The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-05
CORVALLIS and the British First
Defied on May 30, 1775.
How Colonel McKnitt's Paper
First Came to Light.
LET US HAVE THE TRUTH.


reference TO the Mecklenburg Declaration OF
Independence we give the following highly In
structlve chapters from the
MEMOIRS or WILLIAM A. GRAHAM
l esteem It the duty OF some one who has had
opportunities OF acquaintance with the Revolu-
tionary history OF the State to vindicate the
thenticlty OF the Declaration OF independence by
the delegates OF the people OF the county OF Mec<-
enburg on the Goth OF May, 1875 against the at
lempts recently made to bring it into discredt.
With some recollections OF the discussion OF this
topic running back more than half o century,
have taken 10 part in ir heretofore. The event
occurred las believe IL did occur IN the mme-
date vicinity OF the residence or the families from
which l am descended. Several of my
relations, including my father, when 1t was
called In question soon after its publica-
ton in the Gazette OF 1s19-'2O, gave their
testimony as witnesses VINO had been personally
present at the transaction with reference to
some OF the circumstances OF the occasion as well
rs to precedent and subsequent events. deemed
Ii proper not to participate in the controversy az
10 tue credbiitY oil this testimony while these
witnesses were alive the more especially as +
thought the claim the part OF Mecklenburg well
sustained by others. But those who cnampioned
the cause OF the state tlor 1t has been made q
state matter) have all passed away. Martin, 10.
Seawel Jones' Foote, Hawks are no longer among
and those Others whose evidence was shen taken,
their comrades ana neighbors with whom they
mad passed through the fiery trials OF the war
which ensued, are all hike wise dead. We may now
speak OF them without nattery and, trust, with
out vanity.
THE CLAIM or MEcKLESDURG.
The position we maintain Is very readily stated.
1t Is that the resistance British authority which
assumed the form OF war IN 1875, was not begun
or waged on the part OF the coionies generally,
or the Congress which represented them, with
any view 10 Il severance OF the Empire before late
In the spring Of 1916. Like the uslngs against
KING Jonn, Charles J. ANA James H., IL contem-
plated only formation OF abuses and redress
OF grievances as British subjects under the crown
Of the monarch, bur old not contemplate change
Of government or freedom from the DO
minion OF their king and country beyond
the sea; that North carolina, and especially
the people or Mecklenonrg, formed an excep-
tion to inis general sentiment OF loyalty. The
leading spirits, in that county and elsewhere,
TaeS wese opposed to monarcaT. had little or no
attachment 10 the mother country were chafed
by recent provocattons IN the 8ctual operation of
the government. ana were ready 10 throw IL on
at any favorable opportunity. Hence t1eir de-
dence on the 10th OF May, 1875, In advance oil all
WHAT NOBODY CAN DENY.
/ No one. l presume, doubts that the men OF
Mecklenburg VINO were old enough 70 remember
aud 1880 believed there nsd been a Declaration OF
!ndependence a. Charlotte, on the 2otn o. May in
selves witnessed It's PRONUNCIATION.
2 ina. not only was THIS conviction prevalent
among those VINO had remained in that county in
the Interim, but was shared By those who had
emigrated - Georgia, Tennessee ana elsewhere.
q Tbat tile whole people OF Mecklen burg with
oat distinction rom difference IN religious opin-
ION, political parties or personal Anlipathies or
riyalriss. were likewise IMPRESSED with TINS con-
viction and rom early after the year 1920 on
ward united IN celebrating the anniversary On
the day 81 the declaration nc Charlotte, with all
the DEMONSTRATIONS tending 10 commemorate a
great event
LEGISLATIVE Action ~ NORTH cARoLNA.
n 4 MA naN NM
those OF the highest emineuce IN intelligence, cu-
tuio and PATRIOTISM throughout me state. who
Of this occurrences; the state itself took up the
lame Of our heroic people Of MecIlenourg as .
which deckod her own brow. At tue session OF
ls3o-3l, WIN "A view 10 perpetuate some evidence
OF the transacti n certain certificates In the ma
ture OF DISPOSITIONS u witnesses then nvlng
VINO had personal knowledge Of It, were
procured and laid before the General Assembly
witnesses whose characters were all Gnown
through their representatives, and who could
feaduy nave been subjected TO Oss-examtnation.
