Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-21
MECKLENBERG CENTENNI.
AL CELEBRATION.
The Southern Chivalry do HOnOrs
to the Stars and Stripes.
PATRIOTIC SPEECH or MAYOR
JOHNSTON.
JOHN BULL AGAIN REMINDED OF THAT
LITTLE rNPLEASANTNESS.
The "First Blood, Claimed tor Neck
lenberg.

harlotte, May 20. The opening ceremonies OF
the centennial anniversary of Mecklenberg and
the Declaration of independence was inaugurated
at noon to- day, in honor of the fact that at noon
on the 10th dav of Nav l775, body of delegates
met at the old Court House, at what was a short
time before the village of Charlottetown, to con-
fer together concerning the relation which then
existed between the province and the King. So
weighty were the matters under consideration and
so important was the step about to be taken that
darkness fell before the deliberations were con-
cluded. Night even spent itself, and it was not
until morning came that the resolutions declaring
themselves absoved from all ALLEGIANCE to the
British crown were finally adopted. Stores,
dwellings, and streets were decorated with gay
flags, with flowers and evergreen
a great crowd had gathered here from different
places in this State andfrom South Carolina. Vir-
gnla and Tennessee, to unite in opening the exer-
cises OF this grand centennial day. The day
could hardly have been more suspicious. a gen.
tie breeze tempered the heat of the sun and by
noon numerous throng had gathered at indie
pendence square, to witness the hosting of the
stars and stripes, to the summit of the pole which
had been made to receive it. AS the flag ascend
ed higher and higher, and while the hundreds
OF lesser flags on the building near by fiutered
and danced in the breeze. the Citizens band struck
up the air 'The Old North State" 1t was indeed
thrilling occasion, and shouts OF enthusiasm in
duced by inspiration of the scene, rent the air.
The stand. which had been temporarily erected
for the purpose, just under the flags was occupied
by Cows. Quits and Bragdon, Mayor Johnston
and Dr. Joseph Graham.
When the music had>ccased and the noise sub
sided, Mayor Johnston arose and addressed the
assembled multitude in the following terms
Gas mayor of the city of Charlotte, it is my
pleasure to announce that am authorized to inau-
gurate the ceremonies OF this centennial coca
sion. On this day, 100 years since, the represcn-
tativcs of Mecklenburg Co. were assembled in a
log court house, which stood upon the spot we
now occupy, deliberating the civil and religious
rights of man. Il was upon tie same spot that
they first enunclated those great principles of
civil and religious liberty-on the Goth Of May,
I15-that gave an important direction to the
public mind of this colony, well that OF
others, which resuled in the formation Of the
best constitution of a civil government known to
mankind.
Its influence in securing the blessings of liberty
to all States of this great Union cannot be over
estimated Nor have these principles of govern
ment been confined to this country alone. BY the
examples of our government the hands eff tyranny
and oppression have been weakened and paralyZed
in almost every arbitrary government The polit-
ica condition OF Europe well as that OF the re-
public Of South America has been greatly ameli-
Grated, and popular rights and freedom are be-
coming the leading ideas in the progress of civil
ization.
In the colony of South Carolina fagrant men
had existed years before the Goth of MAY declara-
ton. The first blood spilled in the cause of the
revolution was by the Regulators in the then Co.
of Orange, now Alamance, in this state, i'll the
wear III The battle of Moore's creek, in New
Hanover county, had been fought and won by
Casswell and Ellington. Black, Billy Alexander
and six other patriots had captured the Kings
powder in old Mecklenberg now Cabarras) Co.
The Cumberla Association had been formed,
where our ancestors assembled on the Goth of May
and promulgated the first resolutions, known as
the Mecklenberg Declaration Of Independence.
The preceding acts of violence and na,u.
rally gave development to the expression OF prin-
cplcs that were deemed right ard justice, and SO
the patriots assembled on this sacred spot on that
day. That such was the fact is established by
the direct and positive testimony of many wit
nesses who were present on that occasion, by a
universal tradition of the people Of Mecklenburs
current history of the times