Year: 1875

( duced some to ascribe the cause to the
4 influence of A AmeTican liberty, an intiu-
/ ence which was destructive to kingly
/ power in Europe, whose colossal power
( tumbled thrones and empires, reachs
/ ing England and lifting its
| people into the enjoyment Of
/ political privileges, If not Of civil
/ liberties until the century Of American
/ liberty is starred as thickly as the
"mii6y wayn in all that advances ns-
! ti0ns and elevates humanity toward its
God. The popular influence and power
of American liberty was felt IN Europe.
This was no idle ceremony, no frivolous
l occasion; il was not one recalling a
| frivolous period in the record Of time,
but celebrated a period as mOmentOus as
that which marked any era TO the far
thest point Of time. AS Americans it be-
comes Us 20 manifest our pride as a ma
ton, and to point to our achievements
and results OF freedom. We should
remember the struggle through


which we have passed, and
that sectional antagOnsn yet
| fingers in the breasts of some. It was
our duty to recall the time when we


were united, that this was the hour for
| reconciliation, and that the centennial
Of Ameaicsn freedom should be The
grave Of sectional prejudice and civil dis
cord TEneers. We should remember


that we have liberties to preserve as our


ancestors had to fight to preserve them.
They fought not to establish, but to pre-


serve these liberties. We are to pre-
serve them by the ballot, as did our an
! cestOTs by the sword and the bayOnet.
! The speaker congratulated the people


upon the signs of the time, for in every


part Of the country he discovered signs
CfretUrning sense. The north was return


ing to a sense of local liberty and


love for free republic. We saw seated


upon the stage eX-COnfederate and eX-
Federal soldiers, uniting with pTopriety


in celebrating the event OF American


liberty, and with desire to perpetuate


the freedom and grandeur of the repub-
lie, and to give to ancient shores liber-
ties declared by the people Of Mecklen-


burg, and for which their trusty swords
so successfully bsttled. Applause.


After Judge Browns address the band
played martial air, and Governor Har-
ris introduced Colonel 7. B. EdgingtOn,
an eX-Federal officer, in the following
words:


az have the honor Of introducing to
you Colonel T. B EdgingtOn, who will
now address you" Applause


COLONEL EDGINGTON's REMARKS.


Massachusetts is said to be birthplace
and cradle of American liberty, but it
was in North Carolina that American
liberty first put On her swaddling clothes.
1t was in The west and south, among the
hardy sons of the old thirteen States,
that American liberty grew to its ma
turity ana developed that strength
which made the American name so
loved at home andTevered abroad. After
8 century, the last quarter Of which has
been spent III sectional hate, We have at
last discovered that We are brethren,
Americans all; that we all belong to the
same family; that We can meet on terms
of peace and friendship and celebrate a
great national event without any sacri-
fee of principleon the part Of either side.
These centennial years are full of hope
and promise. They are rushing in again
that "era Of good feeling" that has not
existed since the administration OF
James Monroe. The spirit of reconcile
alton is abroad in the land. The events
of the war and the mistaken method of
reconstruction have kept the north and
south apart like the waters Of the sea
which have been rolled into mountain
heaps by an earthquake, and it is in
vain for the crOakeTs to stand between
and forbid the cOllapsing of waters since
the forces which Kept them apart are
gone. These centennial occasions fur
nish common ground on which all who
participated in the late civil war
can meet and TekindIe the fires Of
their patriotism at the same altar.
The glorious heritage of our revolution
AIRY struggle is our common property.
c. r, - ly Of Of
Mexican war. But while we were di-
vided III sentiment during the civil war,
we were a unit in val0T. Each side met
SOemen worthy Of their steel, and both
reflected equal luster on the American
name. TIE brave deeds OF the boys on
both sides who went up to their rest by
way Of the cannOn'S mouth and the
sword, are the common pride and prop
eTty of the whole country. 1t is indeed
q happy occasion to me to meet these
gallant men whom J. confronted on sew
eral hard-fOught fields, to now join
with them in this celebration
of heartfelt reconciliation and peace.
One Of the most hopeful signs of the
times is the growing national sentiment
in the south. / have been quiet but
careful observer of the drift and current
of the public sentiment of the south for
the last ten years, and l can speak from
personal knowledge. Daniel Webster,
OF Massachusetts, in his reply to Hayne,
Of South Carolina, charged upon his Op-
pOnent that his patriotism was bounded
by State lines, and the implication was
that Mr.. Hayne was tue representative
of a people whose patriotism was con-
fined to tue same narrow limits. How
much of truth there might have been
-, 10 ,s,
not q proper subject for discussion at
this time. But if the assertion was
made now that the patriotism
Of the southern people was
bounded by State lines, the charge would
be most egregiOu3ly false. Their pa.
tTiOtism now is as broad as the national
domain itself. This strong national
feeling is beginning to demonstrate it.
self to the public mind through the con-
duct of the representative men who
nave been sent up to ths national cOun-
ellis from the south, and through the va
TiOus other avenues through which the
public may be reached and instructed.
Let me say to my southern brethren to-
night: Let the good work go bravely
on; let us keep step TO the music of
restored Union, following one flag in the
honor and defense Of our common cOun-
try. Prolonged applause.


After music by the band, Governor
Harris then said: "Colonel Butler An.
derson will now address you. At the
conclusion of his address the exercises of
the evening will close" Applause.


COLONEL ANDERSON'S REMARKS.


Colonel Anderson reverted to the con-
ditiOn of the country and the relation Of
the colony toward England at the time
of the Mecklenburg declaration. The
trouble came from the parent country
and from the taxes. 1t is related that
the officer called at Mr.. Alexander's to
collect taxes; he was absent; found no
tobacco, but took pair of gold specta-
cIes from the old lady, the wife Of the
citizen. Many people now in North
Carolina believe this act led to the dec
laratiOn of independence by that people.
Under the circumstances, when it was
believed that England could crush the
colony in an hour, it required nerve,
christian heTOism and no ordinary cour-
age to make the declaration. 1t was
now our duty to respect and revere those
people. Let us do this for the love we
have for all that we respect in the men,
OTy and character OF our ancestors. APP
plause.


At the conclusion OF Mr. Anderson's
speech the band played "Dixie,n and
the audience dispersed, giving unmis-