Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-29
rERorTLlNe SOUTHERN HISTORY.

A good many Northern papers, and
some in the South edited by Northern
men, are Just now engaged in the rather
small business of writing down the
Charlotte IN. CO. centennial, and assert
ing that the kecklenburg declaration of
independence is an apocryphal affair
after all. 1t is not to the credit Of the
human family that men Of intelligence
and high character so often let prejudice
take the place Of opinion. Ia this case
it is particularly discreditable. These
men claim everything for Philadelphia
aad Boston, and wsuld rob the old
Southern States that participated in the
Revolution of the laurels so fairly and
periodically won. The, Mecklenburg
declaration is fully as well authenticated
as most Of the leading events OF the Rev
olution aecsptedin history. 1t has been
verified by documentary proof and from
the mouth of living witnesses and survi.
vOrs living twentJ.6v years after the &C.
currence. How much history ofthis coun-
try, going back one hundred years, rests
on as secure a basis2 Go back two hun
bred years and much Of our history is a
mere matter of tradition handed down
for generations and then picked up aud
embellished by the facile pen of the
historian. New England has always
sought to ~monopolize the history and
literature Of the country and to furnish
the ruling ideas, and we have permitted
her to go great lengths in that direction.
We have aided and abetted in belittling
ourselves and our ancestors for the glorif-
cation Of Massachusetts, Connecticut and
q few other old Northern States. The
stamp law was resisted more fereely in
North Carolina than in the old Bay State.
Yet little is said about it in our accepted
histories, and school children grow up
believing that the Revolutionary war
was nearly all fought on Northern soil.
In those days there was no sectional
feeling. The negro was a slave in New
England and had not as yet been sold
South where his labor was more pro6ta.
BILE. The men Of Mecklenburg, when
they heard Of the American blood which
had been shea at Lexington and Con
cord, expressed their sympathy and
made common cause against the British
There was then no rivalry of sections
no conflicting interests nor claim Of So
periority Of one State over another
But a century has wrought changes. We
see one section, which by the fortune o.
a war really caused by the almighty dol
lar, has become dominant in the govern.
ment, treating its ancient ally and trustJ
neighbor as q mere dependency. The
President, when invited to attend the
Charlotte centennial, made a curt refusa
through his secretary and fastened Of
to the centennial at Concord and Lex
ington, from which we would not detrac
in the least. But his conduc
was the cut direct to the South
ern people, and the committee n
doubt almost regretted having sent tn
invitation to a man destitute Of common
civility. So long as we allow the Mort
to make our books and furnish all on
magazines and lighter literature, we ma
expect to be misrepresented at HON
and to the world. History has been fa
si6ed a thousand times 10 magnify an
enrich the North at the expense Of tn
South. Our people in this, as in othe
matters, are content to be "hewers {
wood and drawers OF water" Even tn
"reminiscences of the Revolution, whe
favorable to the heroism and enduranc
Of our people, are distorted, slurred ov,
and discredited. Such a spirit is r,
commendable, and is particularly ofer
sive at this time, when good men ever,
where are anxious TO promote concili
ton and harmony and to infuse a spir
of national pride into the great popult
heart.