The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26
EDGECOMBE mi
THE
Interesting People and Events In the
Edgecombe Section Before and
During The Struggle

Edgecombe Section Before and
During The Struggle
(By CASTOR LICHTENSTEIN.)
Shortly before the beginning OF the
American Revolution, Edmund burke
delivered an address ia which he elo-
Quently advocated the eonc1llanon OF
the olonies by a policy Of granting
them equal protection and similar
privileges to hose enjoyed in the
mother country. This distinguished
British orator, during the course OF
his mighty effort before Parliament,
gave expression to an opinion from
which our Northern brethren may
dissent. Reference is made to the
territory below the Potomac In the
following language:
There is, however, a circumstance
attending these colonies which, IN my
opinion, fully countcrbalances this
difference and makes the spirit OF
liberty still more high and naughty
than in those to the II
is that in Virginia and the Carollnas
they have q vast multitude OF slaves.
Where this is the case in any part
Of the world those who are free are
far the most proud and jealous OF
their freedom. Freedom is to them
not only an enjoyment but a kind OF
rank and privilege. Not seeing there
THAT 1IcoOOii d. LII "AAS1C
it is a common blessing, and as broad
and general as the air, may be united
with much abject toll. with great
misery, with all the exterior Of SeTVl-
tude. liberty looks among them like
something hat is more noble and
liberal. / do not mean, sir, to COM
mend the superior morality Of this
sentiment, which has at least as much
pride as virtue in it, but | cannot
alter the nature of man. The fact
Is SO; and these people Of the South
ern colonies are much more strongly
and with a higher and more
spirit attached to liberty than those
to the northward. Such were all the
ancient commemorative; such were
our Gothic ancestors; such, in our
day, were the Poles, who are not
slave themselves. In such a people
the haughtiness Of domination COM
bines with the spirit Of freedom. for
titles it and renders it invincible."
Burke's opinion was substantiated
in a remarkably brief period after
the delivery Of his speech. Patrick
Henry, in Virginia, advocated armed
resistance to English oppression al
most upon the heels. as it were, Of
the patriots OF M~ecklenburg u
ty, North Carolina, who actually
declared themselves Independent of
British authority. These two events
are mentioned with the sole object Of
IftiItS ttAC . ASSA II
sight into the character Of the South
ern people. There is no desire to de-
tract from the multitude of patriotic
deeds recorded in Northern chroni-
cles. All h colonies united for
commo defense. ach can relate a
American struggle for liberty needs
to be fully told. Too long has North
Carolina hesitated to demand her just
place in Revolutionary history!
General accounts OF Colonial
America devote much space to the
happenings in Massachusetts, and Vir-
ginia. We read how their people pro-
tested against the tyranny Of George
the Thirds government. We are will
ling to accept these records, for the
most part, as true. We believe the
citizens of Massachusetts and Virginia
acted nobly and deserve praise. Yet
we feel that the whole truth has not
been told. North Cardinals tale also
contains incidents Of interest. The
future American historian will do
well to include them in his compre-
henSiye narrative. He must weigh
Edgecombe and Bertie's action in
1887. The revolt did not assume large
proportions, but it was sufficient tC
:all forth from the royal Governor
special comment, when he made a re-
port to England.
The Quit Rent uprising occurred al
most forty years before the outbreak
Of the American Revolution. Some
hist a may not see any connec.
ton betW. en- these two events. Yet &
thread of more or less strength doe:
hold together the North Caroline
emeute and organized resistance o.
the colonies, because the former wa.
a distinct protest against the abu3e o.
royal authority. The embryo of dis
content had to develop, and man,
years were required to bring forth
f~ull-grOwn consciousness. When fv,
hundred men rise for the Q
rescuing a felloW-citizen, whom the,
regard as having been unjustly i'm
prisoned, does not that act show dis
satisfaction with the established au
thority?
Consider further these i~nhabitant
Of E~dgecombe and BERTHE. The
curse the King and utter a grea
many rebelfous speeches. Gabrie