The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-01-27
SILENT
RECORDS,
Or Gleanings From South.
erh History.
BY Haskell II. DYER.

The clouds are seen to gather in the
heavens at this period; they rush to-
gether with The power of giant shadows.
rhe flaming breath of Mars plays in
the murkiness of the distance, like the
glaring lights around Vesuvius. Eng
and summons to the defense of her
proud honor, the warriors of her choice.
She engraves upon their mirds-that
we must forever overthrow those self
iberty-loving men. While Europe
vas troubled over the independent as
sertions of the Southern cavaliers, all
America was busy at the forge, beating
aer plow shares into swords and rude
iron into rifles. Toproudly defend the
principles which they had recently de-
Jared to be eternal and immutable, was
he bon of their ambition. Rapidly
came the time that with it brought old
Ingland's soldiers and wrath.
To meet them at the shores of the
New World were first the sires of Pill
grim blood, but later they were joined
~ the soAs of the South. The great
monarch chosen to lead this conquering
lrmy to victory, was taken with nation
Il applaudits from the bosom of the
Virgin Colony. The Prince Of Ameri-
can soldiers and leader, the idol OF
modern Generals-W Washingten, the son
of Westmoreland county, was once the
pride of Southern parents. The largest
ser centage of the Revolutionary troops
hat galliantly faced victory or death
With Geneeal Washington were the
tathers and sons of the South. Where
more nobley will you find devotion to
'ountry and principle more strongly
than that at Valley Forge?
The weary marches over SHOWS and
through dense and unknown forests,
vere undergone by the fearless crusad-
ing legions in search Of the fleeing
British. The soft and mellow strains
If fife and drum inspired the restless
merican to face the smoking muzzle
IF death. The memorable spirit that
moved the brilliant pen which declared
the liberty of the Commonwealth, was
hat of the knight of American states
nan, Thomas Jefferson, the South's
proud claimant Again when the re-
treating hords OF Furgeson were on the
eve Of joining CORVALLIS they were
surprisingly stopped at Kings Noun
tain. Here at this sacred summit the
tide of American independence was
changed from deplorable condition to
hat of strongest hopes and sure vic
tory for the American forces. The rude
mountaineers of the Volunteer State"
and the sold Dominion" bore the vic
orious arms of that memorable event.
The peals of musketry from the ad-
vancing columns of Shelby and Camp
bell, was like the laundering notes from
the artillery of Napoleon and Murat
around the Pyramids. The result OF
this days encounter was disastrous to
The crown of England. The lion had
retreated lurkingly to his den, while
the eagle scared to victory with his
eyes fixed upon the sun. What proud
event to pass into oblivion, because re-
cords scarcely mention. After the dir
and smoke of battle had rolled away
the memories of the struggle, yet fresh
and green in the minds of the elated
throng, they chose leader from the
South to steer the newly launched shiI
of state into Ravens of peace and un
ion. They chose the captain as they
had chosen the Communication thu
South. The robes of state rested upor
the shoulders of the giant "frst il
war, first in peace and first in the heart
of his countrymen. The great break
ers dashing thefoaming Sprays agains
the iron riven Prov Of this masterl,
ship of state, did not even disturb tn
inexperienced mariners. When tn
period arrived, call was sent on
through all the colonies to assembl
Jointly to formulate and establish
fixed article by which the masses shoul
be governed. The final day arrive
for this occasion. Copies of the frs
great laws, "The Articles of Confedel
alton" were made and sent to the sea
of each of the colonies to be endorsed
thence to the congress of the Unite
States to be ratified. Within shol
time all the states responded, there bt
J ing no indications of sectional hatred
This construction, so placed upon th
Articles of Confederation, clearly re,
ognized that each state was soverit
within itself, so constituted as to for
a Unisn-"A Solemn Compact" Fro
, this event, until 1887, this documel
was the governing instrument of Il
Republic; then change was made
the Articles of Confederation, ,providir
> remedy for the mistake made in n
securing stronger commercial relation
At this point the present constitute
Of the United States was formed, ST
accepting and using the Articles
Confederation as their standard III