The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-27
The Mecklenburq Centennial.

The centennial celebration of the Mecklen-
burg Declaration of Independence which was
the forerunner of that more widely known and
famous declaration inspired by Thomas Jefer-
son. was observed in Charlotte on Thursday
last with becoming eclat and imposing ceremo-
nies. Thousands of the yeomanry of the Old
North State assembled to do honor to the noble
action of their sturdy and resolute forefathers,
who emphatically declared their right to be
free and independent people, and to the main
tenance of which independence they solemnly
pledged their mutual co-operation--"our lives,
our fortunes and our most sacred honors," for
such was the language used in closing the
series of resolutions adopted by the meeting of
delegates from each captains district" which
convened in Charlotte's Town on the 18th OF
May, and which continued in session until the
morning of the goth of May, 1775. We are
told that when the tidings of Concord and
Lexington flashed through the country and
lighted the fires of patriotism from every
mountain top and spread over every valley, in
the language of the loyal men of that day,
Old Mecklenburg was thel. hornets nest of
rebellion" and the Scotch-Irish blood of that
section revolted at the dangerous invasion of
their liberties, which eliminated in shedding
the blood of American patriots at Lexington.
The meeting was organized by the choice OF
Col. Abraham Alexander as chairman, and
John NJ. Alexander as clerk. Rev. Hezekiah
Balch, a Presbyterian clergyman, DR.. Ephraim
Brevard, graduate of Princeton College, and
VIM. Kennon, Esq, prominent lawyer, ad-
dressed the meeting in support of the resolu-
tions introduced by DR.. Brevard, which were
debated section by section during the whole
night, and were unanimously adopted on the
morning of the Goth of May, when they were
proclaimed from the Court House by the her
aid, Col. Thomas Polk. These resolutions de-
clared in substance that whoever, directly or
indirectly, gave aid, encouragement or coun-
tenance to the unchartered and dangerous III
vasion of their rights, as claimed by Great
Britain, was an enemy to American interests
and the inalienable rights of man that the
citizens of Mecklenburg County by this action
dissolved political bands with the mother
country, absolved themselves from all further
allegiance to the British crown, and abjured
all political association with that nation which
wantonly trampled on the rights and liberties,
and inhumanly shed the blood of patriots at
Lexington; that they declared themselves a
free and Independent people, subject to the
control, of no power other than God and the
general government of the Congress-to all of
which the most solemn and binding pledges
were made. These resolutions were sent off
by an express messenger to the Continental
Congress at Philadelphia, and the Provincial
Congress at Hillsboro, but were not adopted as
the general policy until the passage of Richard
Henry Lees resolutions in June, 1776, which
induced the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence on the 4th of July following.
Such is the simple and well authenticated
history of the Mecklenburg Declaration, in
commemoration of which on the one hun
dredth anniversary so many thousands focked
to Charlotte from the surrounding country.
But the assemblage on last Thursday not only
represented the gallant and patriotic citizens
of North Carolina, but there were hundreds
and thousands from adjoining and distant
States, including many distinguished persons
who recognize the claims of Old Mecklenburg
as the pioneer in declaring freedom and inde-
pendence We would wish that it were prac-
ticable to give full account of the ceremonies
for the benefit of our readers, but the demands
upon our columns will only permit an imper
feet sketch, which we condense from our ex-
changes.
The celebration began at noon on Wednes-
day, when the Federal flag was hoisted on
liberty pole one hundred and eighty feet high,
in Independence Square. An immense crowd
had already gathered to witness the proceed
ings, and great cheering and enthusiasm atten-
ded the ceremony of raising the flag A salute
of thirty-seven guns was fred, and an address
was made by Hon. VIM. Johnston, the Mayor
of Charlotte, after which Hon. Curtis H.
Brogden, Governor of North Carolina, was in
troduced to the audience, when he delivered a
stirring and eloquent address, extending
hearty welcome to the visitors from other
States, which was exceedingly patriotic and
loudly applauded for its liberal sentiments.
At night the entire city was brilliantly illumi
mated, and even the humblest cottage attested
the enthusiasm of the hour by displaying lights
from the windows.
The ceremonies on Thursday began at sun.
rise, when one hundred guns were fired in
honor of the event, and the city bells we're SET
to ringing out joyous anthem. The morning
trains from every direction came in jammed
with passengers, and before the hour of nine
arrived, every square inch of the principal
streets was crowded with visitors The hotels,
boarding-houses and private residences, and
even the stores and public buildings, were filled
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