North Carolina Newspapers

CHAS. R. JONES, Editor and Prop'tor. (bmis at tbx Poer-OmOT Gone Back to Washington Yesterday evening Senators Bayard, "Vance, HamptoD, Butler, Ransom, and -all the other distinguished men who formed. Mr. Bayard's escort, boarded the 4:40 train for Washington City, "We are glad to know that Senator Bay ard and all the members of his party were particularly well pleased with our city and people, and were very free in their expressions of pleasure and praise over the cordial manner in which they were entertained duiing their stay in the city. EThe silver pitcher which was won by the Augusta company No. 8 in the reel race yesterday, was last night presented to Mi 88 Avonia B. Conway, in the Central hotel parlor. The pre mentation speech was made by Capt. F J. Roulett. Avery handsome compli ment to "the Captain's daughter." The Democrats in the House have determined unanimously to stand by Mr. Dibble's rights to the utmost of their ability. It is understood that not a member of the caucus was in favor of allowing the Republicans to carry out their conspiracy. Even those who were indifferent before were eager to meet the issue forced upon them by the majority of the elections committee in "their action Monday. The differences were only of details. There was en thusiasm in the cause. Information reached the caucus that in recent Re publican caucuses it was determined to oust Dibble, Finley and 'Wheeler this session, in the order named, sandwich ing each case between appropriation bills. The Democrats will spoil this game. The Republicans must back down, or fight it out on this line all summer Calkins, of Indiana, gave notice yesterday that he would call up the case of Mackey vs. O'Conner, of South Carolina, yesterday, when the fun began. All State officers in Indiana, except Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, are to be elected in November. The Republican convention to nominate -candidates has been called for August 9. The State is to have another one of its "hotter'n-a-lime-kiln" canvasses, and as Dorsey, its "savior" two years ago, is busy saving himself from the peniten tiary, the Democrats will again scoop me state. A little Boston girl, who had seen an engraved copy of Millial's "The Prin cess in the Tower in a picture shop 5 window, went in the other day and said to the shopkeeper: "I came to ask you if you would please take that picture dut of your window. Every time I pass I look in, and the picture is so sad it .makes me very unhappy. Won't you pi ease tase it away r T"t IT. 1 1 , . - x ranK iesne nas aeatn pictured as a skeleton seated on an iceberg in the Arctic sea to frighten off future adven- i . . mrers. na yet one would suppose death in that region would be better represented by a well preserved cadaver on ice, playing a game of "freeze-out' with the adventurous explorers, and holding a royal flush. It is beginning to look bad for the Malley boys, on trial at New Haven, onn., for the murder of Jennie Cramer. Ihe coils are gathering around them, and if they escape it will be by some chance that has not been developed yet. The evidence produced by the prosecu tion is very strong against them. John Kelly's days are also being num bered. A movement is on foot in New York to overthrow the coalition be tween the Cornell Republicans and himself. Sherman S. Rogers, of Buf falo ; Samuel P. Lowery, of Utica, and George William Curtis have been poKen or as leaders of the movement. Augusta Chronicle: "Happy Char- lotte! She has just turned on her new water pressure, and the citizens' com mittee are only waiting for Senator Vance to unscrew the cap from the champagne plug." He is here and it lias been done. The jury in the case of Johnson and Echols, colored, charged with an assault upon Walter Rountree at Athens, Ga., with intent to murder, found the de fendants guilty, and they were sen tenced to ten years in the penitentiary the extreme penalty of the law. One Republican paper at least the New York Times has concluded that the President regards the promotion of "an administration party" as a matter to which all other considerations are subordinate. .The Chattanooga Times thinks that Senator Joseph E. Brown ought to be at the head of the tariff commission, and regrets that the fact of holding the position of Senator renders him inelli gible. Mr. Blaine has given