The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-06
The Cape Fear Mercury
Transmitted by Gov
ernor Martin.

To the Editor:-The publication OF
an alleged fac smile of part OF
the Cape Fear Mercury bearing date
Friday, June 3, 1775, with the sugges-
ton that the paper was found among
the papers of Hon. Andrew steven
son, who was Minister to Great Brit
ain from 1886 to 1841, and VINO dleu
in Blenheim, Virginia, January 20
1857, and thus apparently connecting
this alleged paper with the copy OF
the Mercury transmitted to Londoli
by Governor Martin on June 3D. l|.o'
raises the question, "What was Ihe
date of the Cape Fear Mercury trans
mitted to London by Governor MAI
TIM
l do not think that question mas
ever been examined by anyone but
myself. In the absence OF the news
paper, the question can be answered
only by considering what Governor
Martin said in his letter transmitting
it, His letter or report or June 81
1875 was very long, written by ms
own hand and probably occupied nm
for several days In the course of it
Con page AS, vol. 10, Colonial Records)
he says: 1.-The resolves OF the COM
mittee of Mecklenburg, which your
LordShips will find in the encloSeu
newspaper, etc. And on page 40 ne
speaks of his own proclamation OF
June 10th and the reply made 10 II
on June 10th by the committees OF
the Cape Fear counties ana says:
..The newspaper enclosed will show
your Lordship that the same spirit
of sedition and extravaganza that gave
cause to that act of government mas
produced an impudent and formal con
tradiction of the undeniable truths IL
contained etc; and then he addS:
Your Lordships will find this publ
cation prescribes me as an enemy TO
this Province, etc.
So the newspaper he enclosed con-
tanned the answer of the Wilmington
committee to his proclamation of
June 16, which was adopted on Tues
day, the goth of June, and ordered
to be published in the newspapers,
(see page go The first issue of the
Cape Fear Mercury that could have
contained it was Friday, June 23rd.
While Governor Martins proclama-
ton of June 10th was aimed at the
rebellious proceedings of the Colon
lists, he makes no mention whatever
in it Of the Mecklenburg resolves; evil
IDENTIFY at that time Governor Martin
had not heard of them. But by June
25th he had heard of them. They
threw him into state of mind. Ihey
took his breath away! He lost no time
in summoning his council. They met
on June 25th and he addressed them
as follows: Gentlemen, etc,
THE seditiouS combinations that nave
been formed, etc, and the late most
reasonable publication of a commit
tee in the county Of MecklenburS, etc.
are such audacious and dangerous pro-
ceedings, etc, that. l have thought 1t
| indispensably my duty to advise with
you, etc.
And so on the 25th Of June the
Governor had seen the publication of
the Mecklenburg resolve. His next
proclamation was August s, 1775. and
in that he again mentions the Mecklen-
burg resolves which he says he saw
in the Cape Fear Mercury.
So it sufficiently appears that the
publication must have been in the
Cape Fear Mercury of Friday, June
| 23rd, which was subsequent to the
meeting of the Wilmington commit
tees and prior to the council meeting
| of June 25th.
If copy of the Cape Fear Mer-
curry of the date of Friday, June 23rd,
1875, can be found it will without
doubt contain both the Mecklenburg
resolves, or declaration, and the an
swer of the Wilmington committee
to Governor Martins proclamation,
which answer we have in full in the
proceedings of the Wilmington Com
mittee of Safety.
S. A. ASHE.
RALEIGH N c..