Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-21
rHE DAY WE

centennial Ialleu 10 dcL lrOm aOme chuse'
A few gentlemen, however, who felt an
interest and a patriotic pride in the mat
ter took it in hand Wednesday afternoon,
and, determined to make it q success
and an honor to Memphis, a meeting was
held at the Appeal office that night at 8
o'clock at which Mr.. j. NJ. Heating pre-
sided and julius A. Taylor was secretary,
and a programme was hastily impro-
vised. The meeting was small
and the obstacles great. But the spirit
of old Mecklenburg was there and supe-
rior to every Encouragement. Speakers
and committees were appointed first and
consulted afterward. The announce.
ment was made only in yesterday morn.
ing's papers. There was a grand picnic
during the day, the Opera House was
filed with thousands to hear the revival
lists, Messrs. White and Bliss, and the
rain began to pour down in torrents just
after dark. Yet in the face of all these
difficulties Our elegant theater was filed
by a large and highly intelligent audi
e'nce, thus giving a support to the move,
ment at once creditable to our public
spirited people and gratifying to those
who assisted to perfect the arrangements.
The stage was tastefully decorated with
national dags, stands of flowers and sp-
propriste inscriptions and notices, to-
gether with the coats of arms Of Ten
nessee and North Carolina. Our best
people we're present, and a large num-
Der of ladies braved the weather to grace
the occasion. On the stage were seated
Ex-Governor Isham G. Harris, Mayor
John League, Hon. Il. Casey Young,
Judge I. W. Brown, Colonel NJ. C. Gal.
laway and j. M. Heating, editors of the
Appeal, Mr.. Thomas II. Allen, j.. A.
Taylor, Judge J.. R. Flippip, Judge
Henry G. Smith, Mr.. A. E. Frankland,
Major F. NJ. Stockton, Mr.. H T. Tom
%linson, Colonel L. B. Eaton, Colonel
Batter P. Anderson, Colonel John D.
Adams, U. S. Attorney Murray, Mr.. Or.
Vile Yerger, Major 7. B. Edgingtou,
Colonel George Gibson, United States
army; Rev. DR.. Castor, Mr.. N. D. Men
ken, Mr.. W. S. Pickett, ar. Green, Col.
Thomas b. Logwood, s. NJ. Ashe, J.
Harvey Mathes and others. The most
Of these gentlemen had been announced
IN committees. Though Major 7. c.
Park and Colonel K. J. B. L. Vim,
who had done most efficient work on
committees and we're present, they took
seats in the audience. Arnolds band
the Old Memphis Brass Band-was
present with thirteen pieces aud rendered
with great spirit ssd egee. the most
stirring and patriotic airs at intervals
during the evening. On motion Of Mr..
]. N. Heating. Governor Isham G. Hsr.
ris was called to the chair and J. Harvey
Mathes to act ss~ secretary. Gov. Harris
briefly stated the object Of the meeting.
and then introduced DR.. Castor, q
fine specimen Of a distinguished old
North Carolina family, by the way, who
offered a feeling and appropriate prayer,
Mr.. N. ID. Menken wal then introduced
and read the Mecklenburg Declaration
Of Independence in q clear and we'll
modulated tone, and concluded by a nea'
and beautiful address suitable to the oc
casion and doing infinite credit to th,
culture, the good taste and the patriotic
impulses Of the speaker. Colonel Johr
ID. Adams, q native and a worthy son 0
Mecklenburg, was next INTRODUCED and de
ivered a we'll -conceived address upor
the theme Of the occasion. Judge I
W. Brown delivered the Grafton Of tn,
evening, and We hope it will yet be pub
lished. 1t Was adorned with classi
cal illusions, well SET sentences AMI
philosophical deductions such a
might be expected from a critical STU
dent Of history. The other and las
speakers were Major T. B. Edgington an.
Colonel Butler P. Anderson, who a,
quilted themselves gracefully, and eve
at the late hour they held the stag
secured the strict attention Of the larg
and apprecistive audience. Altogethe
the celebration was a splendid success
worthy Of true Tennesseeans and cree
liable to the Queen City Of all that va,
territory ono comprised in the bound
Of North Carolina. The Appeal thi
morning gives a splendid report Of th
affair, deyotiug several columns to il
and re~marking editorially: "Grea
credit is due MI. N. D. Menken, Capt
Harvey Msthes, Mr.. 7. c. Park an
Capt. F. B. Brennan for the eclat whic.
attended the M%ecklenburg Centennis