Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-05-28
stand, beginning with the "Old North
1T THE STAND.

stand, beginning with the "Old North |
State forever"
ut THE STAND.
Gov. Graham presided and in brief |
address welcomed in the happiest man
ner, the immense throng to the hlstor- |
ic, classic and consecrated ground.
Tn. ceremonies began by Rev. DIR. |
A. w. Miller, of Charlotte, Chaplain
for the occasion, offering one of the
most fervid and eloquent prayers to
which it has ever been our pleasure 70
listen.
Mai. Seaton Gales. of Eal Ugh, was
next introduced, and read the Neck
lenburg Declaration with fine effect,
prefacing it with short and thrilling
address.
Gov. ,4raham in few electric words
now presented as one OF the orators OF
the day, Hon. John Kerr, who was re
ceived with great enthusiasm. Then
came the Grafton. And such an ora
ton Such indeed, as taken all i'll
all, we may not listen to its like again.
[ shall attempt no report OF 1t. 1t
seems well to say of this great oratlcn
that it was worthy of the occasion AMI
the theme, unless it be borne III mind
that it's theme WAS the old story OF
heroic resistance to nisSovernment
and the occasion such as caunot occurs
again within hundred years.
The oratory of Judge Kerr in it's
action, Thought, sentiment and dictlon
would be b. st described as being that
kind of oratory which hundred years
ago fi0urishcd on both sides of the At
Ii.utic, and which is fifty deIineated Ill
nj If Il
Whose elruuenca Frightening whatever
It tried,
Whether reason or flucy, the gay or the
Was rs rapid, as deep, and as brilliant
tide
AS ever bore Freedom alofl on itsw ave"
This much it is believed to have ac-
complished it has settled for all time
the authority of the Mecklenburg De-
ciaration, and sileucCd forever tie Gil
vious trstducers Of North CaroIina.-
Themistocles of old confessed that the
trophies of AIiltiades lCoutd not suDct'
him to sleep. That Old feeling still
continues but with this difference
then it led to emulation, but now to
Distraction. That spirit OF datractIOn
has ,o-day met whitening rebuke and
found, one would hope, its long que
tus. When Il breach has been made,
| 1t Is generally easy to find TIN" man
who will pl,nt the flag upon the eta
del. The difficulty III the case Of the
American Colonies as ID every other,
was to tind him who would be first to
put his foot upon the wall. That honor
| belongs to North Carolina. And though
others OF her sisters may boast OF
! greener iaurels, to her will always
belong the crown. Such is tho
| truth, but such as yet has not been tho
verdict OF history. Judge kerr's ora
ton WIS listened to with rapt attention,
broken only by frequent acclamutlons
of applause.
He was followed by the Hon. Jno.
| Bright, of Tennessee, whose Grafton
was mastery historical essay, ex
haustive and conclusive of the subject.
For, III summing up the historical evl-
dence i'll proof of our Great Declara-
ton, the speaker rose fully to the
height of his great argument, placing
the Old North State upon e pedestal
from which no sacriIegious hand shall
tear her down. And could there have
been found i'll the vast audience one
| single voice, whether matricIde or van
DIAL, to impeach hers, the first colonial
Protest aud Abjuration, the voices OF
10000 witnesses would to-day, III one
acclaim, have hurled the falsehood
back upon her defamer.
Here, then, is our Runnymede, for
here, with a spirit as dauutless as that
with which our ancestry encountered
King john, did our Fathers frs re-
solve, to do or die. And though the
names of Langstons, the IItzWalteTs
aud MOnscnais subscribed to Magma
Charta may seem more splendid, they
are TO dearcr to US than are the name S
OF the Polks, the Alexanders, the
Grahams, the Erwius, the Averys and
the Brevards. And thus, with grale-
ful hearts and reverend hands do we
now commit thom to their honored
rest until another hundred years.
The knights are dust,
Their good swords are rust,
and their souls are with the saints-we
trust.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bright $ ora
tion Mr.. Belk, of Union co. n. c., WAS
presented on the platform as the last
living testimony of the truth OF our
Declaration. He is more than a cen
ten&rian, having been twelve years old
ut thal time and preserving a distinct
ance produced q profound sensation.
At this point and while the meeting
was being adjourned for dinner loud
cries for Vance, the inimitable, rent
the air. The Governor came forward
apparently TO excuse himself saying
that the programme for the occasion
was already arranged and that for him
to speak then would mar it's symmetry.
But little did the audience dream what
il surprise be had in store for them
and that while sparing the symmetery
he was aiming blow at the very
foIndations. The Governor has til.
gift of bringing darn the house when
he speaks, but this time he did SO
without speaking. For when III the
act OF bowirg himself off the stage he
must have touched some hidden spring
which brought down one half of The
platform and with it one half Of the
great men of the nation.
l must reserve fOr another letter the
speeches at night, and the beautiful
display of fire works. ID.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., May 21at, 1875.