The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-10

Irwin. Richard Barry. William Kennon.
Benjamin Patton John Foard John Da-
wilson. William Graham. John Fleuniken.
Waichtsuu Avery Charles Alexander.
Henry Downs. Richard Harris. Ezra
Alexander. NoiIl Morrison. James Harris.
The venerable Abraham Alexander was
chosen chairman and ur. Brev8rd and
eral of the siencrs We're graduates Of
Prime ton college and were men Of emf
ncut ability in their different professions.
10 is o. we'll known fact that our Meek
leuhurg declaration was repudlated 10y
Thomas jefferson. who pronounced 10
spurious" and o. very uniusuhable
quiz" because 1T came out over year
iu advance of the national declaration.
and both documents are Wordcd In IAN
puage so similar that it has caused much
controversy among historians as TO the
authenticity of the Mccklenburg.
FL is true that our original document
cannot be- brought TO light and thus for
ever silence AN doubt. but unfortunately
IT was burned when the residence OF John
Nckuitt Alexander, who was ITS cuslo-
dian was destroyed 10y fire IN 1900. MT.
Alexander afterwards prepared a copy
from memory. and in the effort of doing
SD. st is claimed by the opposars OF MIR.
J.rcrsou's charge. that he may nave
confused IL with the national declaration
and inserted several phrases peculiar TO
that paper However We hope TO be able
to produce testimony from Such uhln-
raaCb9bIe authority that ought 10 be
sufficient TO satisfy incredulity itself
ae no the senuiueness of our Mecklenburg
dcclaTatiou and of it's pronunciation 10
the world ON the 2oth of May, 100.
1T is GENUINE.
Let ne hear some of Americas distin-
ruished historians and writer's upon tins
mootcd question. Losing, in his Lives
NJ tbo Signers Of the National Declara-
tfor, " records that cas- early as the zJth
of Nav. l1,5 at a meeting In Charlotte.
n G.. the committee made a declaration
of independence of the British crown. TO
The support OF which they pledged thelI
lives. their fortunes and their sacred non
or"
bancroft says: "The people Of the
county of Mocklouburg had carefully OBJ
served the progress of the controversy
with Britain. and during the winter OF
1--i-5. political meetings had repeatedly
beeu held i'm charlotte. That town had
beon chosen for the seat or the frespy
terrain college. which the legislature OF
North Carolina had chartered, but when
the king had dleallowcd; and II was the
center of the culture OF that part or the
pro,trce. Sometime va May news was re-
ceivsd that both houses Of parliament.
bv am address 60 the hnT had declared
tho American colonies 20 be IN state of
aotuaI rebellion. This was to them evil
d.nce that the crisis in American anairs
was come and the people proposed among
themselves 20 abroCate all dependence on
the royal authority
Hudreth. a very painstaking, accurate
and instructive writer asserts: That the
citizens of Mecklenburg county North
Carolina. carried their zeal so far as 10
raeolvs at q public meeting 70 throw OF
3D.. british connection and they framed a
declaration of independence But thls
feeling was by no means general
Washington Irving. the first OF Ameri-
cans who gave 10 his country q character
Tor literature in Europe. and appropriate
~ closed hls long and bright care by a
"pioor9Dhv OF Washington" published In
1851 saws fn the fourth volume Of this
work enoaking OF the invasion Of Lord
Cornwallis. "It was an enterprise IN
which much difficulty was 20 be apprc-
houded. both from the character OF the
taou1e and country. The early his
tory OF the colony abounds with Instances
OF n spirit OF resistance and rebellion
among It's people. 'They always behaved
ineolertlv to their governors complains
Governor harrington In 1871. Some they
have driven out Of the country-at other
times they set ND n government Of their
own choice. supported by men under
arms. II was I'm fact. the spirit OF popu-
lar liberty and self government which
stirred within them and gave birth 10 the
glorious aXioms: the rights OF the many
against the exactiOns of n few.
m was this spirit that gave rise 20 the
Corfedcracv called the Regulation. form
Cd 10 withstand the abuses OF power: and
inc first blood shed In our country In re-
sistence TO arbitrary taxation was AT
Alamance I'm this province MAY 10. 177D.
i'm 81 conflict between the Regulators and
Governor Tryon. Above all. 70 should
never be forgotten that az Mecklenburg.
IN the heart Of North Carolina, was full
minated the first declaration Of independ-
cnce o. the British crown upwards OF 4
year before a like declaration by Con
gress
Again. Upon CORVALLIS advance into