The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-10

kated beautl1ul srdhilc shale eieSteu
,,ucmorate the signing of the Meek
=. declaration of independence in this
an the Goth OF May, 1175.
monument itself is shaft Of gran
no principal block of which is % feet
and weighs IA tons. Tho height is 10
This shaft is mounted on handsome
s,s, the base being nine feet square.
information concerning the Mecklen-
declaration of independence has been
ly obtained from an address by the
VIM. A. Graham at the celebration
!. Mecklenburg centennial in 1875.
Graham was my uncle and himself
sceudant of revolutionary ancestors.
VAS twice governor of North Carolina,
amber Of Presidents Fillmore's cabinet,
nited States senator for number Of
and candidate for the vice prcsi-
on the ticket with General Scott
was also a member of the senate of
Confederate States, and of the peace
mission called by President Lincoln
the close of the civil war. He was
OF General Joseph Graham, who, al
gh but youth at the time, fought
|ely through the revolutionary war and
lore the marks OF desperate wounds to
grave. From his soldier father, who
ME major general in the war of 1872,
ernor Graham learned much of the his
Of our first struggle for independence.
lad Of 1G Joseph Graham was
er-on at the meeting of the committee
kh declared independence against the
sh crown on the Goth of May, 1775, IN
klotte Town, n. c. He left valuable
monial Of his personal knowledge OF
historic event. describing the great
usiasm of the people, who rent the
with cheers and threw up their hats,
raj OF them lighting on top of the court
e, which at that time was a small log
in the center of the town, or hamlet
er, for Charlotte then contained only
i twenty-five houses.
Nor John Davidson, one of the signers
his declaration, was my great grand
Yer. and have often heard my own
er. Rev. II. II. Morrison, relate the
b o. the transaction as he heard it from
lips Of this venerable patriot who lived
Into the Nineteenth century and who
at the age OF 81 with unimpaired facul-
ecklenburg county wac formed in 1852
named in hcncr of the native place of
new queen, Princess Charlotte OF Neck.
urg. one Of the sn a!ler German States.
Charlotte Town YVES, OF course, nam I'd
the royal lady herself. The early set
OF this county We're hardy Presbyte-
stock, the Scotch Irish, as they were
ID. having emigrated from Scotland to
rd AMI thence 20 America, and weru
70 possess the impulsiveness of the
aman with the logged resolution or
Coyenantcr. The early history OF the
|ny abounds with instances of this spirit
pg It's people. Their ancestors had ex-
fnced political or religious persecution
brought with them a quick senSibilty
wrong stern appreciation of their
Is and an indomitable spirit of freedom
Independence. The act of parliament
aring all marriages in the colonies ille-
Excepting those solemnizcd by ministers
le established church, and its positive
sci TO grant 2 charter to Queens mu-
p college founded by Presbyterians
Cnaiiotie, forced the conclusion that
was 10 redress except IL unccndi.
separation from the mother country.
argument was probably in this wise:
ne Bible certainly commands us to
MI to the powers that be- but the
non is, what AMI who are the powers
oe' II we are stronger than our OPP
ofs' are not we ourselves the powers
oe' And is it not sinful weakness
esiect 20 exercise the powers that God
u.s. We can at leest make the effort
ee ourselves, which will be an appeal
co. and He himself shall decide the
tlon."
icy could not obey God unless they
political and religious liberty, and
we're willing TO die in defense oil
biSle truth. The Rev Alexander
sneaa lwho is said TO have been the
Ter Of the Mecklenburg declarationl,
hezekiah James Balch ana other
oyerian diyines, proclaimed these
iaenis st public meetings until in the |
OF l'I5 the leading minds in Neck
's county were so deeply convicted
&C "rongs to which the colonies were |
V'eo' and so Wild with the love o!
om That they rose above all consld- |
Vns Of personal and selfish interests |
requested Colonel Thomas Polk to or
saeh military company to elect Two
'ns and delegate to them ample pow
uevise means TO aid and assist their |
ing brethren in Boston; and also to
measures 10 extricatc themselves
Tue impending storm and 20 secure
ya'red their iraliensble rights pgly-
am liberties from the dominant
y British imposition and tyranny
'''siies elected were to meet =, u
~ IN the court house OF Car
- ne isth o. May in open ses ion
- Gays beiora this meeting SEVERAL
-.'S' Aelive and prnmineat mes OF