positive assur- xance that he will not be a candidate for the House of Representatives. He would rather be back in the Senate. What will the Georgia Independents co ror a candidate for Governor it the Democrats nominate A. H. Stephens ? Queen Victoria is managing pretty stfell in finding hu3bauds for fier girls. m m mm A CELEBRATION THAT EQUALED THE CENTENNIAL OP 1875. Senator Bayard's Speech An Immense Crowd and a Thoroughly Successful Celebration. With the setting or yesterday s sun. closed a day that will be spoken of in the distant ages as one of the greatest events in Charlotte's history. It was grand day for Charlotte. The city was a perfect pack and jam from early morn until the shades of night. The people came in regiments from the neighbor ing counties and from the near sections of the State, while there were many re presentatives from all of the Southern and many of the Northern States, There was fully 20,00f people in the city many estimates placing the crowd at even a higher number. THE PROCESSION, At an early hour in the morning the formation of one of the largest and most imposing of all the processions Charlotte has ever witnessed, was com menced on Trade street, opposite the First Presbyterian church. The fire men were drawn up along: the east side of the street, while the military were placed in line opposite the firemen. Owing to the great number of troops and fire companies, the work of form ing the procession was a tedious and arduous task, and it was near eleven o'clock before the column was ready to move. The procession paraded through several streets of the city and on the march to the Carolina Military Institute grounds, where the stand for the speak ing was erected, halted in Independence Square, to pass in grand review before Governor Jarvis and staff. After the review, which was a most imposing af fair, the procession resumed the march to the Institute grounds in the follow ing order: CHARLOTTE BICYCLE CLUB, eighteen riders, headed by Captain Wil lis Gilmer. STATESVILLE CORNET BAND. Chief Marshal Joseph Graham and aids. CONTINENTAL BRIGADE, under charge of J. A. Young, Jr., alias George Washington, and F. S. Frank lin, alias Col. McKnitt Alexander. General M. P. Taylor and staff, con sisting of Majors Wm. A. Cumming, John G. Young and George H. Hall, and Captains J. B. Smith, R. B. Miller and J. B. Broadfoot, the latter of the Fayetteville Light Infantry, one of the oldest military organization in the Uni ted States. Following came the MILITARY, headed by the Cadets of the Carolina Military Institute, forty-four in line. KING S MOUNTAIN MILITARY INSTITUTE CADETS, Capt C. D. Betts, thirty-six men. HORNETS' NEST RIFLEMEN, uapt. a. J: . xoung, twenty-rour mer. fS A. Tl T- TT- . jt SALISBURY RIFLES. Capt Theo. Parker, twenty-three men. JENKINS RIFLES, Yorkville ; Capt J. R. Lindsay, twenty men. BUTLER GUARDS. Capt. A. E. McBee, twenty-six men. FOLK RIFLES, Capt. J. A. Younts, twenty men. IREDELL BLUES, Capt A. D. Coles twenty-five men. CATAWBA RIFLES, Capt. Allen Jones, twenty-six men. SOUTHERN STARS, Capt. Mike Hoke, twenty-three men MECKLENBURG RIFLES, Capt. W. J. McLaughlin, twenty-two men. HOME AND VISITING FIREMEN. Robert E. Lee, of Greenville, Captain Henry Brigg3 thirty men. Hornet Steam Fire Company, of Charlotte, Captain C, T. Walker twen ty-six men. Spartan, of Spartanburg, Captain A. H. Foster thirty-five men. Stephens, No. 6, of Augusta, Captain Henry Hyams forty-two men. Charlotte Juveniles, Captain W. B. Kidd twenty-four boys. Pioneer, of Charlotte, Captain W. E. Culpeper twenty men. Independent of Charlotte, Captain P. H. Phelam twenty-five men. Chambers Hose, of Danville, Captain W. G. Woodruff fifteen men. Citizens, No. 8, of Augusta, Captain F. J. Roulett forty-two men. Phoenix, of Columbia, Captain J. P- Meehan thirty-two men. Carriage containing Chiefs Harrison, of the city department, Allen, of Green ville, Xoung, of Augusta, Talmage, of Athens. Carriage containing Chiefs Mackey, of Greenville, Foster, of Spartanburg, Weigle, Blume and Wilson of Augusta. Adjutant-General Johnstone Jones and staff, Col. P. F. Pescud, Lt-Colonel Fred A. Olds and CoL F. H. Cameron, in carriage. Carriages containing Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, the Orator of the day, Sen ators Vance, Butler, Hampton, Ran som, Gen. W. R. Cox, Representatives