The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-14
NORTH CAROLINA.
TRIBUTE TO HER WORTH
FROM JEFFERSON DAVIS.
rhe Last Public Letter written
by the Dead Statesman Is One
that Every North CarOlinian
Should SacreClIy Cherish.

Z y
McRae, c. w. Broadfoot, Neill w. Ray,
S w. c. McDuffie, Committee:
Gentlemen Your letter inviting me to
attend North Cardinals Centennial, to
be held at Fayetteville, on the 21st OF
3 November next, was duly received; but
this acknowledgement 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 in
A ability to join you in the commem'ora-
tive 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 it's source in the
I colony of Albemarle.
4 All along that river stand monuments
4 of fidelity to the unalienable rights of the
people-even when an infant successfully
resisting executive usurpation and in de-
fence of the privileges guaranteed by
: charter, boldly defying Kings, Lords
and Commons. Always self-reliant, yet
not vainly selt-asserting, she provided
for her defence, while giving material aid
to her neighbors as she regarded all the
( British colonies OF America.
Thus she sent troops, armed and equip
ped for service, into both Virginia and
I South Carolina, also dispatched ship
from the port of Wilmington, with food
\ for the sufferers in Boston, after the clos
I ing of that port by Great Britain. In
3 her declaration that the cause Of Boston
was the cause of all, there was not only
the assertion of a community of rights
and purpose to defend them, but self
abnegation of the commercial advantages
which would probably accrue from the
closing of a rival port.
Without diminution of regard for the
great and good men ofthe other colonies,
have been led to special veneration for
the men of North Carolina, as the first to
distinctly declare for State independence,
and from first to last to uphold the right
of a people to govern themselves.
l do not propose to discuss the vexed
question of the Mecklenburg resolutions
of May, 1865, which from the similarity
. ofexpression to the great Declaration OF
Independence of July, 1776, have created
much contention, because the claim OF
= North Carolina rests on a broader
/. foundation than the resolves of the meet
ing at Mecklenburg. which deserves to be
2 preserved as the outburst Of brave,
h hberty-lOving people, on receipt of news
of the combat at Concord, between
British soldiers and citizens of Massa-
chusetts. The broader foundation re-
terred to are the records of events pre-
eeding and succeeding the meeting at
Mecklenburg, and the proceedings of the
Provincial Congress, which met at Hills
@ boro, in August, 1775. Before this con-
gress convened, North Carolina, in dis
1 regard of opposition by the Governor,
had sent delegates to represent her in the
u General Congress, to be held in Phila-
delphia, and had denounced the attack
upon Boston, and had appointed COM
mittees of safety with such far-reaching
functions as belong to revolutionary
times only.
The famous Stamp Act Of Parliament
was openly resisted by men of highest
reputation, vessel, bringing the stamps,
was seized and the commander bound
not to permit them to be landed. These
things were done in open day by men
who wore no disguise and Stunned no
question.
Before the Congress of the Province
had assembled the last royal Governor
of North Carolina had fled toescape from
the Indignation of people, who burdened
but not bent by oppression, had resolved
to live or die as freemen. The Congress
at Hillsboro went earnestly to work, not
merely to declare independence, but to
provide means for maintaining it. The
Congress, feeling quite equal to the oc,
casion, proceeded to make laws for rails
ing and organizing troops, for supplying
money; and, to meet the contingency OF
blockade of her seaports, offered boun.
ties to stimulate the production of the
articles most needtul in time of war,
On the 18th of April, 1776, the Con.
tinental Congress being in session, and
proper course to he pursued under this
condition Of affairs, the North Carolina
Congress resolved, That the delegates
for this colony in the Continental Con
gress be empowered to concur with the
delegates of the other colonies in de
claring independence and forming foreign
alliances, reserving to this colony the
sole and exclusive right Of forming
a constitution and laws for this colony
ETC., etc.
This, believe, was the first distinct de
cIaration for separation from Great
Britain and neutrality-suspicious., and there
is much beside priority to evoke admira
ton. North Carolina had, by many acts
of resistance to the British authorities
provoked their vengeance, yet she dared
to lead in defiance, but no danger, how
ever dread, in the event Of her isolation
could make her accept cooperation, save
with the reservation of supremacy in re
gard to her own constitution and laws
the sacred principle of community indie
pendence and government founded on tht
consent of the governed. After having
done her whole duty in the war of lnde
pendence and become a free, sovereign
and independent State, she entered into
the Consideration with these rights anC
powers recognized as unabridged.
When experience proved the articles o
q Confederation to be inadequate to thu
needs of good government, she agreed tC
a general convention for their amend
ment. The convention did not limit it
labors to amendment of the article, bu
proceeded to form a new plan Of govern
ment, and adhering to thecardinal princi
ple that governments must be derived
from the consent of the governed, sub
mitted the new plan to the people of tn,
several States to be adopted or rejected
az each by and for itself should decide.
1t is to he remembered that the articles
of Confederation for the United States
of America" declared that "the unioI
shall be perpetual" and that no aitera
tion should be made in the said articles
unless it should be confirmed BY tn
legislatures ofevery State" True to he
creed of State sovereignty, North Caro-
lima recognized the power Of such State
as choose to do so to withdraw from
the Union, and by the same token he
own unqualified right to decide whethe
or not she would subscribe to the pro
,,na.d cnrnnact for a rnnre I,erfect nninn