Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-04-02
HISTORIC HALIFAX
Old records in Courthouse Vault
Contain Interesting Manuscript.
Account Of Celebration Of the
Declaration Of independence
In Halifax in 1929
Mr.. S. M. CARY BRINGS
OLD MSS TO LIGHT

We are indebted to Mr.. S. M.
Gary, Clerk of Halifax County
Superior Court, for copy of a
very interesting document from
an historical point of view. Mr..
Gary is greatly interested in the
history of Halifax and the part
it played in the early days of the
republic and even in early Col
onial days.
1t is interesting to note that
at one time the town of Halifax
was certainly the most widely
known town in North Carolina
and probably in the southern
colonies. Halifax wac sturdy
town before the Declaration of
Independence was dreamed of,
she furnished her quota of pa
triots in the ranks of Washing
tons army and she felt the
weight of British power when
CORVALLIS passed through on his
fateful march to Yorktown.
John Paul Jones resided in Hall
fax and many other men illust-
rious in the annals of the State
and the Nation.
The people of Halifax County
have an historical heritage in
Halifax of which they should
feel proud and we are glad to
have the opportunity to print,
perhaps for the first time, this
account of the celebration of the
Declaration of independence in
Halifax in 1929. The authorship
of this account of the celebration
is unknown to us but its wording
carries us back nearly to the days
of Washington, when men were
jealous of liberty, proud of re-
preventative government and
when oratory was an accomplish
ment in which nearly every
citizen was versed. The VIM.
l.. Long referred to in the manu-
script, who wasat that time repre-
sentative in the Commons from
the town of Halifax, is an ancest-
or of the present VIM. L. Long,
his namesake, who to-day repre-
sents Halifax in the State Gen.
eral Assembly.
The 53rd Anniversary of In
dependence, was celebrated in
this Town, with the usual de-
monstrations of respect and joy.
A procession of citizens was form
ed at II O'Clock at Academy
Square and proceeded to the
church when after an appropriate
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Penn,
the Declaration of independence
was read in an impressive man
ner by Edmund B. Freeman, ESQ.,,
and a pertinent, animated, and
truly eloquent oration delivered
by VIM. l.. Long, Esq. At half
past 2 O'Clock the company sat
down to a plain but excellent
dinner at which the utmost har-
mony and hilarity prevailed
throughout The following .e-
gular toasts interspersed with
the Common Roar" and many
excellent and appropriate songs
were sung. We should not omit
to add that the enjoyment of the
ceremonies at the church were
much heightened by the occasion
alintroduction of some excellent
airs from a band of Amateurs
whose services were not less
politely rendered than they were
gratefully accepted.
Regular Toasts
|. The day we celebrate : The
auspicious period that gave ma
ton birth.
2. Washington.
3. The President and Heads of
Departments.
4. Gen. Lafayette = In advert
ing to his name we recollect that
"the eloquence of Gratitude is
Silence.
5. DR.. Benjamin Franklin = Who
brought the lightning from the
Heavens and wrested the sceptre
from the Monarch's grasp.
6. North Carolina Multiplica-
ton to her Friends, Division to
her Foes and Subtraction to her
wants.
Z. The Tariff = Peace to its