Scales, Armfield, Robinson, Dowd, Cols. Sloan, Andrews, Means, Sugg, Skinner and other distinguished guests. Bringing up the rear was an im mense crowd of people, on foot, in car riages, liacks, buggies and every consid erable sort of vehicle. Arriving at the grounds, the military and firemen opened ranks and let the orator of the day and the guests of the city, pass to the atand. On the stand we noticed Senators Wade Hampton; M. C Butler, M.W. Ransom and Z. B. Vance, Hons. C. P. Berry, W. E. Robin son, W. R. Cox, A. M. Scales, R.F. Armfield, Clement Dowd, W. D. Simp son, T. J- Mackey, T. M. Holt and J. H. Wilson, His Excellency Governor Jar- vis and staff, Rev. Dr. Dabney. Rev. N. M. Woods, Mayor F. S. De Wolfe, Gens. aJ M-p Taylor and Johnstone Jones, Col J. P. Thomas, all field officers, chief of fire departments, committee of recep- ception and executive committee. EXERCISES AT THE STAND. Dr. Joe Graham called the meeting to order and Rev. N. M Woods offered an appropriate prayer, after which Sen ator Ransom read the Declaration, in troduced by eloquent and patriotic allu sions to the Declaration itself, and to the men who made it, referring in terms highly eulogistic to the distinguished representatives from other States who were present The Declaration having been read. Senator Ransom made some remarks which were worth their weight in gold. Speaking of the difficulty of proving the Declaration at this remote date he said : "Great truths do not al ways depend on human testimony they are like God's light, they live forever, are eternal and stand without question We stand to-day in the blaze and light of a hundred and seven years of civili zation, and a hundred years from now unborn generations will come to kneel at the shrine and pay homage to the altars of liberty erected in Mecklenburg county in 1775 this Bethlehem of the new continent Nothing can dim its luster. It will shine on and from gen eration to generation it will be the guiding star of nations in the years which are to come." The statesvme hand then strucx up the "Old North State," and at the con elusion of the music Senator Vance came forward and made an address of welcome. He con gratulated the people of the State on the happy occasion to celebrate which his audience had assembled, and to bear living witness to the patriotism which had prompted our forefathers. One hundred and seven years ago the foun dations of civil liberty were laid on this very spot and from that day to this, through good and through evil report, we have contended for the perpetuation of the liberty bequeathed to us. To day we had called in a high priest to minister to us, who had dared to raise his voice in the highest legislative body known to our government in behalf of constitutional liberty and human free dom. He is indeed worthy of all the honor and respect which you can be stow, and I now introduce the Hon Thos. F. Bayard, of Delaware. Mr. Bayard rising, seemed for the instant to be unmanned, and for some moments struggled for words to give utterance to his thoughts. He however quickly recovered and proceeded as follows: bayard's speech. In a season of doubt and danger when the spirit of liberty was "hawked at" by the talons of autocratic power wnen the very air was lined with ap prehension and uncertainty, and the upraised nand or the tyrant put every man in peril, when the question was: "Who shall Dell the cat? cat t A little hand of men in a remote and inland county of North Carolina, were found willing to take the risk, to set their lives upon the hazard of the die ; who "Freeman stand or Freeman la,'" were first found ready "Freedom's sword to strongly draw." Who, whether they pledged "their lives. their fortunes and their most sacred honor" to maintain their independence from the Crown of Great Britain, and to the success of the cause of American Liberty, on the 20th, or on the 3lst of May, 1775, without doubt did so in that month; and who, when they did, step ped in advance or tneir leiiow-colonists to do it at a time when "Those behind cried 'Forward ! And those In front cried 'back!' " The Spartan mother said to her son "If your sword is short add a step to it" and the men of Mecklenburg added that step, and went down into the dread arena of life or death for liberty, .grave ly, quietly, and steadily. And because they did so, we have as sembled to-day with uncovered heads and reverential