These we're referred 70 committee composed 0l
Thomas q. FOLK, Jonn Eragg, Evan AeXInjer,N
Louis ID. Henry ana Alexander McNellL Tnis COM
mittee mace report anirmlng Tue evidence 70 oe
Satisfactory. aad dlrectiag tie Governor 70 cause
70 oe puolsaea pa = paiophIet Tue sala reI9ft,
Win on Introductory Narrative 20 bs prepared by
himself, together with the MecKienburg Dcclara-
ton, the names OF the delegates composing tue
meeting and the certificates OF the witnesses testL
fying 10 the circumstances attending said deciara-
ton; also, the proceedings Of the Cumberland AS
should be reprinted the journal OF the Provincial
Congress, neln al Halifax on the 81 az April
1i16, ia which tue delegates IN the Continental
Congress nom North Carolina we're instructed 10
unite In voting Tor absolute independence, an In
structiou glVen Ia advance or all the other colo
MES.
In 1885, on the occasion or revising the statutes
Of the state and printing them Tor distribution
the Legislature enacted by lgw drawn by the
late Governor iiedeii, chairman 81 the Commission
ton OF lnceI endence with the names VI the dele
gates, should be prehxei 70 tnat work.
In 1850 ~ a JOINT resolution, tue two houses
authorized 81
lSSo-3l, concerning the Mecklenburg Declaration,
TO DO puollsned With certain other documents per-
tanning our Revolutionary history.
In 1854, upon new regisOn OF the statutes, 10
burg Declaration OF Independence he prehxed 10
HIsfoRiass VINO SUPPORT THE nxckLrSBuno
what has been the testimony borne OF It BY writ
sp OF history Ana nrst by those OF North Caro-
but long a citizen Of North Carolina, q compiler OF
edition Of ner statutes oy order or the Legis.
was Tor May years an eminent Judge, in the Sec
ono volume OF MS history Of Inc state, published
In $780, near The close 81 the WORK az was c0ntin-
ued no iurtner tnan 1870, gives the Meckienburg
DECLARATION with the accompanying circumstances
Z. Joseph seawen Jones, in 1884, published his
volume, 4 defence u North Carolina, upon this
4. ina REV. Dr. william H. Foote, or virginia, In
Ms interesting "sketches 81 North Car0Hna,u put
forth IN sil, also gives Jul pa leuiaIs Of this
he nad been native 81 tbe state.
I. Colonel j. tx. Wheel9f, Ia hls GketeBaB OF the
history OF North carolina ia 1851, eiyea 10 thls
heroic act Of her provincial inhaSitants bis cordial
APPRECIATION.
s. fhe Rev Dr. Hawks 10 whom every citizen
OF the state should iecl indebted fOr the zeal and
intelligence 81 MS interest IN beEaf OF TIE iAme
ana n0nUf or MS native land n the New YORK hls.
torcA society 10 1882, and N 4 still moro ela0o.
rate performances o. tae same nature At Charlotte,
ana a. toe Cuiverglfy OF toe STATE IN 1851, main.
latned u 70 the satisfaction OF our most ardent
parrots.
Q. u was recognized In PItkla's political and
CYL History 81 the United StateAn
!. Iha ksy. Or. Augustine !. SmTtho, q dstin-
gulshed Pfcsnyfeflan divine, OF CHARLESTON \. &,
~ pamphlet Issued IN ls87, write al IN etestin9
dissertation 10 prove tHat both the Meck.enDEfg
aud the national declarations, Ia tbs paruculur3
~ nniGA tGey fesem0e saen 0tner, wore suR-
kestea ~ tsken IrJm - General Confession "
General BOad Tor too Maintenance Of ltue Re.
ilaloa an ..e sings Person AMI Estate pus