The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-04
SCOTLAND NECK N c. THURSDAY OCTOBER T. 1894.


to immediate action. Ephraim Bre-
ward (should we forget his name y was
appointed to draw up resolutions, and
the next morning he reported his
memorable charter OF freedom.
May | venture to read TO YOU a part
OF that Mecklengurg declaration, bear
ing in mind the fact that it antedates
by year the great event which
We celebrate to-day 1t is brief, and
some of its phrases are noteworthy
Il. Resolved, That whosoever, di-
rectly or indirectly, abets or In any way
torn or manner countenances the un.
chartered and dangerous invasion OF
our rigts, as claimed by Great Britain
is an enemy to the country, to Ameri
ca, and to the inherent and inalienable
rights of man.
"2. Resolved, That we do hereby de
clare ourselves a free and independent,
people-are, and of right ought to be q
sovereign and self-governing associa-
tion-under the control Of no power
other than that of our God and the
general government of our Congress, to
the maintenance of which independ-
ence we solemnly pledge to each other
our mutual cooperation, our lives, our
fortunes, and our most sacred honor.
80. Resolved, That as we acknowl-
edge the existence and control of no
law or legal officer, civil or military,
within this country, we do hereby Or
dain and adopt as rule of lie, all,
each, and every one of our former laws,
wherein, nevertheless, the crown of
Great Britain never can be considered
as holding rights, privileges, or author
ity therein"
From the spirit of these resolutions
the province never wavered, and this
early manifestation of patriotic en-
thusiasm never knew diminution. The
blood of her sons redeemed almost
every battlefield from the Hudson to
the Savannah from Stony Point, in
the North, where my grandfather was
severely wounded as volunteer in the
'forlorn hope," to the southern limits
of Georgia at Moore's Creek, Charles
ton, Brandywine, Germantown, Mon
Camden, Kings Mountain,
Cowpens, Guilford, Hobklrk's Hill,
Eutaw Springs, her heroes did splendid
service, and Of this last battle General
Greene reported "The North Carolina
brigade behaved nobly, and 1 am at a
loss which most to admire, the gallant
ry of the officers, or the good conduct
of their men,"
For the numbers engaged few bat
ties have been bloodier than Eutaw,
and victory was won at terrible sacri-
fee. OF Greene's small group of Off
GERS very many were wounded and
twenty-one lay dead on the field. But
the success was permanent, and the
three southernmost provinces we're
freed from the presence of the enemy.
The genius of Green, the valor and
skill OF his officers, and the splendid
conduct of the southern troops had
brought the war to happy close and
won independence for America. All
Cornwalliss efforts were paralyzed, the
British power in the Colonies was ut
terly broken, and month later the
at Yorktown formed the last
scene in the sanguinary drama.
But / must no longer tax your pa
tience at this late hour and on this
warm afternoon, l Will conclude by
asking the beneht of your aid and in
huence in my effort to restore North
Carolina to her place in the Cincinnati,
and / offer you toast to our ancient
and honorable order, coupled with the
hope that her galaxy may soon again
be resplendent with all the thirteen
stars
A Household Treasure.