The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08
The Genuine and the ApOcryphal Decla-
ratiOnS of independence.
ARGUMENT OF DANIEL r. GOODLoE
TIE Certificate OF John Mcknitt alexander
Proofs OF SpuriOuSDess.
CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF THE CONTROVERSY

wARRENToN. N c., May e. 1875.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The Declaration or Independence which pur-
ports TO have been made by the people OF Mecken-
burg county, North Carolina, May 90 I7I5 is not
universally received as genuine; while another
declaration, put forth by the same people on the
3lst day OF the same month ana year. Is admitted
on all hands to be what IL claims to be-tne proofs
OF It's genuineness being printed copies, found IN
several contemporary newspapers, published In
Charleston, New i rk ana Boston. One or these
newspapers, the New York Journal, Tor the year
1875 was in the possession OF the late Mr.. Peter
Force, ana was doubtless embraced IN the vast
historical collection sold by his executors TO the
Congress Library about five years ago. The most
material OF this series of resolves OF May 81 may be
seen in this New York Journal OF June 20. They
were found by Mr.. Force about the year
1885, and republished by him in his
american Archves,n ana l believe also in
the newspapers OF that daY. In 1s4T Mr.. Bancroft,
While Minister TO England, obtained a copy OF the
whole series, twenty In number from the British
state Paper once. They were FOUND preserved in
the South Carolina Gazette OF June, 1875 and along
with them, a copy OF the note or the royal Gov
ernor Wright, of Georgia, TO the Earl of Dart
mouth, Secretary OF State, transmitting the sex
traordinary resolves by the people In Charlotte
town, in Meckenburg eounty.n No historical
event. therefore, can be established on more salts
factory proofs than those which these Meek
lenburg resolves OF May 81, 17T5, TO rest.
But in the course OF fifty years. among people SO
little addicted TO writing, printing and publishing
as those of North Carolina all printed evidence OF
this memorable event, so honorable TO the people
OF the county, ana OF the state, had been lost 10
the public view; ana worst of all, the original
manuscript records of the County Committee OF
Safety, which issued the resolves. were de-
stroyed by fire, In April $500, with the OF Mr..
John McKnirt Alexander, In whose care they were
placed. These resolves signed ''by order OF
the committee, Epn. Brevard, Clerk or the Com
mittee5
THE DISCOVERY OF THE M'KNITr ALEXANDER DEC
TAXATION.
from the date OF the destruction OF these
ords, in April. 1900, until about the year 1885,
when Mr. Force found four or five OF the principal
resolves. with the preamble, in the New York
Journal as above explained, they were entirely
lost sight OF, and were only treasured. with tho
stirring events by which they were accompanied,
in the facing memories OF few venerable pa
triots, who participated In or witnessed taem. 1t
was in this long, oollvious interval between the
publication OF the resolves, May 81 1875 and their
discovery by Mr. Force, amid the heaps OF news
paper files he had gathered from every part of the
country, that the paper known as the "Mecklen-
burg Declaration" OF May 90 OF the same year,
made Its appearance. The Raleigh Register or
April 80. 1919, forty-our years after the event,
first published 10 the world this pretentious paper
accompanied by VIVA. purports to be the report
OF proceedings OF q public meeting OF delegates
elected by the several captains companies OF the
county or MecKlenburg. These proceedings are
put forth in the usual form and dated May 90 I775.
Apram Alexander's name appears chairman,
ana that OF Johu McKnitt Ale xander as secretary
Tne resolutions said to be adopted are In form aud
substance an absolute and irrevocaole "Declara-
tion OF Independence ana embrace many or the
characteristic forms or speech with which the pub
lie is familiar as the language OF the American
Declaration. Antedatng, as the Meckenburg
paper does, by more than year. the declaration
made at Philadelphia BY the American Congress.
It's appearance at once raised the questions
whether Mr. JEFFERSON, tho author or the latter
document, had been guilty OF plagiarism and how
IL happened tnat neither during the tionary
era nor subsequently, up TO the year 1919, no one
out OF North Carolina had ever seen or heard OF
this startling manifesto.
JOHN ADAM5 ON THE MEcKL ENBURa DECLARATION
Ii was soon repuolished In Massachusetts,, and
met the eye OF ex-Presdent John Adams. the ef-
feet was to reklnde the nrss OF youthful patriot.
ism in his venerable breast. In letter to Thomas
JEFFERSON, who was also on the Presidential retired
list the enthusiasm OF sage or Quincy over the
discovery was only equalled by his amazement.
How had he failed meet with IL In that crisis OF
the Revolutions And would he not have maze tile
halls ofUongress echo It's string sentlmentss How
could Il have escaped the observation OF all the
earnest advocates or Independence in hassachu.
sets, in Virginia, and other Statesa he would
have had It published In every whix newspaper on
the Continent &C. SUCH 10 substance, were the
emotions or enthusiasm inspired by this Meek.
lenburg Declaration or independence or MAY
~ wnIr - A.
letter to Mr.. Jefferson on this subject ia June
1872 he manlfests an unmistakabe readiness TO
believe in the genutneness OF the document put
not without an expression OF mis- amazeInent that
Il never before saw the light. The reader VINO Is
familiar with the history or the two statesmen
OF their early friendship. their subsequent rivalry
and alienation, and, stn later, wnen the political
battles OF lie we're at end OF their not too cor.
dial reconciliation--cannot fail to detect In this
letter OF Mr.. Adams degree or lurking satlsiac-
tlon at the thought that his successful rival would
vince under the implied impatanon OF pIaViar.
ism, wnicn the document, II genuine would sus.
tain. That this was his feeling is manifest from
letter 10 william Bentley, written IN July follow.
ing in whisa he says that Mr. Jefferson must
have seen t. In the lime oft, for he has copied the
spirit the sense and tho expressions OF It rey.0a.
tim into his Declaration or the 18th OF July lg7ev
But month later AIR. Adams had changed ans
mind, as appears from letter dated August 2l, TO
the same gentleman, IN when he says, * cannot
believe that they tine resoutl0ns) were known TO
o1e member OF Congress on the attn Or July, 1910.
Either these resolutions are 4 plagiarism from Mr.
Jederson's Declaration of independence, or Mr..
Jeder sons Declaration or independence Is pla-
glafism # ON those resolutions. / could as SOON
believe that tho dozen flowers OF hydrangeA now
before ms eyes we're the work or chance as that
tue MeckenDurg resolutions ana Mr. JeIerson's
Declaration wera mott derived the ore from the
other.r Mr Adahs, therefore. regarded tue
"MecElenbuFR Declaration 40 spurious, since ne
could not believe that II naa been seen oy one
member or Congress on the 4tn or July, 1870.
Mr. JEFFrEsos'3 POSITION.
Mr.. Jefferson was doubtless as much annoy cd az