Wilmington journal., 1876-07-07

patriots who celebrated the centennia
, Fourth of July here to-day.
/, The exercises commenced at /
o'clock with fervent and patriot,
prayer by that talented and rising
young minister OF the Presbyterian
church. Rev. James s. Black. Thi.
Was followed by a clear and emphatic
reading of the Declaration of Ameri
can Indepen lance by that promising
and popular son Offender, Mr.. Quincy
Bell. Then came the reading of the
paper of the historian of the occasion
DR.. s. s. Satchwell, who had been
selected to present historical sketch
OF Pender county. The author will
yield to general request of those
present in allowing it t., be published.
A copy will also be fled in the Clerk $
Office of Pender Court and With the
Librarian of Congress, as re-
quested in the general act of the
| two Houses of Congress last spring.
Then came the Grafton of the regular
orator of the day, Mr.. Bruce Williams.
1t was very fne effort, well delivered
and we'll received. He showed him.
self familiar with our form of govern
ment. traced rapidly it's history, the
and the necessity for like patriotism
and sacrifices now in order to perpet-
uate our form of government and the
priceless boon of freedom and consti-
tntional liberty 1t was au eloquent
to the reputation of the author.
Hon. Edward Cantweti. the other
invited speaker, e1cel1et} himself on
this occasion. The old fires of patriot
ism aud eloquence burned within him
and stirred the admiring crowd as,
with noble thoughts, elsvated patriot
ism and massive eloqence, he delivered
one of the most mastery addresses
that fell from lips Of orator or patriot
to day anywhere throu2 h')ut this broad
land. His glowing tribute to the
American character and to the country,
and to Southern heroism in the late
war, made a deep impression. Tho
writer has listened to Judge Cantwell
in efforts that would do credit to the
Senate of the United States, but this
magnificent oration eclipsei them all.
1t was because his heart and intellect
were free from that incubus of radi-
callsm which has cramped and dwarfed
him. The negroes of Pender have to-
day heaped abuse on him; but let him
continue to unload and to free himself
from this embarrassing incu bus, and
to come pack into the ranks of the
Democracy, where he belongs.
Prompt action was taken for secur-
ing the bat le ground from dilapida-
ton and for improving the monument.
TO this end the matter was placed in
the hands of the ladies, and
a Ladies' Monumental Moore's |
Creek Association formed, with that
patriotic. benevolent and noble heart
ed lady, Mrs. James Garrison of Pen
der. president. Full powers were given |
her to make her own appointments and |
to carry on this good work. AS the |
ladies' of Massachusetts finished the
Bunker Hill monument at the instance
of the great Daniel Webster. so let
this public spirited lady and the ladies
of Pender, New Hanover, Sampson,
Duplin and other counties now carry
forward, upon this call of the large
and patriotic crowd assembled here
to-day, this enterprise, the offspring
of Pender county patriotism.
At ht there was continuation of
;hese centennial festivities in the shape
If a magnificent ball in the hall of the
Masonic Academy at Ellington, few
niles from the monument, under the
direction of the bail managers, Messrs.
ohm A. Jones. Junius MI!lard, Grat-
an Williams, Jno. Montague aud L. P.
Bell. Much enjoymentwas afforded to
he representatives of much of the
,eauty and chivalry of Pender, Samp-
on, Duplin and other counties.
Dancing, and music from a fine band,
vas commenced at 8 O'clock this even
ng, and no doubt will continue with
nima5ion till sunrise in the morning.
MooRE's CREEK.
Moore's Creek. Pender county,
I. c., July 4th, 1876.