The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-28
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
HIS LETTER TO THE FAYETTE
VILE CENTENNIAL.

me to attend North Carolna's cen
| tennial to be held at Fayetteville on
the 2lst 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 | find that
cherished hope unrealized and that
! [ must regretfully confess my inabjl-
lty to Join you IN the commemorative
celebration. 1t has been my sincere
wish TO meet the people of the "Old
North State on the occasion which
will naturally cause them with just
pride TO trace the historic river OF
their years to its source in the col>
| Ony Of Albemarle.
All along that river stand monu>
ments Of fidelity to TIE inalienable
rights Of the people, even when an
infant successfully resisting execu>
tive usarpatjon and in the defence of
the privileges guaranteed by charter
boldly defylng kings, lords, and com
mons. Always self-relant, yet not
vainly seIf-asserting. she provided
for her own defence while giving
material aid to her neighbors as
/ she regarded all the British colonies
Of America. Thus she sent troops
armed and equipped for service ln
both Virginia and South Carolina !;
also dispatched ship from the port
of Wilmington with food for the suf>
ferers in Boston after the closing Of
| that port by Great Britain. Ia her
! declaration Iuat the cause of Boston
was the cause of all there was not
only the assertion OF community Of
rights and purpose - defend ,Aem,
| but self-abnegation of The commercial
/ advantages which Wo4ld probably
accrue from the closing Of rival
port, without diminution Of regard
for the great and good men of the
other colonies. | have been led to
| special veneratiOn for the men of
| North Carolina as the first to dis
| tinctlY declare for State Independ-
ence, and from first to last to uphold
the right Of peopIe to goYern them
| selves. | do not propose to discuss
/ the yeXed questions Of the MeCklen-
| burg resO uti0ns of May, 1775, which
! from .ue similarity Of expression to
the great Declaration of Independ-
ence Of JuIy, 177G. have created
much contention, because the claim
Of North Carolina rests on broader
/ foundation tAan the resolves of the
meeting at Meckleaburg. which de-
| serves to be preserved as the out
hurst of bcave. liberty loving peo-
/ pie, On the receipt Of news of the
combat at COncord between Brltleh Ii
soldiers and citizeos cf MaS5achus-
ctts. TIE brUa ler foundations re-
ferrei to are tie records Of event.
preceding and succeeding the meet
ing at Me@klenburg and the proceed
ings Of tie Provincial Congress
VIII ca met at Hillsbo-o' II August,
1775. Before this Congress conven-
cd North Carolina, in disregard OF
opposition by the GOYernOr, had sent
delegates to represent her In the
general congress to be .held in Phil
adelphia, and denounced the at
tack upon Boston, and hal appoint
ed committees Of safety with SUCH
far-reaching functions as belong to
Revolutionary times only. Tue
/ famous Stamp act of Parliament was
! openly resisted by men of highest
reputation q vessel bringing the
stamps was seized and the command.
er hound not to permit them to be
landed, These things were done in
open day by men who were not dis
guisei and Stunned no question
Before She Congress Of the province
ha} assembled the last royal Gov.
ernor Of North Carolina had fed to
! escape from the Indignation of q peo,
pie who, burdened but not bent by
oppression. had resolved to live or
die SIS freemen. TIE Congress at
IIil}sboro' went earnestly to work
not merely to declare independence
but to provide the means Of maiu~
tanning it, The Congress feeling
quite equal TO the occasion, proceed
ed to mske. laws for raIsiD. and or.
ganizjng t:oops. for supplying 6
money, and to meet the contingency
of blockade of her seaports offered
ooua,ies 10 stimulate the p 'cductIon
Of the articles most useful in ,ime OF
war. On the 18th OF April, 1916, the
Continental Congress being then in
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