The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02
THE DECLARATION
Governor Anxious to Get
Document.
Would Place This Valuable Paper in
the Archives OF the State. Judge
Clark Says the Contro.
versY is Ended.

Governor Glenn directly upon read
ing the announcement in the News
and Observer yesterday morning of
the discovery of the copy of the Cape
Fear Mercury containing the first de-
claration of American independence,
which was made III MecklenburX
S. Wilmington Miller, who claims TO
have possession of the paper, asking
that it be sent to this State to be
placed among the valuable historical
records of North Carolina
AS soon as he read the News and
Observer yesterday morning, Capt.
Samuel A. Ashe addressed commun-
ication to the governor suggesting that
he appoin a commission of a dozen
eminent Carolinians to give the State
imprimatur to the authenticity OF tfSs
proof of the declaration.
Chief Justice Walter Clark when
asked his opinion concerning the dis
coVery, said: IF the facsimile of the
Cape Fear Mercury OF the third OF
June 1875, is genuine, it is the end OF
that controversy.
Col. j. Bryan Grimes, when asked
nj optnion about the discovery,
said:
THE finding of the Cape Fear Mer-
curry of June 3, 1875, if genuine is the
most important historical find OF this
generation, and proves beyond contro-
versy a fact that North Carolina has
been aspersed for asserting. 1t Will
also relieve the labors of many stu
dents of North Carolina history VINO
have been indefatigable in their ef>
forts to disDrove the fact that there
was a Mecklenburg declaration or m
dependence.
Gov. Glenn's letter to Dr. Miller is
as follows.
"Dr. S. Wilmington Miller.
MY Dear Sir
Seeing that you have i'm your pos
session the declaration of indepen-
dence made in Mecklenburg on the
goth day of May 1775, and being very
anxious to get this valuable document
into my possession, as governor OF TINS
state. to place a,nong other valuable
historical records. / write to ask you
of whom and how | could obtain TINS
document | will appreciate very much
n letter from you in regard to the
matter as | do not desire any museum
or collector to get this paper which
should be in our state archives.
yours very truly,
"R. b. GLENN,
Governor.
Captain Ashes Wise Suggestion.
The following note from Capt. ). A.
Ashe. who sees the Importance OF the
discovery, contain valuable sugges-
ton:
Your publication about the Meek
lenburg Declaration is of such MS
torical importance that l have writ
ten a note to the Governor, suggest
ing that he appoint a commission OF
a dozen Of the most eminent men OF
the State to give the States lmprl-
mature to the authenticity or TINS
proof of the Declaration. / have also
suggested that Photographic copies OF
the paper should be filed at Raleigh,
at Washington, and that the original
paper itself should be returned by the
Secretary OF State of the United States
to the British minister to re-deposlt
in the British Museum. Everything
possible should be done to give this
matter the utmost publicity.
II congratulate the News and OBJ
server on being the instrument of an
nouncng TO North Carolinians the
proof that removes the last doubt
from the genuineness of the Declara-
ton, and look forward with great in
terest to your promised publication OF
the Photographic copy"