Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-11
Z CURIOUS HISTORICAL COINCI-


To the Union and American
The similarity of some Of the phrases
used respectively by Mr.. jefferson and DR..
Brsvard in their Resolutions Of ~Independ-
ence, May 20, 1775, and July 4, I776, has
given rise TO an erroneous opinion that one
or other Of these writers has committed a
plagiarism. OF the several historians Of
North Carolina - Martin, Williamson,
Jones, DR., Hawks, DR.. Foote, Mr.. Wheeler
and Others-with a single exception, by no
oneO f them has such an imputatiOn been
made even indirectly. The charge is plain-
ly n~On-sequitur. 1t is well known that at
a time when there is impending some
great national crisis-some ~overhanging
calamity-some portentOus event in the
early future-that as all feel alike, think
alike, apprehend alike, and hope alike
their thoughts and their feelings viii find
Utterance in the same language and forms
Of expression, if not in the very same
words. And this is especially so if the
speakers and writers have to occupy the
same standpoint, undergo the same
apprehension, and cherish the
same hope and expectations. Mr..
Jefferson and DR.. Brevard occupied
this identical position for ten years-frOm
the imposition Of the Stamp Act in 1865 to
1775. The attentive reader of the public
documents and papers emanating from the
Colonial or Provincial authorities of the
day, will find them all marked by similar
phraseolOgy, and sustained by a similar
course Of argument, and covering the same
general grounds Of remark.
But 10 be more specific. One of the
forms Of expression used by Mr.. Jefferson
is, 'and to the m~aintainance of this indie
pendence We pledge our lives, our fortunes,
and our honor" That used by DR.. Brevard
is in nearly the same words: @We pledge
u mutual cooperation, our lives our
fortunes, and our most sacred honor" The
same expression had been a long time in
use-a century and a half before either Mr..
Jefferson or DR.. BTevaTd used it. Irefer
to Bancroft, IL, page 3. "On the honor of
a king" wrote Charles l. to Stafford, April
p, IG41, 'yOu shall not be harmed in life,
fortune, or honor" My next reference is
page pa and onward, too long TO be copied
here. Another reference is found on page
Pa, dated April 4, 1857: "The Council
pledged to the King their tires and for
tneS.' Examples like these can be quoted
al iRtinitum in English State papers. We
give some from American sources, but of
later date. See Wheeler's n. c., page I25:
"Ready 10 sac.if-e our Tires and fortunes
to secure freedom and safety dated June
20, 1775. See also page 2IT, DECLARED
themselves ready TO sacrifice Ife and for
tune dated June, 1875. See also page
2S7, where Judge Johnston resolved 10
stake lie and fortune in the contest for
liberty Page 500, Aug. 5, ITI4, the same
expression is used, At page $40 il is a
little varied: AT the hazard Of oar H-av
and Fortunes, Nov. II, no
Innumerable other instances might he
given Of similar import, bu, 1 am content
10 quote only one more. 1t viii be found
in the coat Of gr7Hsof gallant and spirited
little South Carolina, and conveys the same
sentiment: "AniBsJs OpiJusguc Paraf, -
adopted bafo-e the Declaration Of July 4,
IT7G.
Similar quotations might also be given
| Of extracts from the Declarations both OF
May 20, 1775, and July 4, 1IT6, such as
inherent and i~RalienoJIe rights, tGratioT
triHtouJ representation, etc, etc. Enough
mas been said TO convince the most hyper,
critical that neither Mr.. Jefferson nor DR.
Brevard can be charged with plagiarism.
j.. G.. NJ. Il,
KNOXVILLE, May 6, 1875.