The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-04
Is MecIrlenburg a Myth ,

Some Of our Southern contemporaries
strangely misconceive the purpose of the
HEnALD in bringing the genuineness of the
Mecklenburg Declaration into the arena of
popular discussion. They seem to regard it
as an iliberal and invidious attempt to de-
priye the Southern States of their due credit
Tor the patriotic part they acted in the Revo-
LUTON We are astonished at so unjust and
Wild an inference. The illustrious services
OF the South can never be disputed. The
author of the national Declaration of indie
pendence was Southern citizen the Com
mander-in-Chief Of cur armies in that heroic
war, the most resplendent name in our his
tory, was also Southern citizen. Patrick
Henry, ''the forest born Demosthenes, whose
eloquence has never perhaps been equalled in
modern times, and who was the first to de-
clare With the winged words Of soul on
fire, "We must fight !" was also q
Southerner. The browning event OF the
war, the surrender of CORVALLIS, took
place in q Southern town. The most i'm
portant battles in the earlier years of the war
were fought in the Northern States; but, with
those battles were fought on our side by troops
under the immediate command of Washington,
a Southern general. The series of battles by
which the war was brought to its glorious
close were fought on Southern soil. These
great and conspicuous facts, which can never
be disputed or belittled, take out of our hands
and out of everybody's hands the question
vh tho Gpt1th 10 fill chor IF off
cient service in 'the times which tried mems
souls" We are amazed that any Southern
journal can suppose the HERALD is disposed
to undervalue the services Of the South in the
Revolution. 1t is our wish, on the contrary
to make the Centennial Celebration means of
reviying in this section of the country sense
of Indebtedness to Southern patriotism and
zeal, and to obliterate the recent alienation by
q mutual appreciation between the South and
the North of the noble deeds performed by
each when they struggled together for the in
dependence of the country.
The chief aim of what the HERALD is doing
in connection with these centennials is to
popularize and stir up widespread interest
in them by discussion fitted to enlist public
attention. We had no predictions for either
Concord or Lexington in the recent rivalry
between those patriotic towns. By making
the controversy as lively and instructive as
possible we helped both celebrations and ac-
complished the more important object Of in
teresting the whole country in that part Of
our Revolutionary history.
We have no different aim in bringing able
writer's into the arena on both sides of the
long-pending Mecklenburg dispute. The
critics in the Southern press who SO strangely
misunderstood us ought to admit on reflection
that nothing could SO advertise and magnify
the Mecklenburg Celebration as this discussion
which the HERALD has set in motion and
which will grow in interest until the occasion
is over. lie. the controversy be decided as it
may it will not affect the credit and patriotism
of North Carolina. So far as it is a mere
question Of date the triaing difference of
eleven days does not undermine, does not
even touch, the claim of the Mecklenburg
patriots to priority. Between May 20 and
May 81, 1875, nothing was done elsewhere
which can be put in competition with
the Mecklenburg manifesto. So far
as tho question Of priority is concerned it is a
question between the Mecklenburg Declaration
and the Philadelphia Declaration, which did
not take place until July in the following
year. This trivial matter Of eleven days is
connected, however, with a point of more
interest. II concerns the commences Of
document; for the Declaration of May 20 is
by no means the same as the undisputed reso-
lutions OF May 81. If the two documents
were identical the controversy would never
have excited so much feeling. But even if the
one Of earlier date be apochryphal the claim
OF North Carolina will still hold good that it
took the first step toward independence. We
are not sorry that the discussion excites so
much feeling, because the arguments viii be
\ examined with more interest than could other
wise attend them.
We publish this morning on interesting
letter from Charlotte, describing the prepare
tons for the celebration and setting forth the
\ local view Of the controversy.