The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-06
A BOSTON lC0N0CLAST.
He Declares that the McckIcnburg
Declaration il a Humbup

a star correspondent of the Boston
Transcript has been visiting Charlotte,
a. G.. and undertakes 10 show that the
Mccklenburg Declaration is "a historical
humbug.' After telling how the people
OF the state honor the dav-Mdy Goth
and paint the Sky lurid with bonnres and
split the wolkin with patriotic ovatory
and popcrackers. he says: Some years
ago an historical student in Washington
made critical examination of tho sub
1cnt and brought the results OF his in
Qury 20 then senator from North Car
oiiua, who was a man OF wide learning
and intelligence. This inquiry tended to
establish the fact that the Mccklenburg
declaration of independence was a pref
~ complete humOus and rs author was
not the FIRST one who had come 90 that
conclusion. The grave and reverend SEN
aior read the paper through, and then
commented upon II as follows: II believe
you have sustained every point YOU have
raised and clearly made out your case.
but ] will Kill you If you ever tell any
body ! said So This is a typical North
Carolina attitude.
In my visit here ] have found some
testimony on this subject which has
never before seen print and yet is OF the
most substantial character. a local an
tiQuarian has just dug out from the
X
leuburg County Court in manuscript for
october 1U5 FIVE months after inde-
pencencc from Great Britain was said TO
havc been declared This docket he has
had photographed. The first case begins:
The King VS.. Francis Sanford" other
vases for the Government also stand In
the name OF the king. This very docket.
Is slswn in the photograph bears the
names OF three men who are on the mon
ument as signers of the Declaration Of
Independence. or course this thing alone
would not inyalidate the story. They
might have declared themselves free from
Great Britain in May and 10y October
either forgotten about il or preferred. I'm
transacting legal business TO observe the
customary formalities The weak point
about the Meckenburg story. which has
betore been recognized. is the long period
or years that elapsed before anybody
FOUND IL out They began 10 celebrate II
In lS2o. There is almost no contemporary
evidence OF belief I'm IT, Thomas jefferson.
In his day. regarded 1t as a myth.
third weakness OF the declaration of
independence story is the fact that its
advocates assign two totally distinct
sources from which tho tradition has
come. One theory is that the declare
ton originally appeared IN the Cape Fear
mercury. In il'5. and that Martin. the
North Carolina historian, took II from
th.S paper into his history. No copy of
tho newspaper containing this declara-
tlon IS now in existence. II IL eyer ap-
Feared Martins word must be taken Tor
s. Another story is that John McKnitt
Alexander, OF Meckhnburg county in
about 1901, sent this dedication OF indie
pendenco 20 General William r. Davie.
saying that he had reproduced this for
payie because the original copy was
burned up in his house the year before.
But there Is always some foundation OF
fact 10 a wolldeveloped myth and this
Sc no exception TO the rule She probable
origin OF the Mecklenburg declaration of
independence lies in some resolutions
which were actually adopted on the 3lst
OF May. establishing q local government
here. This was then a frontier county.
The people up here had heard that the
English Parliament had passed a resolu- |
ton declaring that these American colo |
MES were out OF the protection OF the
British Government. and they thought |
that II that was so their county govern |
mont would be at an end. In order to 20 |
ahead 70 collect the taxes and admin |
istG the government functions = would |
&c Necessary 20 take steps 20 organize /
themselves. This They did on tho 3ISt /
OF May. and the resolution then adopted |
are authentic. They as sertsd that II was |
their purpose TO provide for a govern. |
neat spul reconciliation between Bar. |