Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-14
0l0lilnlir}gtolt 3ontnal.
FRIDAY, MARCH Ia. 1873.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Sorth Carolina Speaks for Meek
Ienburg.
WILMINGTON, n. c. !:

ERluAY, mAhCd AZ, 1910.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Sorth Carolina Speaks for Mech.
Ienburg.
There is something more than re
freshing-something truly touching
in the Centennial news we are receiv
ing from the South. Virginia ha:
spoken cheeringly, being willing, out
Of her poverty, soon to be relieved, tC
give us what aid she can, and now
North Carolina. 1t is of this last we
dsire to speak with emphasis, for the
action taken by the Legislature of this
State is sing,llarly graceful and impress.
sive It is characterized, not only by
extreme good taste and good feeling,
but by assertion of historic pride
pride in themselves and this history
which is entirely coDg""'&l to the
spirit which we of Phi III rIphia are
striving everywhere to Stimulate. The
most superficial student Of cur Ameri-
can history knows that, ar Rhode
Island Justly claims the honor Of first
suggesting II Continental Congress, SO
a single county Of North Carolina has
the now uncontestcd distinction of de-
claring independence Of the Mother
Country more than year before the
National Council screwed up its cour-
Such was the Mccklenburg Declar-
alton at Charlotte, on the Doth May
1775. This centenary the State Of
North Ca DINA proposes, modestly but
earnestly, to celebrate. We rejoice
for Philadelphia and PENIS lva1ia too,
{oI- No ,I Of
ing our sympathy and approval Look
ing, as we have been tempted to do, at
the record of that May-day ninety
eight years ago, we note i'll it the
words 1.-The pledge of life and fortune
and sacred honor" which are ordina-
rily credited to the latter manifesto
But we note. too, reading the twenty
six names which are signed to ii, the
'Alexanders, " "Grahames, =" 'Irwins,"
''Kennons, Neil Morrisons. and
others, that they were chiefly of that
race of rugged heroic men. Scotch
Irish PresbytcriaEs, lighting. praying
men, ancestors of those who III our day
have prayed and fought, and kindred
of those who, coming III early times
from Ulster and Connaught, first set
tied in the central counties of Penn
sylvania, our Cumberland. York, and
Franklin counties, and, following the
slope of the mountains, reached South
ward as far as Georgia. These, III
the next generation, were the men
who, III the little town OF Charlotte
first declared independence and sent
messenger, with Il name rather CmI-
nous just now, one captain Jack. 10
bear the news to Philsdeiphia. As
late as 1919 this messenger was living
i'll his ei2hty-eighth year II tell the
story OF the journey and the welcome.
North Carolina now proposes TO ceie-
brate her centenary, a. We Lave said,
III a modest and characteristic manner.
1t is not ii National celebration, except
that ii invites sympathy. l. - to be
an exhibition of the arts AMI products,
resources and manufactures of the
State Of North Carolina" and to it are
to be invittH the Chief Magistrates CT
the Nation and the States, and their
fellOw-cOuntTymen generally. Who is
there, III this broad land, Southern or
Northern man, who viii withhold ap-
prevail and sympathy from this? OF
it one even OF the New York iournal=:
says : This VIII not in the slightest
degree interfere with thu Centennial
celebration #t Philadelphia, which
takes place over twelve months after
the proposed exhibition IT Charlotte.
Indeed, it viii rather AID IL further
ance OF that object, as the articles CO..
lected then can be Forwarded TO phiI"-
.ieipni;. ~ contributions from North
Carolina" We venture 10 add : Will
further Philadelphia 5 celebration still
more By the proof il gives that love
and reverence for cur class" last is
still, and elsewhere than here. Z living
principle.
But We find another pleasant a1gurv in
the North Carolina movement. II Is
The best sign We yet have hailed Of ;.c-
tual reconciliation III the future Here
is no .'kIs-kluxisn' here. No STATE Of
the SOuth was trucE t. tEecstl-c, which
unhappiiy size cspoused than North
Caroline. She moved very quickly in
the path Of error, and size chung to it
to the end. Forts Caswell and John
son were III possession Of the enemy
three months before Sumter sf1Trcn-
dercd, and the last bloody and doubt
nj battle OF the var W;;a i"u~HI ~ hcT
soil, on the 18th 81 iiaych, 1855. tn
very town OF ClHIi.1t5" sd. i1:+u 80.
Confederate service tWo "f -" 'ftYasJ
of theif generals, :1!oi.>4 ,.tl Jackson
:Gri ID. e. Hill. Ne do moi r"";tH these
things i'll iuliGIid1.sss or II renew liz m
,,r:.'s of painful intsre.t. .f.,-t Il" -
verse, '.'i.r Inference We &e-.:. ts} stg=,:2
from t;lss reconciliation IT c\iEt ~ > :,
one that Is significant q rn.ii'n@ bat
kindness and forgiveness. 1t i no: tie
surrender of :he sword, H-iii.-tt al -
ioiced at, that North t.rui;!a n"U
makes i : tn" laying: down oit"s.!l}cr,
aud prejudice. and resentment. I'll =
the proof-tli- recognition; of an"i"rt
anniversaries and as-o,'i@t:o.z-.A
..-!eilIirr hea: nor frost. nor tI,,tr.,t =
au VII -liy 80 WY. " w''!.-
Tho nis1k- oi fh.r sl.!.h "n-r y stla .,ra.
We have alluded to two nj the mod
est McckIrfburg rebel soldiers hy
naiue. Ijlir I'll them still lives Il Sc
tltided and still DISTINGUISHED man. 1t
should not be forgotten that this nam"
rs connected With gentle act and deed
of the civil war-l deed OF mutual
charity. On the 22d OF July, 1862, -
cartel between the warning hosts, for
the general exchange of prisoners, was
go .pdn n the JInks OF The James
It bore the signatures Of Daviu Il.
HILL now living IN Mecki"n''t.r.G, ;ind
John y Dix. Governor of tie Sat, pi
Sew York. May the Asech;"uhur@
celebration Of 1870 nitn,s5a the con-
plete Reconciliation uf til :. i,,..o ;,.fi,i
ih4.S j. ii mat our philadelphia corr
memorati..n example is bringing t"rth
good frnit everywhere.
South Carolina Items.