The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-20

is hardly as competent a witness upon
the character and integrity of DIR. Alex
ander, as was his compeer the editor of
the Raleigh Register. when he gave pub
lication to what had been made known
and received without question. ten years
before. in the leading newspaper in
North Carolina.
But hear this editor on April 80. 1919:
The following document on the sub
Iect has lately come to the hands of the
editor from unquestionable authority,
and is published that it may 90 down to
posterlty that is, one county should
no longer claim a monopoly in its glory,
or IN either of the other MSS, of which
her people had spoken Familiarity in their
families since the Revolution.
The paper A. alluded to in the
above note, embraced at once the state
ment which the secretary said was funda-
mentally correct (and) to the best of his
knoptedge and belief, and the Declara-
ton; of which last he asserted: lit is
perfectly correct"
How, then, does the Declaration ap-
pear to have been made from memory q?
Ii so why wait six months TO forge il?
1t had been in the hands of DR.. Hugh
Williamson, when he exhibited to Gov.
Stokes as a recent acquisition, (and OBJ
tanned by his own request, if the secre-
tary is truthful,) in 1893. What insu-
perable difficulty could prevent him from
getting back from DIR. Williamson, a
copy of an instrument in which he felt
as commendable a pride as did Mr.. JEFF
ferson in his? 1t had been in his pos
session for twenty-five years, and yet
the assumption is boldly advanced that
he had not seen it in all that time. Men
do not thus treat their treasures. Every
recurrence of the anniversary but re-
freshes his memory as to the date, and
a man OF his close observation and YER
satile talents, is more apt to have read
It at least once a year, than never to
have seen it again after inscribing it on
the book, or keeping it among the pa
pers which accompanied the book. 1t
was not % years from its origin to 1913,
nor from this last date to 1900.
Unless a gratuitious insult is intended
for the memory of Gov. Stokes and of
the secretary, such a point is not to be
seriously thought of.
Apitiable thrust is made at the vigor-
Gus English of the Secretary, by gentle.
men who have themselves eve excell-
ed it.
1t was written to catch the heart of
the assembled multitude, declaring it
thed duty of every delegate "to use every
eXertion to spread the love of country
and fire offreedom throughout America"
Mr.. John Adams was as good a Judge
OF a correct use of the English language
as any one who has yet entered the list.
Hear him on it: The genuine sense of
America at that moment was nerer so
well expressed, before or SINCE" The
Treasurer of the Synod Of the two Caro-
linas would smile at the objections of
lesser lights, if he were to return. 1t
was written for n purpose, the second
declaration for another, and 1.-The copy
of the whole proceedings" for still
another. They are all good, after their
kind.
Now we bid the colonel and the read
er adieu for perhaps sometime. But we
must suggest a remedy for his great
perpleXity to ascertain the exact conduct
of Secretary Alexander, and of Secre-
tary, or Clerk Breyard. Dismount from
your jaded hobby, and reverently read
that master piece of the English classics,
king James Revision of the Bible
published in 16l1. Turn to the account
given of the exact conduct of the two
m~alefactors in the solemn scene on
Golgotha. 1t is an analogous case ; at
least three classes of apparently contra
dictory witnesses, from their individual
standpoints, furnishing the strongest
confirmation to the truth by concentra-
ting upon a given point a focus of light.
r. D. G..