Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-21
SENATOR HILL SPEAKS
At the MecklenburE Centennial Colebrs-
tons, 900 People Hear his Grafton.
An Able Effort

At the MecklenburE Centennial Ceiebrs-
tion-S 900 People Hear his Grafton.
An Able Effort.
CHARLOTTE, n. c., May 20.-Seuator
| Hill of New York, who was invited 10 do
| liver the oration to-day at the il7th ami
versary OF the signing OF the Mecklenbnrg
declaration OF independence, arrived this
\ morning. Thirty thousand visitors ycre
on the streets. The day opened with the
! firing OF salutes.
AT o'clock Senator Hill delivered his
Grafton in the packed auditorium building,
with a seating capac " Of 5000.
To-day, this 10th day OF May, In the
! ll6th year of American Independence, we
come 10 celebrate the ll7th year OF North
Carolina independence. We stand upon
historic ground. A birthday Of liberty;
| the birthplace Of liberty. Your historians
narrate that here the first declaration Of in
dependence was promulgated. ~
"It Is a simple story and is briefly told
"The patriotic citizens OF this countyN
Mecklenburg, In this grand old State .
| North Carolina, restless dnder tav YOKE OF
| oppression, impatient OF the injustice OF for
egn rule. under which they had long suf-
! fered, and imbued with the spirit OF self
| government assembled together at the
| Court House, over thirteen months before
| the memorable action Of the Continental
! Congress, with the startling news OF the
battle OF Lexington ringing In their cars,
| renewing their devotion 10 the inherent
/ and inalienable rights OF man, bravely and
| solemnly resolved, In substance, that they
were a free and independent people, and
that the political bands which had bound
them 10 the mother country were dis
| solved
The speaker then entered upon au ex-
| tended defence Of the claim that Mecklen-
| burg first Of all American communities or
colonies declared freedom from British
rule He continued thus:
Not only was North Carolina was the
| first colony in which Independence was de-
| clared but 10 is confidently claimed--and
history seems 10 confirm the statement
that here in your State the first blood was
spilled In the United States In resistance
| to the actions OF English rulers, At an on.
gagement between the Royal forces and
| the North Carolina militia known az reRu-
lators. so early "a the 10Th OF May, III, az
the battle OF Alamance"
Turning again 10 the modern tendency
/ 10 question history and tradition, Mr.. Hill
said
Every mark Of the highest style OF self
government is here Severance, because
| OF encroachments upon self government:
| independence, resumption OF power by the
self governed 10 the end OF It's redistribu.
tion upon the servants Of their choice, tho
temporary character OF the grant affirmed,
subject 20 termination by the termination
OF its necessity, or By the awaited exercise
OF authority on the part OF the larger social
structure 10 which their union and volun-
tary Difference was affirmed the Provincial
or the Continental Congress.
Nothing for aggression Is here: but
everything for defence.
"1his great decision Of the Mecklenburg
forefatbers, / say bears every mark OF this
highest style Of self government OF pure
democracy there is no finer type.
mo orders came laundering down from
the seat OF centralized power. They con-
versed With one another aud determined
their course in this county OF Mecklen burg,
and then staked the fortunes and the lives
Of freemen as Of less value than their llber-
IS. Liberty 10 do what,
Liberty 70 establish justice and maintain
| It; liberty 10 surround and guard their
own social order with all their united
force; liberty 10 keep OF the encroachment
Of the officers OF the government oy keep
ing In hand the sum and methods OF taxa
tion and holding tne tenure Of the officer st
the pleasure Of his constituents.
I'VE shold not be unmindful OF the fact
that we are the custodians OF q sacred
trust Let US distinguish our discharge Of
LudL Aiuob " bID pIt III h40ARF " N~H@'
worthy 20 be remembered, and those
which will surely advance the welfare
and promote the progress OF our common
country. Let Us not endeayor 20 win lauk
rels Dy war. Brighter than any which W
can hope 70 secure In this held have ~
ready been secured oy our fathers. -
Us make this period an unexampled umV
peace an era of improvement, an ag<#bf
reason. Let benehceut acts and pb in-
thropic works abound every where. us
excel in public virtue and private iutefrty,
in the Development OF our vast resources,
in the spread OF education, In the promo. \
ton Of religion, In the advancement OF the
arts. and in the cultivation OF fraternsl
spirit.
At the conclusion Of the exercises Sens
tor Hill and party were escorted 70 The
station and took the afternoon train for
Washington.