The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-05
Oi,Ipus design" OF Independence which their enc

bilious design or Independence which their enc.
mics mad ascribed 10 them
No closed doors upon a deliberative assembly
ever served more valuable purpose than those OF
against their most confdlng friends. The mes
sage was doubtless most unwelcone, ana might
have met with reOuke out that war was already
begun; IL was necessary TO keep the spirit OF the
people up 10 the lighting point; the cooperation
OF an would probably be needed, even Ia war
such as then being waged Tor the rights or
British subjects IN America; and lt wouId not do
70 send back dlscourag1ng reply to men whose
conduct implied that they We're ready Tor the
most desperate confict-tne North Carolina dele
CATION IA Congress were authorized 10 return Tor
answer, that Congress admired the spirit ana
patriotism Or the people, but deemed their action
premature. II i obvious tnat Congress, with rs
then sentiments and views ofpolicY, while speak.
ing words of encouragement IN tneIr ears, would
gladly pass over the afair in a manner TO attracs
70 ~ ~ little 81 public attention as possible.
" was, as IL were, nre opened upon the
enemy, when Congress was sending out q
nag OF truce with professions OF iratern1za ton.
And II the Aecklenburg resolutions we're not pub
llshed In the newspapers OF tho tlme or II so
printed measures were taken 70 destroy the
copies, so that they have not come down 10 us, IL
- no violent presumption that snch measures
we're prompted by the agency OF Congress IN aid
o. the policy OF RECOMMENDATION IN Wnich that body
was then so earnestly engaged. Certainly III the
mind Of no impartial judge, with tue information
now open 10 US, can the cradlt Of the testimony IN
favor Of the authority OF the MecKlenOurg Decara-
tlon suler any Impairment from the failure OF
Congress TO leave some memorial oft.
THE TWO DECLARATIONS OF May IT'S.
But . new ground Is more recently assumed
THAI conceding the Affirmation to be true, there IS
an error IN the day OF the month on which the
alleged meeting was held and in the import OF the
resolutions, for tnat it was not the 20tn but the
3lsr OF MAY, and tnat the resolutions adopted
though very spirited and defiant, did not import
permanent separation from Great Britain. The
day IL not at all material In small difference
IN the dates; ana we are thankful to the lasE
learned critic in the North american ReUtelc, that
''rhe people OF Mecklenburg were the nrsr TO cut
the 'Gordan knott or the polirica situation
by their incislye declaration made on the
II this were all that had been done IL would be
an event worthy OF commentator 10 remote
ages. But we contend that tue resolutions
adopted were resolutions OF independence. The
word i'm piles so grand and stupendous an idea to
the subjects OF monarchy That there is little liza
bty 10 mistake il for ANYTHING else on the part
OF witness or ordinary intelligence.
THE Gen UINENEss OF THE hKSirr DOCUMENTS.
Very serious question Is also made as 10 the
commences OF the copy OF the resolutions, the
original having been destroyed as alleged by the
connagration OF building in the year 1soo--and
judge MartiD In his history OF North Corollna hav
ing published a series not Identical with the copy
published By the Le2lslature-(Sec Appendix for
copyl. The difference between the two IS not q
matter OF substance-both declare independence.
And l esteem the production OF separate and
slightly varied copy by Martin as corrooordtion
ratner than impeachment OF the verify or the
transaction especially when coupled with the
statement OF DR.. Hawks, that he nad conversed
with Judge Martin on THIS subject when both were
residing IN New Orleans, and learned from him that
ne had obtained hts copy OF manuscript from the
Western part OF North Carolina, before the year
1900. But the integrity OF the copy manly de-
ponds upon the testimony Of joan Mcknitt Alex
ander, and tRat OF the witnesses sustaining him.
his account was that as a secretary, ne mad pre-
served the record or It, from the tlme or adoption
TIL 1t was destroyed win his dwelling oy lire IN
1890. 1nat he had furnished copy TO Or. Hugh
Williamson, who had undertaken 10 write a MS
tory OF the State, IN order That the declaration
might be noticed IN that work-that he furnished
anotner copy to General Davie. Williamson dtd
publish history oil North Carolina IN 1872, ana In
his preface asserts that lie ''had received mucn In
formation from some of the most ancient and re-
sporadic cltZens OF the State, VINO continue TO
serve the country and from others who had lately
been numbered with the great majority"