Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-08
q. M. @. Assutiatiotl.
KINGS MOUNTAIN CENTENNIAL

KINGS NOUN AIN zen IENNIAL
Meeting of the Committees last Thursday.
The Celebration an Assured Success.
Agreeably to adjournment of the meeting
held at Kings Mountain on the 25th of last
July, the executive and other committees ot
the Kings Mountain Centennial Association
held meeting in the Court House in York
Vile on Thursday last, the 1st instant.
Nearly all the committees were represented
in the meeting, and all who were present en-
tered with zeal upon the work of making the
celebration a success. North Carolina and
Georgia were represented in the meeting, the
former State by Capt. W. T. R. Bell, and the
latter by Major W. J. Houston, each of whom
report their respective States as fully alive to
the Importance of the celebration land if we
may Judge the.sentiment in those States by
the zeal and enthusiasm of the gentlemen who
represented them last Friday, there will be
nothing wanting on their part to make the
centennial an occasion worthy the deeds to
be commemorated.
1t is also gratifying to- learn from Major
Houston, who is connected with the Atlanta
and Charlotte Airline Railroad, that this
powerful and influential corporation will do
all in its power, not in the matter OF trans
portation alone, but in various other ways, to
further the object. AS will be seen from the
proceedings, the Railroad Company has al
ready ordered a magnificent United States
flag, which it will erect on the Pinnacle OF
Kings Mountain, free of expense to the AS
sociation, On the 21st of February next
which occurs on Saturday-and will be in
tended as a celebration of Washington's
birth.day-and on the day Of the centennial,
the flag will be delivered as present to the
Association. In addition to the valuable aid
of the Air Line Railroad Company, Major
Houston brings the most gratifying assurances,
from all sections he has visited, of the sue
cess that is promised, while as will be seen
from Capt. Bells remarks, that gentleman
also makes glowing report from his State
and Virginia.
The meeting was called to order by Col. A.
Coward, Chairman of the Executive Com.
mittee, after which
Capt. w. T. R. Bell, Secretary, called the
roll Of the several committees appointed at
the meeting held at Kings Mountain Station
on the 25th of July last. After the calling
of the roll of committees, the Secretary read
the proceedings of the meeting of the 25th Of
July, which, by vote of the members pres
ent, were confirmed. '.. ''.''f '''...
Col. Coward then addressed the meeting
He had hoped for larger attendance than
was then present, though he was glad to be.
lieve that the absence of several members of
the different committees did not diminish the
zeal of those present, and that the meeting
was attended by a sufficient number to give
permanent character to the work undertaken.
AS chairman of the executive committee,
he stated that he had thought it best for that
committee to defer action until later day,
and hence he would report that, for this rea-
son, that committee had as yet perfected moth
ing to the accomplishment of the end in view.
He thought that this, as we'll as the other
committees, should have time to digest their
plans, and he had looked forward to this
meeting as the proper time for taking steps to
perfect the plans for the proposed centennial
celebration. He then read the following let
ter from Senator B. G. Yancey, member OF the
Georgia Legislature: .... ...
ATLANTA, Ca, August q, 1879
EYacutiVa Com
mittee Kings Mountain Associa ion: MY Dear
Sir: Your letter has been received, announcing
that am honored by the Kings Mountain Asso-
ciaton formed to arrange for the centennial ceeDra
ton of the great victory of American troops over
the British Army, by being placed on the FL
nance Committee for my State Permit me 10
express my appreciation of the honor conferred
| upon me. trust that it will be in my power 10
| attend the celebration.
AS the Legislature of Georgia is in session. and
as am member it may seem to- you ana otners
| outside Of the State, to be an opportunity TOR
Georgia to lead off in making suitable appro.
priation towards providing for celebration OF
an important Revolutionary victory, which con-
tributed to the defeat of England's armies on our
shores But it is my modification to have to say
to YOU and the committee, that our constitution,
adopted in 1877, forbids the raising OF any money
for any purpose whatever, save the following !;
"For the support of the State GoVerhment ana
| the public institutions for educational purposes,
in instructing children in the elementary branch-
es of an English education only to pay the IN.
terest on the public debt; to pay the principal OF
the public debt; to suppress insurrection; to re-
pei invasion and defend the State in time OF war
to supply the soldiers who lost limb or limbs in
the military service of the Confederate states Win
substantial artificial limbs during life"
| You will see that our people are inhibited from
any lberalty, through the Legislature, toward
any obiect-however meritorious-outside OF the
objects specified in the constitution.
| / am thinking of what method may be pest 10
| dc b1,i 5iui6u uol uuh uhcprintlOn.
may conceive how doubtful will be the prospect
of raising money by such means:
shall be happy to be advised by you OF any
proceedings, from time to time, OF our commit
| tee After the adjournment of the Legislature,
nv address will be Athens, Ga.
| Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
| BEN. c. YANCEY.
In this connection, Col. Coward stated that
the idea of requesting State aid from the
States most directly interested in the success
of the celebration, had been communicated to
Senator Yancey, with what result, so far as
Georgia was concerned, he had just road.
He also stated that Senator Witherspoon, OF
this county, member, of the South Carolina
Legislature, had been requested to bring the
subject before that body at its recent session.
Mr.. Witherspoon then asked leave to inter-
rupt the chairman, and proceeded to explain,
as to the propriety Of asking aid from the
State at the present time. He said he felt as
deep interest in the success of the celebration
as any one, and named the subject to several
members from the adjoining counties, all OF
whom were enthusiastic upon the subject
vet in view of the debt with which the State
is burdeued and the impoverished condition
of our people by reason of the misrule which
had saddled much Of that Indebtedness upon
them, he, and those whom he consulted,