Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-04
CENIENN NOTES.

The correspondent of the Atlanta
Herald, from whose letter we pub
lished a short extract yesterday in re-
gard to the Cape Fear section, mas
other matters to relate of interest to
our people. The initials "F. 81. A.
indicate him to be a former resident
Of our city. Mr.. Alfriend has lived
long enough IN this State to appreciate
the worth of our people, and in his
new home will not forget them.
We make the following additional
extracts from his letter
Whatever the historic doubts that
may be hereeft, urged and discussed,
il is absolutely certain that North
Carolina Will no longer be divided
upon question which has at times
been mooted angrily between most
worthy and reputable sons of the Old
n Jrth State upon both sides of the
question The ''unnual skeptics"
among native Cnrollnlans whom Judge
Kerr III his oration SO neatly held up
to the condemnation of his auditors
(and to the manifest enjoyment of all
Of them) will be careful in urging
their doubts hereafter as to North
Cnrolinas claim to paramount prestige
in the work of successful and there
fore patriotic rebellion one hundred
years ago. We OF the present day,
know something of her achievements
i'll later revolution which fools and
kuaves now call rebellion, but which
history will yet adjudge to have been
rs grand an effort of patriotism as
though it boasted the stamp of success.
Judge Kerr, alludiDg to the convic-
ton of the North Carolina mind of the
great historic wealth of the State in
the possession of the Mecklenburg
Declaration, summed up the argument
in the statement that "Nortt Carolina
dlsdains to go into court to prove her
right to recover that which she al
ready enjoys" That this sentiment
| may hereafter animate North Carroll
| mans to something of that self asser-
ton which has long been needed
among people whose only missing
| title to high and enduring fame has
| been the sefappreclatlon that has
| helped to make other CommOnwealths
| illustrious, should be the aspiration OF
every heart that feels an interest In
| the historical vindication of the South.
God bless old North Carolina" YVES
| the fervent exclamation of Genera!
| Lee, when, in a critical moment OF
one of the severest struggles of the
late war, North Carolina troops, at a
| fearful sacrifice of blood, restored the
| doubtful fortunes of a decisive day,
AID gave another inscription to the
| trippic- barred banner. God bless
old North Carolina" in the ploIs work
| which it is to be hoped this Mecklen-
burg Centennial Celebration heralds
on the pant of her sons to give to
| North Carolina her just prominence
III the annals of Americas glory, IS s
sentiment whose fruititlon will helE
10 place the whole South upon h1gt
vantage ground whenever American
history shall be truthfully written anc
impaftially read
Judge Kerr, the orator of the day
is that John Kerr, of Caswell. " wh'
for thirty years has been famous II
North Carolina. An old Wing of th
best standing, he was once the candl
date of his party for Governor o
North Carolina, at time when Wh1l
ascendency in the old North State ha'
been already lost. A brilliant canvas
for Governor could add nothing t
John Kerr's fame, for he was as fs
nous III North Carolina as was Ken
meth Rayner, as Henry A. Wise
Virginia, as Winter Davis in Mary
md, or Dick Menifee in Kentucky
: These were grand old days in Carolin
r politics when George E. Badger, Wi
2 lie P. Mangum, George Davis, job
, Kerr, Hugh Waddell and Kennel
kayner led the Whig hosts to tt
knightly tournament with the Demo-
l racy which Bedford Brown, Bragg
e Rufin and Saunders champione'
And in those days John Kerr, of Ca
well, was eminent, not only in Care
: lima, but as an eloquent, cultured an
q persuasive speaker in Congress. Son
people thoug ght that Judge Kerr had
I ..little too much Confederacy" in b
address, to make Democratic votes
y New England, but there are few WI
listened to his glowing defamation
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