The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-05

the resolutions OF Independence appeared la
Joseph McKnltt Alexander, a prominent citizen Of
Mecklenburg. signed Joseph McKuitt, a sigma
ture wncn ne is well known to nave often used,
omitting MS surname, from the common.
ness OF the name OF Alexander in lnat
Tencn, ana ~ tne same deslanation
dressed. Along with H. as another relic
ofantiquity, was sent by MIN ana Published in the
same paper 4 copy Of proclamation OF the Royal
Governor, JOSIAH Martin, dated Charlotte Town,
OCTOBER ), l7s9" wnile the army Of Lord Corn
wallis occupied that town. On TINS letter may
In the sequel, make further remark. The first OF
the above mentioned papers was prefaced by an
was not generally known to the world, but thar
the editor had n from unques tlonable authority,
aud he published ~ that IL might so down TO pos
ADAMS AND JEFFERSON On ITS GENUINESEss.
Being copied into che Essex Register OF Massa-
chuseits. this papef was sent by Mr. John Adams
Mr.. jefferson, with letter remarking that "the
never so wen expressed before or since" Mr..
Jefferson, IN reply dated July 8 1919, among
other observations said - believe it
able quiz. ike that Of the volcano so
ninuteiy related 10 us as having broken out III
North Carolina some bali dozen years ago, IN that
part OF the country, ana, perhaps In that very
county OF cklenDurg, Tor do not remember its
precise locality" After expressing donbt as to
whether TINS paper had been really taken rom
the Ralei h Register, saying that IL had not been
seen by MIN the paper OF Mr. Richie or the
National I,steuigeacer, nor In Wllamson's ''His-
tory OF North Carolina" nor other authors whom
| he names, and that Il appeals 10 Mr.. Alexander
who was dead. 10 Caswell, Hughes ana Hooper,
ali dead he proceeds :-.sWn men Mr. Henry,s resolu.
ton far short OF independence. new ike lightning
through every paper and klndled both sides OF the
Atlantic, This flaming declaration OF the same date
| ar the indepcndence OF Mecklenburp COUNTY OF
North Carolina, ansolving 1t from British alleg-
ance ana abiuring all political connection with
that nation, although sent 10 Congress, was never
heard OF. 1t Is not known even a tWelvemOnth
after, when similar proposition was first made
III that body. Armed with tals bold example,
would you not have addressed our tnld brethren
IN peals or thunder on their Iardy fears? Would
not every advocate OF independence have rung
the glores OF Mecklenburg county, IN North Caro-
| lima, IN the ears OF the doubling Dickinson and
others VINO hung 50 heavily on usP Yet
is never once quoted" He proceeds TO
pronounce Hooper tory, Hughes very
we quota again:-''l must not be understood as
suggesting any doubLlulness OF the State or North
Carolina. No state was more nNed or forward
Nor do | affirm positively that THIS paper Is q faD
rication; because tue proof OF negative Is only
presumptive-but shall believe It such until
positive and solemn PROOF OF us authentlclIy shall
| be produced. And II she name OF Mcknitt be
real, and not a part OF The Iaorcation, IL NEEDS
Y0rihcatton oy the production oi sucn proof"
v We are not informed that Mr. Jefferson ever re.
Cured to the subject again. No one IN Mecklen-
burg appeared TO contradict IT. The Raleigh
Register ex p essed the decided opinion ''that no
doubt can now exist q the truth and genutneness
OF the decara ton Of The 20tn OF May. 775n and II
seemed no longer TO be a matter OF controversy.
Celebrations OF the day were held with the enthu-
siastic concurrence OF the people. Had there been
any cavll against this proof at that time $500 il
\ doubtless could then nave been greatly corroDo-
rated.
SERVED.
Curiosity, however, Is excited to learn In what
manner tile memorial or this Declaration OF lnde-
pendenee was preserved 70 later times. The ex-
PLANTATION is the journal o. the proceedings OF tne
lMecklenburg Committee, originating at the lncpi-
ent period OF the Rev olutton and continuing long
years afterward as county organization, which
contained the Declaration of independence OF 10th
OF May. l7I5, was preserved IN The care oLIonn-
McknItt Alexander-- as secretary, and was con-
sumed IN tnA destruction OF his mansion by IRE In
the year 1900. And that prior 10 its destruction
he mad endeayored to give this document pub
hcity by furnishing one copy TO pr, Hugh
pose TO publish history OF North Caro-
Dna, and another to General william X. Davie.
