The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-19

ners, customs, laws and fife of North
Carolina and North Carolinians.
And what a glorious history has
North Carolina. | ield TO no other
State in this Union the palm of a
more illustrious historic record. We
are proud to be called North CAROLYN
ians and we feel our history is wor-
thy of preservation, because we know
that every spot of our soil is hal
lowed by the memories and traditions
of patriotism and valor, and of our
struggles for civil and religious lib
erty.
We recall the fact that years before
MayfiOwer landed at Plymouth Rock
English men We're seeking settlement
upon our Eastern Coast under the
leadership of the adventurous RAJ
eigh'' and listening with patriotic
interest to the thrilling story of "Vir-
ginia Dare, and whites Lost Col
ony,' our State pride is enkinded by
the memories of the patriots of Neck
lenburg; the first blood shed of the
Revolution at Alamance; the decis-
i've battles of Moore's Creek, Kings
Mountain and Guilford Court House,
which stayed and turned backward
the onward march of KING Georges
troops into the Southern Colonies;
and by the recollection of the Reso-
lutions of April 18th, 1876, of the
But how sadly neglected has been
the faithful preservation of many
most valuable memorials of that his
tory, of which we are so justly proud.
While the details of the History of
New England and the Puritans have
been minutely portrayed and stored
up and made the theme of song
and story. the narrative of the Eng
lish. Scotch Irish and Huguenot set
tiers of North Carolina is oftentimeS
fragmentary, and the remorseless cur
tent of time in some instances has
swept into the great ocean of the
past all but the traditions, which
still survive.
That true-hearted North CAROLYN
ian, William l.. Saunders ''clarum ct
venerable nomen.'' made it his life
work and labor OF love to rescue from
oblivion, in the colonial records, the
early history of our State. His ex-
ample has been followed by Chief JUS
tice Clark, my old college mate, w.
j. Peele and other distinguished gen
tIemen Of this Society.
Now in view of the vast labor and
great time expended in the collection
of the States invaluable records ana
publications, the States glorious ms
tory, and the research and labors OF
those men who are making it part
of their life work to hand down that
history to the future generations,
deem that no sacrifc and no reason
able expense is too great to incur on
the part of the State to preserve ana
perpetuate the labors of her sons and
the memorials of her greatness.
There are many records of this
State which still may be rescued from
oblivion connected with our early col
onal history and the records of our
later history should be Systematically
preserved. / believe that the work OF
this Historical Association might wIll
be supplemented by the work of n
National Historical Association, for
which Congress should appropriate
a sufficient sum. especially with view
TO the collection and preservation OF
the History of the Thirteen United
Colonies. / would be very glad with
my colleagues to advocate such
proposition.
Let us know and let the country
know the relative importance of the
Battle of Moore's Creek as compared
with Lexington and Concord and
Bunker Hill in the War of the Revolu-
ton. Let us know, and let the coun-
try know that to North Carolina
should be credited the great naval
hero and first Admiral John Paul