The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-11-04

said but little before, addressed the
chairman as follows: If you resolve
on independence, how shall We be ab-
solved from the oligation of the oath
We took 10 be true to King George
the Third. about four years age, after
the Regulation battle when We were
sworn, whole militia companies to-
gether?"
Great exCitment followed. They de-
clded that allegiance and protection
were reciprocal, and that the oath was
binding only while the king protected
them in their rights as they existed at
lime it was taken. May 20, I77s, the
second Mecklenburg Declaration was
made
While comparisons may always be
more or less invidious, yet it is Just and
right that we should turn 10 the pages
Of reliable history, and take a calm,
dispassionate view of the facts. A few
quotations only will be sufficient to
show tha, the people OF North Carroll
n
ican liberty. Bancroft we'll says: care
there any who doubt mans capacity
of self government? Let them study
the history OF North Carolina"
As early as 1857 the libertylovlng
sons Of North Carolina imprisoned the
president and deputies of the proprle-
tares, and with Quaker-lke serious
ness and deliberation organiz-d gov
ernment suited to their needs
AS early as 1864, "the people Of
North Carolina, in an address of the
assembly, claimed the inherent Eigh,
and exclusive privileges Of imposing
their own taxes" bancroft, vol. ",
page 223).
In 1868, while all the other colo
MES INDUCED in threats of resistance
when the stamp act was proposed, or
entrea,ed for the union, "the inhabi-
itants Of North Carolina set up looms
for weaving their own clothes" (Ban-
croft, vol. ", page S59.)
In January, 1866, the S )ns Of Lib
erty held regular meetings, and urged
that "there was safety for the colonies
only in the firm union of the whole"
bancroft, vol. ", page 577.)
Again, (vol. ", page 77,) in speak
ing of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians,
Bancroft says: "'rheir training in
Ireland had kept the spirit of liberty
n ho
ernment as fresh in their hearts as
though they had been listening to the
preaching of Knox, or musing ever the
political creed Of The Westminster As
sembly. They brought t, America no
submissive love for England, and their
experience and their religion alike
bade them meet oppression with
prompt resistance. We shall find the
first voice publicly raised IN America
to dissolve all connection with Great
Britain comes not from the Puritan of
New England or the Dutch of New
York, or the planter Of Virginia, but
from the Scoth-Irish Presby,erians OF
North Carolina.
Tennessee is my native State, the
place to which my ancestors came from
Virginia and North Carolina. love
every inch of her soil, from the tree
less domes of the Appalachian to the
rolling tide of the Father of Waters.
But the bell | now hold in my hand
the first Liberty Bell of America-be-
longs to North Carolina, and was used
to call together the first men who
shed their blood in these United States
in resisting the advocates of despo,ic
power The battle of Alamance took
place nearly four years before the pa
,riotic sons of New England fired gun
at Lexington.
TO North Carolina will ever remain
the honor of making the first Declara-
ton Of Independence, which is the
pride and glory of every true Ameri
can.