"a distinguished soldier OF tue Revolution and sub
sequeutly Governor OF the STATE II is PROBABLE.
also. that ne his son, before named, wno was OF
mature years and head OF family before 1890, re-
tanned still another copy which escaped the CON-
4 Migration OF his house. The averment which we
have from Mr.. Alexander OF mis- delivering tne
copies 10 Williamson ana Davie Is confirmed.
Firstly the testimony OF Governor Stokes,
already cited stating In substance that IN the year
1898 Or. williamson exhibited to MN. IN the city
OF New York, a copy Of the said Mecklenourg Dec
laraiIon IN the handwriting olJonn McKnitt Alex
lSecond-By the statement or Duncan Cameron
then practising lawer, subsequently, Judge OF
pal bank OF the state TO the effect that Mr.. Alex
aDder had informed him or tho circumstances OF
possession OF General Davie; ana that after the
destruction OF the original In his dwelling he re-
ferred aFain to the same topic, remarEing that by
reason OF tnis deposit "tne document vas SAFE"
Or. williamson was Pennsylvanian wno came 10
War and resided in Edenton. He represented
North Carolina IN the Continental aud nrst Fed
eral Congress ana IN the Federal Convention,
work entitled "a History OF North Carolina"
pubhshed in 1872 IL confined to the colonial pc
/riod, and extends only TO the time or tne Regu-
Tnird-it is likewise corroborated By a letter
from Mr.. D. G. Sunson, gentleman now above
eighty years OF age, VINO IN a recent letter IRON
Rock Mn. 5. c., informs that In 1919 when him.
self student IN the acaoemy OF the Rev. Mr.. Wal
lace OF Providence Mecklenburg, a son-in.aw or
John McKnitt Alexander, he heard said Alexander
upon the occasion OF visit OF month at that
place relate the circumstances OF the Deciaration
or Independence on the 2otn or Nav, 1875, aud the
furtner fact that, having been In Philadelphia
afterwaru In that year. he communicated the
facts and circumstances to Dr. Fran Kiln, who ex-
pressed APPRECIATION OF the act.
WHY IT'S AUTHENTICITY WAS NOT DISCUSSED PRE-
vIoUs TO 1879.
That this striking event was not made the SUD-
ject OF commentary In our newspapers until pub
lsned in 1919 should occasion 10 surprise to those
VITO have situated the history OF the state and
Know In what confused and neglected mass an
Iits materials then lay. II SO well informed
American as Mr.. Jefferson must be conceded TO
have been IN 1919 did not know the position OF
MecElenourg on the map, and supposed it might
adjOin Buucom0e, tho locality or the fictitious
volcano played OF az newspaper hoax, from
when IL Il one hundred miles distant, witn the
Blue Ridge towering between-wno. except her
own people. should De expected TO know her his
soryf The historians TO wnom he refers-wllliam-
son. whose work extends out to I77l: Horny
Ranisay, Marshall, Jones, Glrardln, Writ
notone or them had penetrated so far into our
pnbhc history as 10 DC aware OF toe resolutions OF
yfhe 3lst Of MAY, 1875, or 70 discover the well es-
taDllshed fact that North Carolina in her provin.
cial Congress At Halifax on the 18TH OF April
1915. instructed her deiegates IN the Continental
Congress to vote Tor absolute lndependence or the
BRUSH crown. Il impute no ubjust design Ii
was perhaps our own Iauit IN not causing il to
be made generally Knownl Yet some OF them do
mention that virginia gave sucn instruction IN
May succeeding, and suppose that to nave been
the earliest movement Of tse kind. II they were
thus untnformed as 70 our public ana general his
tors no are their omissions authority n resuect 70
popular mse ling, local assemoIage in the county
Of MecklenourR some months earlier Tue fact
IL the revival ci the knowledge OF the resolutions
a. HALIFAX WAS maze about the same time and ~
tie same individual DR.. Joseph McKnItt Alexander
with the publication OF the MeckienDurg Decara-
ton In tue Raleigh Register, anu Il produced a.
mucn surprise among writers OF history and "a
much satisfaction among the people OF the state
as the declaration az Charlotte. IL was permitted
70 pass unchalienged upon the authority OF the
Journal Of the Congress winch Alexander had in
hentcd from his ataer, as would, In nv belief the
Mecklenpurg proceeding, except that tue latter