National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-01
TAR HEEL ECHOES
FROM THREE IMPORTANT TOWNS.
Greensboro, Salisbury. aud Charlotts-The Tread
Of the Revolutionary Armies-The Union
Prison Pcn-somo Scraps OF
Colonial History.
.pcclol Correspondence of rnr RrrunhrcAN.

Snecl0l Correspondence OF TiiE REPUBLiCAN.
CHARLOTTE, n. g., April %, lss2-Greensboro',
Salisbury, and Charlotte are the three most impor-
tant towns II North Carolina, directly upon the
line or the Richmond and Dauvile Railroad, and
associated with each are certain historical evonts
which make them places OF considerable note, not
only In the state but throughout the country. For
in,ttnce: about six miles from the first named,
where, some hundred years ago Greene and Corn
wallis alternately had their headquarters was
fought the Revolutionary battle Of Guilford Court
house, the field If which is yet pointed out to the
curious visitor as are also the old court house and
the church, used ut the time of the engagement
for hospital, and on the walls ofwhich the blood
stains lett ty the wounded are still distngushable,
At Salisbury, something over forty miles further
south tho old hou,e, though considerably
altered In IT'S appearance, which was at times
OCCUPIED ny CORVALLIS
aud Tar,oton, OF the Britt sh md Greene and other
commanders, Of the Continental armies, yet re-
mains, es es other interesting landmarks OF n
lygong rciiCd, There, too, less than half mile
llrm the public Square, and within the corporate
limits is the site of Salisbury prison-pcn, Of more
recent date and a few hundred yards further away
is the National Cemetery, wherein lie buried the
remains uf nearly thirteen thousand Uion soldiers
who pc shed there during the War Of the Rebel
lion. or this number all but ninety four are re-
corded among the unknown heroes whose mem.
oriCs the country loves to honor The bodies Of
those whose identity was established repose in
graves along one side OF the cemetery, which COM
pllScS NUOuI SIX NCtIs Oi lana, una tine Otnefb
LIE IN ErGHrEBE TRENCHES
each 2iO feet long, which crown the highest point
in the grounds, In the centre of which stands
grunite monument OF plain but appropriate de-
sign, abont forty feet in height, and bearing the
words, " Pro Pntrie," and the numler of those
whose last resting place II marks The trenches
are neatly rounded on top aud the whole is sod
dSd ,eyeIything being kept II perfect order Re-
say that not a vesli2e Of It now remains to mark
,hc spot where 20 20 many Of our brave boys snt'
In It's boundaries are now suwn in wheat and oats,
which ave thriving and luXuriant. Down by the
railroad cut, where A. d. Richardson, then New
York newspaper correspondent who had been cap
tured,
DuG OUT, his PLACE
of exit is still plainly marked by clump of small
bushes, the only ones to be found for some distance
IN either direction. Salisbury is the home of
Christian Reid (Miss Fanny Fisher, the authOross,
whose father, a Confederate colonel, was killed at
the frst battle of Bull Run. She lives with an
aunt in II fine old mauslon Just on the edge of the
town, and is very secluded in her habits seldom,
II ever, going beyond her own grounds. AT Sails.
hurry, too, Andrew Jackson practced law, aud
there also are the old colonial records dating back
to 1853 Glancing over one of the ancient volumes
came across the proceedings Of the kings courI
held,
COMMENCING JUNE 1, 1775,
and remembering that Captain James Jack is said
10 have aSstd through the town the day after the
Mecklcnb burgh declaration of Independence, from
Charlotte on his way to Philadelphia, and that
ns the story goes, the court was then in session,
hastily read over the record and transcribed some
Of 9TH lhe ontdes n From them il sppessrS that The M
the counties Of Rowan, Auson, Meek enburgh
1ryon (now Lineoln), Surry, aud Guilford con.
