The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-12-05
HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
FULL TEXT OF HIS LETTER READ
AT THE FAYETTEVILLE CEN
TENNIAL.

Manly and Patriotic Sentiments-Ex-
presses Regret at His Inability to
be Present at North CarOlina's Big
Celebration.
FAYETTEVILLE, n. c., Nov. al
The following letter from Hon. Jeffer-
son Davis was read to-day by Hon.
w. J. Green:
BEAUvolR, Miss, Oct. 80, 1889.
Messrs WAartonJ J. Green, James C.
MtRae, c. NJ BroaGfoot, Mill
NJ Ray, NJ C. 4NcDu65e, Commit
tea:
GENTLEMEN Your letter inviting
me to attend North Carolina's Cen
tennial, to be held at Fayetteville on
the 21st of November next, was duly
received, but this acknowledgment
/ has been delayed under the hope that
an improvement in my health would
enable me to be present as invited.
As the time approaches l find that
cherished hope unrealized and that |
must regretfully confess my inability
to join you in the commemorative Gel
ebration. 1t has been my sincere wish
to meet the people of the :'Old North
State on the occasion which will nat
urally cause them with just pride to
trace the historic river of their years
to its source in the colony of Abe
marie. All along that river stand
monuments of fidelity to the inalien-
able rights of the people, even when an
infant successfully resisting executive
usurpation, and in defence of the priv
iieges guaranteed by charter, boldly
defying Kings, Lords and Commons.
Always self-reliant, yet not vainly-selt-
, asserting she provided for her own
defence, while giving material aid to
her neigi,bors, as she regarded all the
British Colonies of America. Thus
she sent troops armed and equipped
for service in both Virginia and South
Carolina also despatched a ship from
E E the port of Wilmington with food for
. the sufferers in Boston, after the clos
ing of that port by Great Britain. In
her declaration that the cause of Bos-
ton was the cause of all, there was not
only the assertion of community OF
righths and purpose to defend them,
II but selfabnegation of the commercial
!. advantages which would probably ac-
=, crue from the closing OF rival port.
i Without diminution OF regard tor the
great and good men of the other colo
nies, | have been led to special vener-
alton for the men of North Carolina.
as the first to distinctly declare fo1
State independence, and from first to
: last to uphold the right of a people to
govern themselves.
: do not propose to discuss the vexed
!, question of the Mecklenburg resolu-
= tons of May, 1775, which from the
p similarity OF expression to the great
Declaration of Independence OF July
1776, have created much contenson
because the claim Of North Caroline
rests on a broader foundation than the
resolves of the meeting al Mecklen-
q burg, which deserve to be preserved
as the outburst Of a brave, llberty-lov
ing people on receipt Of the news o
the combat at Concord between Brit
ish soldiers and citizens of Massachu
sets. The broader foundations re
terred to are the records of events pre-
ced1ng and succeeding the meeting a
Mecklenburg, and the proceedings o
. the Provincial Congress which met
N Hillsbc.o in August, 1775. Betor
r. this Congress convened North Caro-
lima, in disregard of opposition b.
- the Governor, had sent delegates tt
represent her in the general congres
to be held in Philadelphia, and ha'
denounced the attack upon Boston, ant
had appointed committees of satet
\ with such far-reaching functions as be
long to revolutionary times only. In
famous Stamp Act of Parliament wa
e. openly resisted by men of highest reE
utation, a vessel bringing the stamp
was siezed and the commander boun
I not to permit them to be landed. Ihes
a. things were done in open day by me
who wore no disguise and Stunned n
,c question. Before the congress OF tn
province had assembled the last roys
Governor of North Carolina had fe
~ to escape from the indignation of
tie people who, burdened but not bent b
IN oppression, had resolved to live or d
W Wav as freemen. The Congress at Hill
hi boro went earnestly to work not mere
" to declare independence but to pre-
vide the means of maintaining it. Tt
Congress feeling quite equal to tt
occasion, proceeded to make laws f(
" raising and organizing troops, for SUI
plying money, and to meet the col
ou tingency of blockade of her seaport
offered bounties to stimulate the pr
. duction of articles most needful
time of war. On the I2th OF Apr
2 1916, the Continental Congress b
~ ing then in session and with much d
cs versity of opinion as to the prop
III course to be pursued under this col
0as Cition of affairs, the North CarolI
Congress resolved "that the delegat