The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
MECKLENBURG MYTHl
Controversy Over Famous DecIars-
tiOn OF Independence Rages.

Controversy Over Famous Declars-
tiOn Of independence Rages.
The ''Merrie Month OF May" without
reference 10 the Meckleuburg celebration
held annually In North Carolina. would
be like July without the Fourth, says
Henry Barrett Chamberlin. in the Chi
cago Record-Herald. A Southern editor
has already set the bah rolling. Mai.
John c. HenpkiII, Of the Charleston News
and Courier, who presided as toastmaster
az the banquet Of the Associated Press
and American Newspaper Publishers
Association. in April. paid his compH-
ments 70 Speaker Cannon and stated his
stand in the Mecklenburg affair in the
same sentence. He was born In North
Carolina. the home Of the Mecklenburg
myth, which President Taft is to ceIe-
brate. am sorry 10 say"
The MecklenbErg controversy. Ike that
concerning the Man or the Iron Mask and
the fate Of Louis XVII, seems fated to
be one Of those never satisfactorily set
tied. Since il was first opened in 1873.
eminent men have argued on both sides.
For q long time after the centennial
celebration held in May, 1875. 81 which
George ". Graham presented an eiab-
crate argument for the authenticity Of
the declaration said TO have been signed
in Mecklenburg County, N C. Nay %.
II0, there was comparatively little dis
cussion OF the matter. Each year its an
niversary was observed IN North Caro-
lima hxr cfos sr--o -
be this year. without exciting much com
meut- But new evidence, discovered in
1906. led to the publication OF a lengthy
volume in 1907. in which William Henry
Hoyt set forth his reasons for believing
the declaration spurious This book drew
forth another equally lengthy demoIish-
ing his arguments and stating why the
declaration must be accepted as genuine.
The controversy began IN 1873 William
Writ in his Life Of Patrick Henry
published in IsI7. made the statement
that the orator gave the first impulse
TO the call OF the revolution" IN the
ensuing discussion as TO whether Mass
achusetts or Virginia should be credited
with the earliest movement toward Amer
lean independence. some one. probably
a North Caronian. made the assertion
that the people OF Meckleuburg County.
y. c, through a congress OF committee
OF safety. had formally declared them
selves independent OF Great Britain. al a
meeting held AZ Charlotte. May 2. I775
An Inquiry as 70 the basis OF this claim
was started. The story crept into the
papers. John Adams. not entirely without
malice, sent 10 Thomas Jefferson a copy
OF g paper containing IL with reprint Of
the declaration. Jefferson, chagriued.
answered Adams IN a letter, In which he
declared bis disbelief as 70 the adoption
OF such a declaration Of Independence
before that OF July 4, lis The original
copy OF the Mecklenburg declaration was
said 10 have been lost IN a FIRE. which
destroyed the home OF John Mcknitt
Alexander. in whose keeping II was
Among Aiexander's papers was found
the copy OF the original, which he had
signed as a delegate and clerk Of the
convention.
In 49, the people OF North Carolina
first formally observed the Goth OF Nay.
In 1890 the legislature Of the State ap-
pointed q committee 10 consider all
evidence concerning the AFFAIR. The
committee affirmed the genulneness Of the.
Mecklenburg resolutions. To-day the
date. May %. IS enblazoned on the great
seal OF North Carolina. TIE declaration
adopted al Charlotte or that date. IN
i775. appears IN the statute books OF the
State. and each year the anniversary
Is observed This year President Taft
VIII be the most distinguished guest at
Charlotte
From the Beginning the forces for and
against the acceptance Of the Mecklen-
burg declaration as being OF prior date
TO that adopted at Philadelphia have been
bitterly partisan. Charges Of plagiarism
by Jefferson and OF forgery by Alexaa-
der added 70 The fires Of controversy.
Old newspapers. the weakening memory
OF old men and hearssy evidence were
eagerly pressed into service as testimony.
AS proof of lis authenticity. Dr. Graham
grsveIy cited the fact that "cn Nay -,
I7S7. the twelfth anniversary Of the meet !
Ing az Charlotte. there was born 70 MAJ. (
John Davidson. one Of the signers. a
son. Benjamin Wilson. And in honor Of
the Mecklenburg declaration BENJAMIN
was called by his father Ny indepen- /
dence boy and 20 distinguish his idea-
tity IN q county abounding IN 'Davidsons'
was known among the neighbors as
Ben"