Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-27
The MECKLENBURG Centennial,

THE MECKLENBuRe centennial.
Reported for the Yorkville Enquirer.
AS North Carolina was the first State of
the old thirteen on whose soil the English
landed, so within the confines Of her territory
WAS the first blood shed in resistance to British
tyranny and in defense of the rights claimed
by the people "who were restless and turbu-
lent in their imperfect submission to gov
erument imposed ON them from abroad )" and
TO her patriotic citizens in convention assem-
bled at Charlotte town OH the 18th and 10th
days of May, 1775-thrae years after the bat
tie of Alamance, fought on North Carolina
soil-must be conceded the honor of formally
and solemnly resolving that 1--WE the citizens
of Meckleuburg county do hereby dissolve
the political bonds which have connected US
to the mother country, and hereby absolve
ourselves from all allegiance to the British
crown, and abjure all political connection,
contract or association with that nation, who
have wantonly trampled on our rights and
liberties. and inhumanly shed the blood Of
American patriots at Lexington" 1t was to
commemorate and celebrate the one hundredth
anniversary of the adoption Of series Of res
olutions of which the foregoing quotation is
the second, that the largest civic gathering
ever known in North Carolina assembled in
Charlotte on the 10th of May, 1875.
The ceremonies of the occasion, however,
were properly begun at noon on the 18th, IN
Independence square, where, years ago, stood
the old courthouse in which tho convention
of 1775 was held. A Aag.pole 115 feet high,
on which was fixed large hornets nest had
been raised on the spot, and the American
flag was hoisted amidst salute Of 38 guns
from the Richmond Howitzers and the
Raleigh Light Artillery. AS the National
emblem ascended it went up with a succession
of wild huzzahs and soul.stirring music rem
dered by the Newbern Brass Band, after
which Col. Johnston, Mayor of Charlotte, in.
troduced Governor Brogden, who addressed
the assemblage.
Governor Brogden spoke about twenty
minutes. He said the principles 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 pro-
claimed the principles which North Carolina
had ever since upheld, and of which this glo.
rious flag, which waves protection to Amerl-
can citizens on land and water, WAS the star.
gemmed type Cheers He paid glow.
ing and poetcal tribute to the old flag, and
said that under it we have duty to perform
as we'll in peace as in war. We have the
principles of the fathers of the Mecklenburg
declaration to maintain. All should remem.
Der the sacrifices which gave US the right to
that standard of our country, and we should
not forget our duty To North Carolina and
her daug ghter, 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, Cove
nor Brogden said that at the date of the Meek
lenburg declaration there were not more than
six post.ofices in North Carolina, while now
there are nine hundred then there was no
steam travelling; now there are twelve hun
dred miles of railroad in the State all sue.
cessfully operated. He hoped the country
would 20 on to prosper in the fullness of civil
liberty until there shall be no opposition to
the principles we cherish. The Governor
concluded by welcoming, in the name of North
Carolina all her SONS to this festival, and the
sons of all her sister States. Applause.]
Throughout the afternoon the crowd in the
city was greatly increased by the arrival of
trains conveying military and fire companies
from the various towns of North Carolina,
from South Carolina and from Richmond,
Virginia.
After the ceremonies on Independence
square were concluded the crowd dispersed,
many of the people going to the fairgrounds
to witness a centennial cock.6ght, in which
North Carolina was to be ptted against South
Carolina but much to the disappointment of
the spectators the battle was drawn. This
failure was compensated, however, by horse
racing in which well.known horses from North
and South Carolina were entered.
The scene on Wednesday night was bril-
lant-nearly every house in the city having
been illuminated in honor Of the all-night ses.
sion of the convention which adopted on the
following day the Declaration of Indepen-
dence Lanterns were suspended on ropes
which we're extended across the streets from
house to house, while from every direction
transparencies with notices and devices shone
out in perfect blaze of light.
The grand display was reserved for the next
day-the 2Oth-at IL o'clock on which day,
one hundred years ago, the Mecklenburg re-
solves were publicly read and proclaimed from
the courthouse steps. The day opened au.
spiciously, the weather being bright and
pleasant. At 1915 A. M Gen. Bradley T.
johnson, of Richmond, took command of the
battalions and companies of volunteers as.
sembled and the procession was soon formed.
After passing through the principal streets
the procession moved to the fairgrounds in
the following order:
Band Of the 1st Virginia Regiment.
Richmond Howitzers and Raleigh Artillery.
Battalion of the 1st Regiment Virginia VOL
unteers, under Capt. j.. V. Bidgood.
Band.
Fayetteville Light Infantry.
Fayette Infantry.
Raleigh Light Infantry.
Charlotte Grays.
Mecklenburg Zouaves.
North Carolina Institute Cadets.
Cadets Kings Mountain Military School,
Yorkville, S. G.
Mecklenburg Infantry Company.
Fire Companies from Raleigh, Wilmington,
Newbern, Greensboro, and Charlotte. N.
c., and Columbia, Rock Hill, and
Chester, S. c., with bands, en-
gines and trucks.
A sloop representing the Diligence of Stamp
act fame, and bearing date 1865.
Lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Good Tenn
plars, and Patrons Of Husbandry.
Distinguished guests, State officers, and ora
tors of the day, in carriages.
Citizens generally.
It is estimated that there were twenty