Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-26
MECKLENBURG.
The Grand Demonstration at Char
lotte.
Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore SUM-


CHARLOTTE, n. c., May 19.-This
being the anniversary of this meeting
in Charlotte of the delegates to the
Mecklenburg convention Que hundred
years ago, the centennial exercises be-
gun at noon in Independence Square,
the site of the old cOurt-house where
the convention sat a tlag-pole, lis
feet high crowned by a hornets nest,
had been raised on the spot, and the
American flag was hoisted, amidst
salute of 80 guns from the Richmond
Howitzers and an artillery company
from Raleigh. Every train arriving
this morning brought fire and military
companies from other towns. The
Richmond Howitzers, four steel guns,
came in at s A. NJ. Nearly ali the
houses liz the business streets and
many dwellings are profusely decor4
ted with evergreens and thousands of
small red, white and blue guidOns,
alternating in an endless succession of
tricolor establishment. Charlotte
wears, indeed, a gala appearance, with
so many flags and streamers of bright
cloth draping the fronts of the houses,
and the streets thronged with gray
military and red tiremen's uniforms.
NATIONAL FLAG HOSTING.
When the flag was hoisted from In
dependence Square it went up with
succession of the wild North Carolina
cheers that are so well remembered in
the battlefield charges of the South.
There was a great deal of enthusiasm.
A fine brass band from Newbern
played patriotic airs, and also a Meek
| lenburg polka. which, it was an
nounced, had been composed by the
baud-master especially for the Occa-
sion. A Mecklenburger said the New
bern boys ought to know how to do
that thing, as they had been playing
poker" all their lives. The crowd
formed in a circle around the flagstaff,
the inner line composed of uniformed
firemen. There was very large
crowd present, and the Central Hotel
balcony, and all the windows over
looking the spot, were filled with Ia
dies. Colonel William Johnston,
mayor of Charlotte, and Hon. Curtis
H. Brogden, Governor of North Caro-
lima, occupied seats upon an extern
ported platform. Colonel Johnston,
in few patriotic sentences abiding TO
the centennial introduced the Gov
ernor, who addressed the assemblage.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.
Gov. Brogden spoke about fifteen
minutes, and was repeatedly inter-
rupted with cheers. He said the prin-
ciples of liberty enunciated by the
fathers of the revolution one hundred
years ago, on the spot upon which he
stood, would live throughout all time.
Here, as free American citizens, they
had proclaimed the principles which
North Carolina had ever since upheld,
and of which this glorious flag, which
waves protection to American citizens
on land and water, was the star-gem-
med type. Applause Gov. Brogden
paid a glowing and poetical tribute to
the old flag, and said thai under it we
had duty to perform in peace as well
as in war. We have the principles of
the fathers of the Mecklenburg decla-
ration to maintain. All should re-
member the sacrifices which gave us
the right to that standard of our cOun-
try, and we should not forget our duty
! to North Carolina and her daughter,
Tennessee, to the sister State of South
Carolina, and to the whole country.
Applause Abiding to the growth
of the United States in one hundred
years, he said that at the date of the
Mecklenburg independence there were
, not more than six postoflices in North
. Carolina; now there were nine hun
bred postoffices; then there was nc
steam travelling; now there are twelve
hundred miles of railway in this State
alone, successfully operated. He hoped
the country would go on to prosper in
the fullness of civil liberty until there
was no opposition to the principles we
cherish. [Cheers. In the name Of
North Carolina he welcomed all bel
t sons to this festival, and the sons of al
: her sister States.
Tonight great many dwellings
70 and other houses are illuminated with
gas, candles and Chinese lanterns
t while transparencies, with mottoe'
( commemorative the event, are nu
= merous. The centennial Flagstaff Il
: hung with strings of lanterns, stretch
ing from the centre to the four corners
of Independence Square. The streets
g are very lively, and the night trains
/ have poured in great many people
The artillery companies are encampeC
on the suburbs, which look warlik,
with the white tents and uniformed
e soldiers in many quarters. There ar
: handsome residences, surrounded will
) trees and shrubbery, illuminated will
J, lanterns, lighting the walks and pre-
a senting a very charming and pic
! turesque spectacle.
I At $3.50 o'clock two full companies 0
the first Virginia regiment of infantr.
e arrived from Richmond under com
u mand of Captain Bidgood, and wen
T. into barracks. They made a fine dis
e play, and attracted general attention
Very great enthusiasm prevail
a throughout Charlotte, and the illumi
9 nation was at 10 o'clock general an
;, really magnificent. A more charmin
g spectacle than the lawns, gardens an
8 groves that surrounded nearly all tn
e wealthier dwellings, illuminated wit
y many-colored lights, could not well b
g imagined.
g Governor Thomas A. Hendricks, {
g Indiana, who arrived tonight, is tn
u guest of eX-Gov. Vance.
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