V,ned June l, l7I5. Alexander Martin, aflerward
governor was presiding judge; Adlai Osborne
clerk, and benjamin Il. BOotes crown deputy at
torney All the UfhCeis OF the court at that tint
TOOK TIE oATHB OF OFFICE
and test. Among the JURORS summoned wer'
Griffith Rutherford, William Davidson Hezekish
a "A T.. tUAs Iw,N
ers), Robert Harris, Charles Polk, and man!
| Others who subsequently became more or les
prominent In public affairs, The Alexanders
| none ofwhom attended, and with other abscntees
were fined E3, Rid Charles Polk, who was
brother Of Colonel Thomas Polk, VINO called th'
Mecklen6urgh meeting, was present, and so wa
Wrightstil Avery. one of the signors of the Meek
| lenburgh declarution, three months aiterwarC
M AngT9 Gs al SpPsSReSd and aeed dpSS
| squarely back on his principles. The recort
shows, further, that several Others who wen
doubtless concerned In that movement recanted
and appeared in court to purge themselves from
contempt for disobedience of King Georges sum
| mons.
THESE DETAILS ARE INTERESTING,
| chiefly us fixing the date when the Mecklenburgl
| meeting actually took place, some contending tina
l. occurred upon The 20th, others upon the 3lst o
| May Of the year mentioned. The probabilities ar
that careful examination OF the records REFERRED
| TO. which does not appear TO have ever been done
will show that the latter date is correct and that
| consequently, the proposed CelUDfhnOn at TN
| point on the 10th proxiIno Is week too previous
| Diminishing these rambling thoughts of pust uge
! will now speak briefly OF things as have foun'
| them thus far on my hasty trip through the oil
North State, and first, the general
| APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY
| Is pleasing, and every indication points TO ricl
and abundant harvest. In many localities NOR
| small grain has be IN put in this season than eve
the part of the people to hereafter raise their owl
food crol Instead of having TO depend SO largel.
| upon Others for the neCessarieS of life. All tn
| towns between Damville and lis point are sleadil
| improving manufacturing interests are ben
| looked after, the gold and other mining interest
| are hourishing, and there Is no good reason VIII
| these people in few years should not be abreas
with those of the most progressive State in tn
Union.
THE ONLY DRAWBACK
Is to be found in the political situation AS yet III
| Bourbon Democrats have control Of the entir
governmental machinery, and ~ long as they ar
permitted to rule there will be no marked I'M
| prUVement. On the contrary there will be
steady decline, There is great reason to hop,
however, that change is not far of The Re
publican party, which has been somewhat tor
up by internal discussions has ut last come
realize the noces Ivy Of united LctiOn, and there
general disp' iitiOn manifested by all with whoI
have cunveTsed 10 dfOp every question of minC
character and devote their energies to beating th
common enemy,
The liquor question, which has caused no sma
part of The troubles In the past, am convince
has been satisfactorily disposed Of and will not i
raised In the coming campaign, ut least not il th
assurances given me by the leading advocate
upon both sides can be relied upon. No Republ
can whom have met desiTes that any such issu
shall be brought iulo the CANVASS aud IL the maj
ter is completely ignored AT the State conventio
harmony will prevail and victory be achieved
United States District Attorney Boyd, his assistan
Mr. w. S, Ball, Judge Dick, Postmaster White, d
Benbow, who represents the Quaker element, bt
sides many Otner prominent Republicans
Greensboro, take this view, as do also the leadir
Republicans,
WHITE AND coLoRED, OF SALISBURY,
and at this place In iact it Is the unaninioV
wish Of the party to win, and whether they be Pr
hibionists or Anti Pr hiDiuonists, nil will hear
ily work together In order " attain that desirn1
result They all fully appreciate the course of Il
; NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, and there Is unanlmi
In the approval Of its views which shows II h
} fully grasped the political situation as II exis
here. The recent editorials upOn North Carolil
affairs are particularly commended. May 1t col
tnue on in tho good work Is The wish VI every on