Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-07

OF the document dated May 70, the re-
suit being its viudication by the test
mony Of fourteen witnesses still living
who participated in the Mecklen5urg
meeting, but whose recollection of
wording and PIN aseolOgy must have
been dim after the lapse Of fifty six
years.
IL 1888 an entirely new phase was
given to the dispute by the discovery
Of the document dated May 81, at the
head Of this article. Mr.. Peter Force,
Of the NationaI TnteIIigeneer, happened
on a copy of the Massachusetts, Spy of
July u, 1775, from which he repre-
duced it in his own columns. Suisse
quently he found it IN the Nelg York
Journal of June %, 1775. These facts
at once brought Alexander's version of
the Declaration into disrepute, and
also the date he assigned to it, May 20.
The learned world argued that Alexan-
der's memory was not to be set up on
either point, against this newly found
evidence dating back to the very year
and time OF the occurrence. With
equal facility they argued that the wit
nesses before the North Carolina Leg.
islature in 1881, having been familiar
with Alexander's version for the twelve
years previous since 1919, had natural
ly mistaken it for the document they
heard read in 1775.
1t was not till I847 that a full copy
Of the document dated May 81, was
discovered by DR.. Joseph johnson in
a Charleston paper Of June -, I775.
Almost simultaneously, the historian
George Bancroft disco yered IN the
British archives, another full copy
which had been sent to the King By
the Royal Governor Of the period, who
denounced the resolutions as 'most
traitorously declaring the entire disso-
luton Of the laws and Constitution,
and setting up a system Of rule and
regulation subversive Of his Majesty's
government"
Of late years the weight Of authori-
ties seems settling down to the con-
viction that there was but one Declara-
ton of Independence made by the men
of Mecklenburg-namely, the one dated
May 81, I775. Such is the position
tlken by so eminent a historiographer
as Jas. c. yelling, LID, President of
the Columbian University, Washing
ton, II an able article published in the
April number Of the North american
ReUje1g last year. Yet, IN view Of all
the evidence and arguments adduced,
We are decidedly of the belief that
there were two meetings and two dec
larations by the Meeklenburgers in
May, Tvs. The first was doubtless a
meeting Of ''the people" a mass meet
ing, such as Alexander's document in
dicates, and was held on May 90
At this meeting a committee" was
appointed, and under date of May
81 we have the more mature
and deliberate work of that committee.
The very language as well as the ideas
it embodies establishes this distinction.
The fact that the action of the primary
meeting was not published in the peri
oiicals Of the day may be explained by
their very nature, as being only prelim-
mary, and giving authority TO the
COMMITTEE" whose resolutions were
so published. In the same way, the
Royal Governor would report to his
master the action Of the committee as
being the elimination Of the treason
able" movement. The solution we
suggest obviates all the other objec-
tons advanced to the traditional Dec
laration Of Nay 20. On the other
hand, no one questions the homes
y or veracity Of John McKnitt
Alexander; they impeach his
memory only. But he claims to have
been secretary OF the meeting of May
20, while the document of May 81 is
signed by Ephraim Brevard as clerk Of
the committee. Memory could hardly
fail so far as to lead an old man to
think he was secretary of meeting
when he was not. Evidently there were
two meetings and two Declarations,
though the text Of the earlier one is
lost.
Diminishing the dispute as bearing
only on dates and forms, the grand
historic fact remains that the patriots
of Meckleuburg were the first to blaze
the way to freedom. Prof. yelling
says the authentic Resolves" Of May
81 show they had better understand
ing Of the times than any Of
their contemporaries in other
Colonies. They we're the first
in all America to bridge over the
chasm opened by therevolution between
the authority Of the British Grown and
the subsequent establishment of gov
ernments based on popular right. They
deserve to be held in perpetual honor"
To the same effect writes the historian
Bancroft: The result Of their delibera-
tions, framed with superior skill, preci-
sion Of language and calm comprehen.
siveness, remains as the monument Of
their wisdom and courage. Before the
month Of May had come to an end, the
resolutions were signed by Ephrain
Bre7ard. as clerk Of the committee and
were adopted 10y the people with the
determined enthusiasm which springs
from the combined influence of the
love Of liberty and religion" Of DR..
Epiraim Breyard, whom DR.. Ramsey
speaks Of in his Annals Of Tennessee
as the reputed author Of the Declara-