The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-15

DR.. Miller tells us that the copy of
the Declaration of independence or
resolutions was burned in, the house
of John McKinett Alexander, when
his house was destroyed by fire in
1900 He (Mr. Nick. Alexander) then
made two copies from memory, Civ
ing one to Gov William Richardson
Davie, and one to Hugh Williams
HISTORIAN of n. CD williamson
copy was lost or stolen; Davies copy
passed into the hands of Gov. Mont
tort Stokes, of North Carolina. 1t
appears there was never an official
register of this paper at Raleigh.
They claim May 1920 as the time it
was written. In this article are pro-
duced three Photographic articles:
(D The Cape Fear Mercury, contain
ing the text of the resolutions; (2)
letter from John Adams and Presi-
dent Jefferson, dated Quincy, June
%, 1919; CD a letter from Governor
Stokes, in which he refers to the Cum
berland Declaration. Here is a copy:
Executive Office.
North Carolina.
Raleigh, July, 1881.
"Sir:
1.-THE Legislature of North Carolina,
laudable desire to do justice to the
zens. who assembled in the county of
Mecklenburg in the said State-in
May. 1775, and declared themselves
Independent of Great Britain, have
directed the publication of the said
Declaration, with the proofs anthem
ticating the same The Legislature
have also directed the publication of
similar Declaration made by the
citizens of Cumberland county in June
Of
nal of the Provincial Congress of
North Carolina. held at Halifax on
the 4th day of April. 1916. containing
resolution That the Delegates for
this Colony in Continental Congress
be empowered to concur with the
Delegates of other Colonies in declar-
ing independence &c. Vide Jour
nal pages IL and IL.
''In obedience to the resolution au-
thorizing the said publication and di-
recting their distribution, I have the
honor to enclose you a copy of each.
81 am. with greatest respect.
"Your obt servant.
IN. Stokes"
We see from this letter of Governor
Stokes that our own Liberty Point
(Cumberland) Declaration received
official notice as early as 1881.
Wheeler's History of North Caro-
ma (page 1Z5) says, after giving d
full copy of the Declaration, that This
important paper is deposited in the
Governors office at Raleigh, where Il
can be examined This was as late
as 1859, though / can find no author
ity as to there being a copy of the
Mecklenburg Declaration, which was
signed by % patriotic citizens. HAN
of the sgners were Alexanders ana
their relations" The Liberty Point
Declaration was signed by 80 true
patriots, not related by blood put
knitted together by one common de-
sire, Independence.
Just one month (June 2Oth, 1929
after Mecklenburg declared her indie
pendence these patriotic men met ~
lower Fayetteville, on Person street,
in a house just where the two streets
Person and Old, diverge, making a I.
Just in this now stands bflck
building belonging to the estate OF
the late Edmund Pemberton. II you
will read both these historic papers
remembering, of course, that Meek
lenburg's original paper was destroy
ed by fire, and the one now you read
6 written from memory, While ours
Iiberty Point) comes to us intact,
YOU find Liberty Points the most