The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-20
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
a Decided Reply to Col. Goodies
Article,

"Save me. Colonel, or I sink" NAV
have been the last words of Major Verl-
tas, as he went down with the old 31st
on Sunday. He was true to his princi-
pies, ~contending to the last that man
ought to hare been made for the Sab
bath. The colonel had been thought
too inoffensive a gentleman to grossly
insult the living,-but if he seriously
maintains that DR.. Joseph McKnitt
Alexander suppressed any part of the
statement committed to him. then he
must be credited with more valor than
discretion.
Had he said that DIR. Alexander omit
ted the postscript SEN to Gen. Davie by
his father, his blunder could be easily
excused, but when he twice uses the
word Suppressed" the impression is
made that he bravely charges that there
was an omission OF a postscript know
ingly. wilfully, and with intent to sup
pless 1t. Such men as the Hon. Jos. III.
Wilson, the venerable David Alexander
Caldwell, and others, still in Mecklen-
burg, can tell him that DIR. Alexander
was as well and as favorably known
there as are the Haywoods, NJ. D., to-
day IN Wake. Desperate, indeed. must
be the strait in which the printer's date
OF the Mecklenburg Resolves is found,
when 1T needs such a malignant theory
to prop it.
But had the Doctor been all that he
would. seemingly, have him, he could
not possibly have suppressed the post
script without once having had it in his
prior possession. 1t was not commits
| ted In him hlt Sant RI ltan Ilaro Cn-%
6, 1900; and only obtained from the
Generals surviving paper in 1880. So
the son had no opportunity to suppress
1t, as charged, in 1919.
As before intimated, we deprecate
any reflections upon the motives of per-
sons, who endeavor to elucidate hi stori-
cal facts, but this theory that an honor
able man committed ar infamous act,
could not be lightly passed over. At
the same time we trust his amiable ma
ture will lead him to reconsider the mat
ter. Fol he is to be congratulated that
has natural force is so far unabated, that
he has never forgotten dates as familiar
as his birthday, for the question so far
has been upon the days-and is still
able to distinguish between a postscript
to a statement, and the statement it.
self. Som of his persuasion have not
been so fortunate. A little closer in-
spec:ion would disclose a difference be-
tween the statement accompanying a
Declaration, and the Declaration.
He has given the postscript, and cor
rectly so call it, as seen by a worthy
gentleman. and mutual friend, for his
first time in 1853, on a torn off piece of
the communication sent to Gen. Davie
IN 1900. but not one word of ''the fore
gong statement" was on that fragment.
1t appears to have been lost with a part
of the Declaration between 1881 and
1853.
Now a paper to be entirely legi6le
must be entire. That such was the con-
dition of the Dayie copy and accompany
ing statement when deposited in the
Governors Office in Raleigh, is shown
by the following certificate and foot
note:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
/. Samuel Henderson, do hereby GER
tity that the paper annexed was obtain
ed by me from Maj. William Davie in
its present situation (sic) soon after the
death of his father. Gen. William r.
Davie, and given to DR.. Joseph McKnitt
by me. In searching for some particu
lar paper, / came across this, and know
ing the handwriting of John Mcknitt
Alexander. took it up and examined it.
Mai. Davie said to me (when asked how
it became torn his sister had torn it, not
knowing what it vas Given under my
hand this 25th Nov, 1880.
SAM. HENDERSON,"
DR.. Joseph McKnitt therefore did net
see the postscript till after the death of
Gen. DaYie, which occurred in Deem
Der, 1890: but is gravely charged with
having suppressed" it on April 80,
1919. This phrase in DR.. Henderson's
certificate. in its present shape" OF
course, called for an explanation, and il
has been plainly given. When IN 1881
the legislature of North Carolina adopt.
ed the Report of their special committee,
consisting of Messrs. Thos. g. Polk
John Bragg. Evan Alexander, Louis D
Henry, and Alex Mcneil, it was
-ResoIced, That his EXcellency. the
Governor, be directed to cause to b,
published in pamphlet form the above
Report and the accompanying docu
ments, in the manner (andl order fol
lowing. viz; After the Report, first, thu
Mecklenburg Declaration with thu
names of the delegates composing tn
meeting second, the certificates test
! fying to the circumstances attending tn
Declaration third, the proceedings o
the Cumberland Association. And tina
: he further be directed to have reprintes
> in like name separate and dlStlnc
from the above, the accompanying Jour
nal CT the Provincial Assembly at Hal
flax in 1f1G.
Resolred further, That after the publ
cation, the Governor be instructed t
: distribute said documents as follows, t
wit Twenty of each TO the Library {
! the State; to each of the Libraries a
. the University ten copies to the l.
] brary of Congress of the United State:
; ten copies /; and one copy each to III
Executives of the several States OF TIL
: Union
As another has said of the preUio1
q ouestian The State itself took up til
. fame Of her heroic peop,e of Meckler
burg. as a flower not unworthy to [
. worn in the garland which decked hi
own brow" But now a generation ha
n arisen which knew not Joseph, an
g there seems to be a reckless effort tn;
o he shall only be known as suppressIn
= what he never saw.
This Legislative Pamphlet, prepare
o bv the honorable gentlemen alread
named. with a preface by the Governo
Hon. Montford Stokes, who was hin
Ie self we'll acquainted with Secretal
e Alexander and also with DR.. A.,
d course contained DIR Henderson's ce