The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08

or az leahJ prior 70 July a. lIIoi tnab uSCaEaehoA
or independence Of Great Britain was made
ana adopted that a revolutionary gov
eminent was established tnat men vera
appointed to collect arms and ammnni
lion, and tina: a messenger was appointed 20
convey the proceedings OF the meeting 80 the Con-
gress then sitting az Philadelphia. The people o.
North Carolina nho knew these venerable patriots
could not ana cannot doubt that tney spoke me
TRUTH TO the best Of their knowledge and belieL ~
was impossible that 80 many good men should
conspire TO invent or to sustain gigantic im2os-
ture or fraud of any Kind.
the MARKS or sPURI0UsNEss.
on the other side were the marks or spurious
ness already alluded to--tne suspicious points OF
resemblance TO the immortal Declaration OF tho
American Congress, coupled with puerilities or
which man OF sense and education would be in
capable; the Incredible statement that absolute
and irrevocaoge independence could have been
declared IN North Carolina in 1915, and sent oy
express to Philadelphia, aud yet that the startling
fact never came to the knowledge OF any member
the American Congress, or to any one, SO far az
can ascer tanned, outside OF the limited circls
az those actually present; that, as was alleged by
its earlier defenders land by its latest, Mr..
Wheeler, it printed IN the Cape Fear
Mercury and sent in that journal by the
Royal Governor, Martin, to the British govern
ment but that It failed TO awaken any sensa-
iion that side OF the Atlantic and that
all trace OF it has been lost. These are formida-
BILE and, to the minds OF disinterested persons,
fatal objections to the geDuineness OF the 'Meck-
lenpurg Declaration or May 20, 1875; aud there
are others 10 be stated, which the inquiry has de-
veloped, equally and some OF them even moro
irreconcIable with the asserted validity or tha1
document.
GOOD FAITH OF THE WITNESSES.
But would have no one imagine that In hold
ing this adverse opinion for moment doubs
the entire good faith OF all the witnesses whose
certificates and letters were secured by the
friends OF the s'Decaration.n They bore testi-
mony to the reality OF an event which had oc.
Cured from forty-dve TO nifty nve years before
their several statements were written. 1t Is I'M
possible that they coud do more than recall the
more striking circumstances The day OF the month
and the language employed In a string OF resolu-
tions are not among the salient facts But
general notion OF what was done and the namea
OF the principal actors VINO figured on the oc-
cason are the things that would be remembered.
Again, the witnesses speak or several meetings
preliminary to the main one, and their contra
dictory statements as to who took the lead ~
what each seems 20 regard as the principal event
show that their failing powers OF memory re.
called different days. These contradictory state
ments viii be pointed out in the proper place lt
will appear that the powers Of recollection OF the
witnesses were iorestaled, and, thereby, prob
ably imposed on, by the very TACT that the publ
cation In the Raleigh Register, which they were
called to verify, suggested the day and the
names or the officers OF the meeting. IL will also
be shown that the two witnesses-Captain Jack
ana the Rev. Mr.. Cummns-who gave their state
ments at the earliest dates-viz, in 1s19-withous
the opportunity OF refreshing their memories.
or OF having them imposed on by the
publication In the Register, could not give the
date OF the meeting and gave other names than
those SET forth in Mr.. Alexanders report as the
leading characters or actors Finally, IL WIN DO
shown that Mr.. Alexander himself admitted IN
writing that the paper which passes Tor the genu-
inc 'Mecklenburg Declaration OF independence"
OF May 90 17T5, was written by him from memory
in 1900 six months after the original was de-
stroyed By IRE and twenty-five years alter Ito
datel This fact alone proves TO demonstration
that all the witnesses who bore testimony 70 the
penuineness or the "Declarationn we're betrayed
into an error by having seen the Fim ulated docu-
ment.
THE GENUINE DOCUMENT.
In view OF these facts IL IL fortunate for the
good name and fame OF the county ei Mecklen-
burg that tne genuine document has been rescued
from the oblivion in which It lay buried for
sixty years. Thanks TO the research OF Mr. Forc0
and Mr.. Bancroft we have now for many years,
had possession or the genuine Meckienourg re-
solves, which. To all practical intents, was nnsL
severance OF the tie which bound the people 10
Great Britain, though IL was not quite that In
form. The people OF Mecklenburg are entitled to
the imperlshable honor arising from the TACT tnat
their ancestors were the first 20 cut loose from
all dependence on the mother country and 10 take
the most advanced step In the dlrec ton OF inde-
pendence in the year lT75. The event - worthy
10 be Keot IN perpetual remembrance. At the
same time 10 is due to truth TO say that the people
or no part OF the Union rsked so much and dared
so mucn In the cause OF liberty, prior 70 l7T6, a.
those OF Massachusetts Her Suffolk county reso-
lutions OF September, IVA which we're In SUD-
stance adopted firss by the other co unties, and
then by the Provincial Congress, dened and cast.
OF British authority IN the presence OF iormad-
able British army. They declared open resistance
10 such OF the British oncials az acknowledged
their obligation 10 obey and enforce the several
acts OF the British Parliament oy which the
port OF Boston was closed, the cnartei
OF the colony altered and nagtous VIOLA
tors OF the laws protected and screened from
trial. receiver general for the province was ap-
pointed Dy the Provincial Congress In tue follow
ing winter 70 take charge Or the revenues, and
provision was made for the reorganization or tho
militia subject TO the control OF the Congress and
Independent. Of the Crown. Yet, along with these
defensive measures, resulting In actual war,
there was . certain degree OF verbal respect
shown 70 the British government, and especially
TO the King. The course pursued By Massacnu-
sets az tnts time was similar TO the nullifcation
plans or South Carolina In 1882, which contem
plated forciDle resistance TO what was regarded ~
unconstitutional laws and INSTRUMENTATION,
while obedience was to be yielded 10 al other
respects. Tne MecklenburR resolves OF MAJ 81 ara
more In the nature or secession from all Inter-
course and connection with the mother country,
but nor without an eve to the possible adjustment
OF the quarrel All British law and authority was
suspended: an independent though temporary,
governments was act I'D, 10 continue In force
until more permanent one should be estabishet
by the Provincial or Continental Congress, ant
subject to tue will VI these bodies until Great