The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-11-08
NORTH CAROLINA,
A GLOWING TRIBUTE TO THE
OLD STATE,
BY the Late Prof. Edward Graham
Daves-An Address Delivered at a
Dinner Given by the Massachusetts
Society of the Cincinnati, in Boston,
last july.
[RichmOnd Dispatch. !

FOllOWlng is the address which was
delivered by the late Professor Edward
Graham Dawes, of Baltimore, at dim
ner given by the Massachusetts Society
of the Cincinnati, in Boston, last July
"Mr. President You remember
the familiar Latin proverb, "Non
eaiUis AOmini tontingH aa1r Corin-
Mnm," which may be freely translated,
1t is not every one who is lucky
enough TO visit the Hub. -
|, however, am one of the fortunate
outside Philistines privileged not in
frequently to see the glories of the
modern Corinth and to put my legs
under her hospitable mahogany.
1t is delightful for us Southern men
to be here on occasions like this, when
everything is redolent of patriotic asso-
citation, and we call to mind the
enthusiasm with which the news of
Lexington was received at Baltimore,
and the fact that the Marylanders were
the first Southern troops to join Wash
ington at Cambridge.
| have the honor to represent, in a
certain sense, two bodies of the Gin
cinnati. As resident Of Baltimore |
am member of the Maryland Society,
but my hereditary claim is derived
from my grandfather, one Of the
founders of the North Carolina CinCin-
natl, an association long since dor
n avt1 IF
still has legal existence, as there was
no formal vote of dissolution or dlstrl
button of its funds. Meetings simply
ceased to be held on account of the
imposs!blity of bringing men together
who were scattered widely over a
purely agricultural State, very great in
extent, without any metropolitan cen
tire, and then with very imperfect
means of communication.
Allow me to say word about North
Carolina-presumably a fresh topic
here-the modest, conservative old
State, lacking, perhaps, in enterprises,
lacking in self assertion, but always
prompt at the call of duty and shrink
ing from no sacrifice when honor is at
stake. The "Tar- heels are prompt
singularly unpretentlous and unosten-
tatious hardy, patient under suffering,
obedient to law, divine and human
yet as ready to resist tyranny as loyal
ly submissive to just authority race
of brave, honest men and pure, tender
women, unsurpassed in the world fol
sterling qualities. From the time
when North Carolina sounded the key.
note of independence for the Other
Colonies to the days OF cur civil war
when, with a population of bu
600 900, she pul into the field I2o,
900 soldiers, her military record ha
been unsulIitti, while the wisdom o
her political conduct has been suci
that your historian. Bancroft, says
elf there lie any who doubt man
capacity of selt-government, let then
study the history of North Carolina, "
Her annals are little read, ye
within her borders have happened
- events of supreme interest in the his
tory of our country and OF our race
On Roanoke Island are the first foot
- prints of the English people on thu
" continent, and there is the real cradl
l OF Anglo American life. Vrglnl
Dare, born to one of Sir Waite
6 Raleigh's colonists in 1887, is the i'rs
Il native Anglo American, and the baT
tism in tie same year of the friendl
Indian chief Manleo is the first ChrE
tian sa,s ment performed with n IT,
borders of the thirteen Colonies.
The North Carolina Regulates
offered the first armed resistance
British authority and at the battle {
!. AlanAn IN III was Shed the hT
blood ia the struggle for liberty. :
Charlotte, in Mecklenharg county, "
May 20, I775, wa, made the III
Declaration of Independence, an
when hosiilties had fairly begun Nor
Carolina was the first Colony TO vo
as explicitly for absolute separation fro
he the mother country, on April IL, III
~ There is an interesting link Of CO.
lS nection between the Mecklenbu
declaration and the affair at Lexln
. ton, news of which reached Chariot
}, on May 10Th. A county conventl'
was in session, which had been GALE
to consider the recent declaration
), Parliament that the Colonies were
rs a state of actual rebellion The II
,d ings from Massachusetts stirred
Of patriots to immediate action. Ephra
Brtvard Should we forget his name
lin Vas appointed to draw up re:o,uuo
-, and the next morning he reported
~ memorable charter of freedom.
IVA May venture TO read t. you p
of that Mecklenburg declaration, be
ing in mind the fact that it anteda
by a year the great event which
celebrate to-day? 1t is brief, a
y some of its phrases are noteworthy
I. RfsoIued, That whosoeSer,
- rectly or indirectly, abets or in d
~. way, form or manner countenances
-' unchartered and dangerous invasion
our rights, as claimed by Or
-, Britain, is an enemy to the count
', on to America, and to the inherent
ork inallenable rights of man.
li,n, inG 2. Res0k2ea, That we dc her
and declare ourselves free and lndep
@ Iiso dent people-are, and Of right ou
! to to be a sovereign and self-govern
inc. assoCiation-undert the control Of
sant ,ort power other than that of our God