Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-05-28
BE ADF RI, 70. g.
GRAND celebration os fhe Anmives-
~s.Ey Of Gsaa Declaration az Meek
E',asos9rg Independence - EnsAs-
SLASH, E'r,.s a,s:s 'sE.roua iaout the
CoUs.sy- ssa.as.si,sIs5om az the At
Iassgic EE"i"s speeches, &c., &c.

BGAUEOEr, May %, 1879.
Dear Joo/w0i
The elite OF this place and vicinity
were at tic Atlantic Hotel yesterday
morning and night to celebrate the an
uIversary of tile Declaration Of the
Nee lelburg Independence.
At an carly hour Col. George ".
Charlotte, together with Ills etiic ent
corps, had tine famous Atlantic Hotel
decoration with flags Of all rationale
TICS. Shortly after which salute of
thirteen Snns We're fired amid loud
Lurrahs.
Col. Jennings Pigott, a very promi-
neut inwyet OF tili5 place, was chosen
as the orator Of the day. His speech
III the morning, though quite brief,
Was inde ed lnaster!y and eloquent, and
whenever lie spoke Of North Carolina's
sons being to the front upon nearly
every battle field Of the South during
the recent troubles, the audience re-
spondt0 with enthusiastic cheers.
1t night crowds Of people from this
town and all portions Of the county
cougregated at the place above men
toned. Tar barrels We're set on fire
and fire works were to be seen ali over
town by the sea, III honor OF the Cen
tennial. Another salute Of thirteen
guns were fired, Messrs. JOHN a. Dill,
L. L. Perry, 10 eph Styron and a.
Prempert, as artlllerymen, and Lieut..
James Il. Pool, chief gunner,
When the firing ceased, the crowd
sang,
:. Carolina Carolina ! Heavens blessings
attend her,
While We live W. sill cherish, protect and
defend her,
Tho the Sc r!Cr may sneer at and witt
Tags det4ue hrT,
Yet our hearts swell with Gla,lness when
ever we name her"
At the conclusion OF this favorite
song Of every true North Caroiiuian,
Col. Pigott again addressed the i'm
mcnse audience, diving deep into his
tory, and giving IN detail the true
character OF the true Amt- rIcan. He
was followed by DIR. l.. w. Martin in
quite lengthy address, IL which he
gave d fine description OF the growth
| and prosperity Of our beloved Repub-
| tic. and made be IutIful reference to
our Star Spapgled Banner. The Doc
| tors anecdotes were indeed excellent.
and brought smiles to many scOrntul
faces.
! Col. George w. Charlotte, the gen
tlemanIy proprietor of the Atlantic
| Hotel, was next called upon to give eA
| preston to his feelings OF patriotism.
| After paying Ii graceful compliment to
| the fair ladies. he told us OF the noble
| band Of patriots who met IN another
| par; Ct our mother State, and then and
| their cast off their allegiance to the
! British Grown. He said North Caro-
/ iiua was the first to protest against
/ British tyranny, and vas among the
| last to Unite herself IN Il cOmpacJ with
| her sisters. She reflected long aud
we'll. She signed the great lndenture,
| and never has she denied her sigma
| ture or repudiated her seal. Up to
! the commencement of our late trOu-
! bles she remained true to her plighted
faith. Fourteen years ago for causes
which she deemed Just, she withdrew
from the compact, and to decide the
rigutfuluess OF the Lost Cause" she
sent her gallant sons to the front. His
remarks, together with the remarks of
the other speakers, were loudly ap-
plauded.
Your correspondent was called to
! the g front of course he went-but
begged the audience to excuse him, as
1t was quite late, that he would favor
them with a speech at some future
day.
We indeed had gay time, and would
have been pleased Messrs. Editors if
you could have honored us with your
presence.
A young man who was full of the
ardent - yesterday, declared that he
was filled with patriotism. What think
you of the new name for drunkenness!
Au revoir. ID. w. M.