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

NASHVILLE Americana
The following very interesting pa
per was read before the Tennesse,
Historical Society last Tuesday b,
Mrs. Daniel A. Long, of Yellow
Spring, O. Mrs. Long was presen
by invitation Of the society. She wa:
highly complimen,ed on the conclu
sion of her address. which was as tol
lows:
Last summer, while visiting the
home of my ancestors, in A!amance
county, N. c., was reminded of the
fact that Presidents Jackson, Polk and
Johnson were born in North Carolina
and that the battlefield in Alamance
"where ,yrants conquered and heroes
fell" was only few miles from the
birthplace of Gov. Trousdale.
For many years very little attention
was paid to the history and earl,
struggles of the patriots in Carolina
At last DR.. Caruthers, DR.. Hawks
and Gov. Swain did much to show the
trials and transactions of the Regula
tors in their true light.
When the sturdy and honest Caro-
llnians of I77I undertook to "regu
late" certain abuses in their midst, al
legiance 10 the crown of England wa:
strong in their hearts. But the ex-
actions of the Royal Governor and hi:
underlings grew to be more than the
children of the forest would submit to.
They had that inherent love of liberty
so strong in the Saxon race. The
"Regulation," says Lyndon Swyn
"was the earliest development of the
essentially American idea that taxes
and fees must only be paid by the peo
pie according to the laws of their owr
making"
Although the troops urder Gov
Tryon vanquished the Regulators, anc
many of the best men in North Caro-
lima opposed the course pursued by the
Regulators their principles were the
germ of liberty which blossomed into
the fruit Of our nations independence
A copy of the Mecklenburg Declara
ton was carried by Capt. Jack frou
North Carolina to Philadelphia while
the Continental Congress was in ses
sion; and while the North Carolina
delegates in that body thought it lit
tie premature, and did not present it
no doubt Thomas Jefferson and Others
had an opportunity of seeing it be.
fore Jefferson pinned his immortal
document. lie ampllfied but did no
originate the first Declaration of Inde
pendence on this continent. Tha,
honor rightfully belongs to and mus
forever remain with the brave and he
roic sons of the old North State.
From the first assembly at Mad
docks Mil, October, 177o) to The
final catastrophe of the banks Of Ala
nance, (May 10, I77I,) The greatest
principle laid down was no taxation
without representation. Bancroft COPIED
from originals on file in London the
reports which place the "Object anC
intent Of the Regulators in true
color" Col. John H. Wheeler, The
historian of North Carolina, says of,he
engagements: "Thus ended the battle
of Alamance. Thus, and here, wa:
the first blood spilled in these Unl,ed
States in resistance to exactions O
English rulers"
We clipped the following from The
Alamance Cleaner, of Graham, Ala
nance county, N. c., published Au.
gust I6, 1897:
Revolution was fought on the banks o
the Alamance in this county, May l6
I771. The British forces were led by
Gov. Tryon, and the Regulators, 10y
Herman Husbands. 1t was not until
1879 that any steps were taken to
mark the spot where the Regulators
fell. Thi, movement was set in mo-
ton by speech made by DR.. Daniel
Albright Long, who was at that time
Presiden, of Graham College. He
made speech near the spot, July 4,
1879, and called upon the citizens to
organize and erect a monument. This
was done May 20, 1880, when Col
T. NJ. Holt, Judge Fowle and Others
made appropriate addresses. Durham,
through the generosity Of Col. S.
Carr, furnished the music. The pres
ent editor Of the Cleaner was stand
ard bearer. A number Of Interesting
relics were brough, out on the mem
orable occasion. Thousands were
present.
"As the Regulators had no drum.
they used large hand bell, both to
warn their comrades Of the approach
of the British, and 10 call their forces
together. Since DR.. Long was the
prime mover in organizing the move
ment foI the erection of monument,
and saw it carried TO fins.. consum
nation, the Liberty bell was presented
to him. 1t was on exhibition al Char
lotte for some time this year, but is i'll
Aiamanoe county now, at the old
homestead, Haw River Farm, owned
by DR.. d. A. Long,
The battle Of Alamance made pos.
slble the Mecklenburg Declaration. In
"Sketches Of North Carolina" by
William Henry Foote, I84o), says
the following: "While the committee
were ou, discussing these resolutions
Il. e., the Mecklenburg Declaration,
the convention continued in session
and was addressed by several gentle
men. Gen. Joseph Graham, then but Z
youth, and present at the dellberation
relates An interesting incident. A