Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-21

after January 1st next, not to purchase
goods from England, or send any pro-
duce there for sale. Such was the pro-
test at the encIoachment outheiT rights
aud privileges This aroused the indig-
nation Of the governor, and he issued 8
proclamation March /, l775, denOuncing
the meeting as tending to introduce
disorder and snOrchy, to the destruction
of the real interests Of the people"
About this time the people OF MeckIen-
burg moved in their sovereign capacity
the question of independence, and took
8 much bOlder ana decided stand than
either the colonial or continental con-
gress had as yet attempted; and while
this step eyinces the spirit OF that cbiV-
alric county, it is one Of the bOasted re-
collections OF the State Of North Caro-
lima, ever to be cherished, never to he
forgotten. On the twentieth OF May q
convention composed Of delegates from
the different portions OF the country,
met st Charlotte. Abraham Alexander
was called to the chair, and John
M'Knitt Alexander appointed secretary.
Rev. HeZekiah James Balch. a Presby-
tC-iBn clergyman, DR.. Ephraim Bren-
ari and VIM. kennOn, attOrney-at-.aW,
addressed the meeting. The news
Of the battle OF Lexington
arrived at this time, It having been
fought one month and day previous,
and the wantOn sacrifice of American
blood by English troops added fresh
fuel to the flames Of virtuous indigna-
ton that now warmed up their pa
tTiotic bosoms. The following is
q list of the names Of those
who took part in the meeting:
Abraham Alexander, chairman; JuO.
M'Knitt Alexander, secretary; EphTaim
Brevard, Chas. Alexander, HeZekiah j.
Balch, Zaccheus Wilson, JnO. Phifer,
Waightstill Avery, James Harris, Ben
iamin Patton, VIM. KennOn, Matthew
Mcclure, Jno. Ford, Neil Morrison,
Richard Barry, Robert Irwin, Henry
DoWne, JnO. Flennegan, Ezra Alexan-
der, David Reese, Wm. Graham, John
Davidson, John Queary, Richard Har-
ris, Hezekiah Alexander, Thorn
as Polk, sr., Adam Alexander. 1t
were we'll on the centennial ami
versary of that suspicious day to recall
the names of that brave, aye, peerless,
band who thus placed at stake their
lives and property. These men have
long since settled their Anal account;
their names and their services should be
held in grateful remembrance by their
countrymen. North Carolina is proud
OF them; her daughter, Tennessee, is
proud Of them, and the whole country
should feel proud Of the inheritance
they have left US, for with their glorious
names are associated the most unsullied
patriotism, uncalculating resistance to
oppression, and chivalric daring. APP
plause.
At the conclusion of Captain Men
ken's remarks Governor Harris said:
"I take pleasure in introducing to the
audience Colonel John d. Adams, dis
tpguished son of Mecklenburg in the
State of North Carolina"
COLONEL ADAMs's REMARKS.
Colonel Adams expressed his inabil-
ity to utter the sentiments of that
glorious old county. That old State for
many years endured every outrage and
insult, as far back as 1865, when heinfa-
NOUS stamp act was tried to be carried
out. Colonel John Ashe and Colonel
WaddeII marched boldly and determin-
edly 10 vindicate their rights. They
frightened the captain of the war-sloOp,
forbid him landing, and demanded OF
the governor the delivery to them of
David Houston, his tax agent. They
finally secured him, and made him
swear not to exercise his official power
in that State. In 1775 that spirit OF re-
sentiment, after long endurance, deter
mined them to mingle their ashes with
the dead or vindicate their rights as
freemen. They then met at Charlotte,
in the county of Mecklenburg, in solemn
conclave, declared themselves free,
and proclaimed the resolutions which
you have heard SO eIoqusutIy read
by Captain Menken. While the
tea raid upon the vessels by per-
sons disguised as Indians had been
placed on every page Of history this feat
of the Negth Carolinians in 1865 was not
mentioned. Mecklenburg has always
maintained the history ofits fOrefatAeTs;
she was the first to vindicate what she
thought to be an Infringement of her
rights. In the late war MecklenbuTg
was the first county in the State to send
a regiment to the scene of battle-she
was the first to send regiment to South
Carolina-had the honor of sending
there the man who fired the second gun,
and the first man who became colonel
in the Confederate army, B. II. Hill, at
terward a general in the service. APP
plause. The speaker next allIded to
the intellectual and literary features and
prominence of the State, and the ad-
Vancement of her people in the arts and
sciences, their love of freedom and
devotion to country. Applause.
ArnOld's band then played martial
air, and then Governor Harris, leading
Judge T. w. Brown to the front of the
stage, said:
81 need not say that it is unnecessary
for me to introduce to you my distin-
guished friend Judge L. w. Brown,
upon whose eloquent words the audi
ences of Memphis have so often hung
with delight" [Applause.l
JUDGE BROWNS REMARKS.
Judge Brown, after prelude OF clas-
sic reference, said we were now celebrat-
ing the first of Olympian glories. From
every section we saw pressing upon us
evidences of united determination to
vindicate national liberty and good gov
ernment. Uniting with propriety in the
ceremonies were eX-Federal and eX.
Confederate soldiers. What MsssachU-
setts celebrated with refined and classic
taste belonged as much to North Carroll
na. He hailed the centennial as an aus
piciOus day, as it was calculated to re-
unite the nationality OF the country.
He did not belong to that class who inn
agine that the American people have
get forgotten how to govern themselves.
In the resolutions which you have just
heard read there is nothing what
ever of a revolutionary character.
That act of declaration has q re-
tanning and conserving clause pecu-
liar to the American people.
However hard we may or have strug-
gled for State or geographical position,
the American people have never under
taken to overthrow the continental prin-
ciples-principle which, if preserved,
will conduct this republic safely through
all wars and guard her liberties hereaf-
ter. Although the mother country has
passed through civil wars, she has risen
intellectually aud otherwise in national
greatness and stronger in the cOnserva-
ton of civil and political liberty. He
did not believe that all the intellect be-
longed to the past. Legislative intelli-
gence had advanced; America, our
country, Is not destitute of gigantic in
tellect and moral character which gave
her greatness in the past. We should,
then, dismiss all fears about inc8pacity
for self-goveTnment, yet it were well to
recur to our ancestors and the basis Of
government. Neither in the declaration
of independence, at Philadelphia, which
the illustriOus Jefferson penned, nor at
Mecklenburg, was 8 single assault made
upon British liberty. Those people
were not actuated by any ideas Of COM