspirited
document. and the lives, fortunes and
sacred honor Of the siguers were pledged
to it's support. Aud these pledges we're
subsequently made good by their valor
,apdfostitpde.''ss The famous Deolafation
Of Inaependspps. i arav'ia WeMr. Jeffer-
SON.. used the ideas, and, in several
places, the language, of tho Mecklen-
burg declaration North Carolina is en-
titled to the credit Of this bold enunoia-
tion, apd we perceive by recent action of
,ths Honse Of Representatives Of that
State. that che is not insensibie to this
proud historic position.
The House hasi adopted resolutions
which favor lhe holding Of = centennial
celebration at Charlotte on the Goth OF
Nay, 1876, to commemorate this great
, event, by an exhibition of tho natural
RESOURCES of the State, its arts products
and manufactures. Itis proposed TO ap.
point a, commission, to oonsist OF the Go.
vernon ind three delegates from each
Congressional District of Che State, to
prepare and superintend the execution
OF plan for holding the exhibition, to-
serve without compensation. Invita-
Stsons are to be extended to the President
OF the United States, the heads Of all the
departments Of the Government AZ
Washington, and tothe Governors Of all
tho States aud Territories. 4,
This will not interfere With the cen
:tennial celebration at, Philadelphia.
-,uhioh takes place over twelve months
alter the proposed exhibition at Char
,lotta. It will rather aid in furtherance
:. ofathat ob1scl as the articles collected
;: there can be fqrwArdedi to Philadelphia
. al contributions from North Carolina.
The 20th day of May, 1875. is over two
years of yer, awvhioh will afford ample
time to make all arrangements for q
cause 80 we'll worthy of commem oratiQp.
EFT, la555a.is1 53atii}l III ast1}. }-.l.-
Senator Bayard; of Delaware. has In
troduced resolution for an inquiry as
Ito whether any officer of the army, sta-
stioned in, South, Carolina, has received.
or attempted to- pronursj jlpasment from
the State Legislature for services per-
formed in tho line Of his duty Of. other
s:wise,. or has; been admitted to$apiactice
and has ptaotissd at the bar Of tks State
for his personal emolument while re-
oeiving pay as an officer 81 the army;
and whether .suoh officer is .aow onduty
sin said State. and detached from his re-
giment for any service. and, il so, for
what serviess / !t+A
This inquiry points to Major Lewis
Merrill, who has been in command of
the post at Yorkville. in this State. for
the last two years. and has been conspi-
cuous for his activity in hunting up and
arrestins Kn Kiux, and for his zeal. in
concert with District Attorney Oorbin.
dn having. them convic:od. He has now,
we perceive, been relieved of his oom-
mand OF the troops, and ordered to re-.
poFt: 10 Attorney. General Williams for
service, in connection with pending Ku
Klux trials. In this field, Major Merrill
viii pc entirely st home, =na, no doubt,
ready and eager auxiliary to the prose.
cution. t8 e
The Legislature OF South Carolina hos
appropriated $685. as compensation
for Major Merrill and others, for their
services against the Ku Klux. We do
mot know whether he has received hie
quota or not; but as he has not only
done such service in the field as the lie;
gislature thought should be thus reward
ed. but been active In season and out, of
season in getting the appropriation
pessed, We think it more than likely that
he has. It is beyond doubt that he has
attempted to procure this payment It
is equally clear that it was for services
performed in the line OF his duty, and