Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-24
Keep the Record Straight.

day contains sketch of Kings Noun
tain battle-ground and the old and new
monuments, sent from Kings Noun
tain by its correspondent, Claude A.
Eury The sketch Is Illustrated with
cuts Of the old soapstone monument,
the Centennial monument, and the new
monument just completed by the ma
tional government. The sketch Is an
interesting and valuable contribution
to the information that is being COL
lected for the present occasion; but 1t
Is unjustly inaccurate as to some i'm
portant facts. For instance, referring
to the expenses connected with the
Centennial celebration of 1880, the
correspondent states that the contract
price Of the monument was $4,000, and
goes on to say:
1.-The North Carolina legislature ap-
propriated for this purpose $1,000, the
remainder, probably $4,000 was contri-
buted by private citizens. 1t is claim
ed by some that the South Carolina
legislature contributed sum for this
monument, but no evidence Of this has
ever been produced. On the other
hand those connected with the exer-
cises say that the South Carolina leg
islature refused to contribute"
The correspondent Of the Observer,
evidently did not have full information
at hand, else ne would not have stated
the situation just as he has. In the
files of The Yorkville Enquirer of
those days. we find some very inter-
esting records bearing on the subject.
Among other things we find this:
Section l. Be it enacted by the SEN
ate and house of representatives Of the
state Of South Carolina, now met and
sitting in general assembly, and by the
authority of the same. That
Section Z. The sum of one thousand
dollars be appropriated in aid Of the
Centennial of the battle of Kings
Mountain, October 7, 1880, to be paid
the chairman Of the executive COM
mittee Of the association in charge of
said celebration, upon the warrant of
the comptroller general.
Approved February 20, 1880.
About the same time there was
passed a concurrent resolution calling
upon the members of the house and
senate to exert their influence to pro-
cure from congress at it's present ses-
sion an appropriation for the same
purpose. The appropriation was not
procured, however.
In an act ratified March q. 1880, the
North Carolina legislature, appro-
priated "a sum not exceeding fifteen
hundred dollars" for the purpose of
helping to erect the monument and
defray the expenses of the celebra-
ton.
We find a mention of the fact that
the sum of one thousand dollars of the
foregoing appropriation was turned
over to the committee: but as to what
became of the remaining five hundred
dollars. we have no present record.
The Virginia house of delegates
passed resolutions highly cOmmenda-
tory of the proposed celebration and
requested the governor of the state To
cooperate to such extent as he could
without incurring any charge on the
commonwealth.
The next largest single subscription
of which we find any record was the
sum of $3.50. contributed by the city
of Charleston through the Washington
Light infantry.
Just what North Carolina did in the
way of individual subscriptions, we
do not know: but it is quite certain
that the town of Rock Hill alone sub
scribed several hundred dollars, and
the subscriptions of the county agSre-
gated not less than one thousand dol
lars.
However, we do not see where there
is anything to be gained by quarreling
over what was or what was not done
i'm 1880 The thing is to raise an ade
uuate sum for the dedication on Octo-
Der next, and all subscriptions sent
to Mrs. G.. II. O'Leary of Yorkville,
for that purpose, whether they come
from North Carolina, South Carolina,
or even Virginia. will be promptly
acknowledged in The Yorkville En-
quirer. and the record will be so pre-
served that there will be no reason
able ground for future dispute.