The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-15

.lenburg resolves. 1t is understood that
such a careful antiquarian as Gov
ernor Swain thought there was no
meeting In Mecklenburg on the 10th
of May, but that the meeting was held
on the 31st. A great many other per
| sons in the State, who have examined
closely into the matter. are or like
opinion. There should be no inscrip-
ton on me State flag about WHICH two
opinions are entertained. We had
better cling to the old flag"
OF course. such heresy could not
be permitted TO pass unnoticed. and
four days later "Carolinian" replied in
the following
In your editorial columns in The
News and Observer Of Sunday APP
peared an article relative to the stats
flag of North Carolina, which was evil
IDENTIFY written under a misapprehcn-
sion of facts, and concerning which a
brief explanation may not he amiss.
To begin with. YOU state that for
years North Carolina has had a flag.
and that YOU see no reason for chang
ing it In this you are entirely mis-
taken. The flag which has for some
time past been floating over the CAPT
tol is not the flag Of North Carolina,
and for its adoption and use as a
State flag no authority whatever can
be shown. 1t is simply an ordinary
fly such as might be used by any
mercantile establishment or business
corporation. but deriving no existence
whatever from Legislative enactment;
while on the contrary the flag now
proposed and adopted by the vote of
the House ION Saturday is substan-
TALLY the only State flag ever recCg-
nized and esta blished as such by law
in the history Of the State, in proof
Of which would respectfully refer
you to the resolution adopted by the
! ronCtitTtinna Convention of the state.
June %, 1861. The flag then pre-
scribed and adOpte as the State flag
was issued, | think. to the first ten
regiments of State troops, and by
them borne triumphantly through the
numerous battles of the late war, and
is the only flag except the National
and Confederate colors) with which
North Carolinians have any memories
or associations connected with the
deeds and valor of her sons on the
battlefield. The changes in the times
and circumstances and a closer OBJ
Servance of the rules governing the
arrangement of %colors. etc. have ne
cessitated some slight changes or al
terations from the pattern originally
adopted in the resolution before al
luded to. but, as already stated, the
flag is substantially the same.
Il observe that you also object to
the legend commemorative OF the
MockI6DDUTS -lDtttdI liz NAY ~,
1175.' quoting Governor Swain as au-
thority for doubling its authenticity.
Suppose Governor Swain did doubt II,
what of that? There are other ms
torians whose love for North Carolina
and whose researches into her colo-
NAL history eQualled his, and whose
opinions are entitled to as much con-
sideratiOn, and they express no doubt
whatever as TO the point in question;
besides. the very descendants OF the
men who met and signed the declara-
ton. faithfully and with honor OBJ
serve the anniversary to this DAY. 10
say nothing of the fact that the state
itself, through the voice of the CON
vention of 1861. formally recognized
the date mentioned in the resolution
previously referred to. After the
lapse of a hundred years. what differ
ence does it make whether the dec
laration was signed on the 2oth OF
May or the 31st why, the "hoie
American nation. year after year. cele-
hrates the 22d of February as Wash
ineton's birthday, in utter defiance or
the fact. as shown in his family rec
ords. that he was actually born on
the 18th of February.
No. sir: the proposed State flag and
its legends are dear to the memories
of our people. 1t is the only flag ever
authorized by law. or which has any
connection or association whatever
with the history Of our State or peo-
ple. II is due the m of those
who fell beneath its folds TO perpetu-
ate il. Most heartily viii the voice OF
the people re-echo the closing remarks
of YOUR article. Let US cling 10 the
old flag
"fAROLINIAN.
"P S-The legend. April 18th,
177e. on the lower scroll OF the state
flag as You will remember. is the date
of the resolution passed by the North
/ Carolina Convention instructinR the
| North Carolina delegates in the Con