Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-08
UNION AND AMERICAN.
MOTHER TO DAUGHTER.
North CarOlina's MementO Of the Neck
lenbUrg Centennial.
A National Flag Dedicated to Tennes-
see-Interesting Correspondence
Between Hon. III. II. Polk
and Governor Porter.

The following correspondence, which has
been banded us for publication, viii be read
with interest throughout Tennessee:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, May 20, 1ST5.-
Hon. James D. Porte, Governor of Ten
nessee-Sir: l am charged by the Central
Executive Committee Of the Centennial
Celebration Of The Mecklenburg Declare
ton Of Independence, May 20, 1775, to pre-
sent TO you, aud through you to the people
Of the State Of Tennessee, the accompany
ing banner, which, on the Goth of May,
1875, represented and was dedicated to
Tennessee, in the celebration Of the one
hundredth anniversary Of the MecklenbuTg
Declaration Of Independence.
The four corners Of Independence Square
were each ornamented with a banner.
They represented North Carolina, Virginia,
South Carolina and Tennessee.
have the honor to present TO you, in
the Lame Of the committee, this banner,
the emblem Of our cOuntry's greatness and
glOry-the first flag ever Unfurled in vindi-
cation Of the rights OF popular constitu-
tiOnal liberty, which were first pub
licly and authOritatively proclaimed
IN independence OF kingly rule at Char
lotte Town, in the county Of Mecklenbnrg,
May 20, 1775.
This banner is a token Of the esteem and
affection which the old North State enter
tains for her daughter, and bears witness
TO the common devotion Of their people to
the fOundation principles Of local self-gov-
eminent, unfettered, save by constitutional
limit alone, wherein fC- the common good
and general welfare they have parted with
sovereign powers under well guarded con-
stitUtiOnal restrictions.
This banner should ever remind us thai
popular liberty is hardly won, and pur-
chased with grea. sacrifice Of blood and
treasure; that for It many people have in
efiectually struggled, whilst others who
fondly imagined they had secured il, have
been unable 70 retain the priceless jewel;
that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty;
that we should be ever ready TO Tebuke,
promptly, the first Entertainments upon its
rights, whether eman2ting from popular
license, or centralized UsuTpatiOn; remem-
bering that although we should sustain the
government created to secure the common
good and general welfare, whilst acting in
its appointed sphere, as well as State gov
ernments, whilst performing the legitimate
functions fOrwhich they were instituted; yet,
governments, both State and National,
sink into insignihcance when compared
WIN liberty -COLSllJullOldllg ICEuldbt4
libeTty-whenever these shall seek to over
throw popular liberty, the crOWning con-
summation and glory Of modern times.
IniperfOrming the pleasing task commit
ted to me, cannot f0rbear too add, that it
is contemplated to erect a monument upon
the spot, to the honored and worthy patri-
OTIS who first proclaimed independence in
America, and who, in asserting the rights /
Of local, popular government, and the dig
nifty Of manhood, first gave the dedth-blow
10 tyranny under the form of the "one man
power"
Let Tennesseeans, who are closely allied
TO North Carolina by the ties Of interest or
Of blood, respond to the praiseworthy OBJ
iecs, and, by giving material aid, share in
the honor Of erecting a grateful memorial
to the heroes Of 1TT5, who, for the rights
of popular government, first pledged life,
and fortune, and sacred honor, and made
good this pledge in the great Revolutionary
struggle for freedom.
am, sir, with much esteem, your ODE
dent servant, IL. N. POLK.