The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-09

MeckIenbure county Of North Csrons, assoivins "
from British allegiance and s,jurins all political con-
peeton with that nation although sent 10 Congress-
,eo 1. never heard Of It 10 not known even twelve
month AFTER when similar proposition is hrst made
in that body Armed with this bold example would
no, you have addressed imd brethren In peals OF
thunder on their tardy fesrs Would not every adTo-
cato OF independence have runs the gories OF Neck
Ienburs county in North Carolina in the ears OF the
doubling DICKINSON and others, who hung 80 heavily
must"
Six weeks later. on Aug. 81. JOHN ADAMS
expressed his disbelief In the authenticity
of the resolutions. saying " Huud credo"
II JEFFERSON or ADAMS had ever known
OF tho presentation to Congress OF the reso-
lutions of May 81. ITS, tho fact was for
gotten in 1919. 1t was not till 1888 that an
old newspaper was discovered by PETER
FORCE of Washington containing part Of
the resolutions. Afterward the complete
records we're procured by GEORGE BAN
CROFT from the British archives. and were
published in WHEELER's History OF North
Carolina In 1851.
The authenticity OF the resolutions Of May
20. ITS. was exploded by Mr.. w. H. BURR
of Washington in THE SUN on July 4. 1882;
and it also appears that President WE'LL
ING OF tho Columbian University made
an elaborate exposure Of the fabrication
in the North American Rcric,c for April.
1874. Yet for seventeen years past this
mythical Declaration OF Independence has
been celebrated In North Carolina. THOMAS
+. BAYARp. GEORGE H. PENDIEToN. and D..
b. HILL have each OF them made speeches
ut these anniversaries.
Mr. BANCROFT always avoided the ques-
ton OF the Mecklenburg Declaration Of 1nde-
pendence. but now Mr.. CONWAY In his Life
of PAINE" accepts 1t as probably genuine.
year ago in the Open Court. q philosophic
weekly journal. he attempted to account
for JEFFERsoN's non-recognition OF the
paper in 1919 by his feeble memory" and
jealousy concerning the paternity" CT the
Declaration Of 1776. Feeble memory" in
deed! How about tho memory Of JOHN
ADAMS? And why should JEFFERSON be
jealous respecting the paternity OF an in
strument whose authorship he had never
claimed2
Mr.. CONWAY surmiscs that the resolu-
lions OF May 81, ITS. were tho tempered
express ions OF the absolute Declaration Of
Independence" after the receipt OF the
tidings from Lexington" The bloodshed
at Lexington is rected in the second reso-
luton Of May 20. And when it Is remem-
bered that May 90. old style. which was not
yet obsolete in the colony OF North Caro-
lima. was May 81. new style, the mystery OF
the two dates is solved. and the testimony
Of Capt. JACK in December. 1919. that he
was the bearer Of the proceedings OF May,
ITS. to the Congress at Philadelphia in
June. l775. is easily understood. He and
all the other witnesses testify to single
meeting in May. 1775, when certain resolu-
tions were adopted. which resolutions we
now know were printed in the South Caro-
lima Gazette OF June 10. were transmitted to
London by Governor MARTIN. and con-
veyed to the Congress at Philadelphia by
Capt. JACK. The illusion on this subject
ought now to die out and disappear.