hearts to do honor to their memory ; to recall their deeds, refresh our spirts, and re-invigorate our purposes, by draughts from the clear spring of their simple and noble ex ample. And who were these men, this un titled nobility of homespun? It was not amid the blare of trum pets, or surrounded by the pomp and circumstance of wealth and power, that the grave and deliberate action of the men of the county of Mecklenburg was taken 107 years ago. The importance of the step lay in the great principle of political liberty which it asserted, and its success was due to the steady force of conscientious conviction which ani mated the men who proclaimed it, and which dignifies their memories for all time. In May, 1775, Charlotte was a very small town, in fact a little village of twenty small dwelling houses, sur rounded by the scattered habitations of an agricultural and pastoral commu nity. Charlotte had been chosen as the seat of the Presbyterian college which the Legislature of North Carolina had chartered, but which charter the King had disallowed. It was the centre of culture of that part of the province, and Ephraim Brevard, the draughts- man of the "Declaration" had been edu- cated at Princeton, New Jersey. The men - who led that colony to America had evidently read and profit ed by the warning of my Lord Bacon, when in his essay on "nantauons ne had told them : Tr. is a shameful and unblessed thin e to take the scum of evil and wicked and degraded men- to' be the people with whom yon plant; and not only so, but it spoileth the plantation, and they ever live like rogues and not fall to work, bat be lazy and do mischief and spend victuals, and be; quickly weary and then certify over to their couu try to the discredit of the plantation." Such as these were unknown in that settlement. Probably not an individual among those inhabitants but who was compelled to rely in greater or less de gree upon manual labor for his support, auo in rural simplicity "Along the cool seauBstered vale of life. They kept the noiseless tenor or. their war." It is worth while to note the origin and stock from which these forefathers or mecKienDurg sprung. They were nearly all of Scotch-Irish descent, and were the children of those hardy pioneers who left the north of Ireland early in the 18th century and came to America. The main column came up the Delaware bay and river, and passing over to the Cumberland valley from Philadelphia, following map vaney in its Southerly sweep, made tneir nomes in .North Carolina. History tells us that these immi grants dwelt for some years on the banks of the Delaware, and some of their family names remain there yet, accompanied by honor and respect the Polks, Pattons, Murrains, Alexanders and others; and, it is not therefore al together inappropriate, that after the lapse of many generations, a man, whose forefathers tarried longer on the banks of the Delaware, and whose home is still there, should make his pilgrim- age hither and join with you in reviv ing memories of a glory common to us all. For I confess to you. fellow country men, the glories of our Union are those I value most. I am not insensible to local ties, and I feel as much as any, the sense of home in the little spot wnere i was Dorn but when a theme is found and a chorus is raised in which 1 i m .. an or our countrymen can join, and a thrill runs from the Lakes to the Gulf, and vibrates along our 13,000 miles of sea coast when a song is sunar. of which every American knows the words, to which every American foot keeps step, and of which every heart beats the measure then I feel most the true strength and power and worth of American citizenship. as asm to this thought I copied the other day, from the inscription upon an engraving of Judge Andrew Pickens Butler of South Carolina, the former united States Senator from that State. (whose kinsman and successor so well and honorably fills his place, and bv whose presence here to-dav. and that of his distinguished colleague, we ail are gratified.) the following sentence, which was selected from a speech of Judge Butler, made long before the civil war. by one of his colleagues in the Senate (my honored father) as descriptive of cutlers sentiment and character How it has happened I cannot tell. out rrom some cause not certainly de servedMassachusetts and South Caro lina have been made to take opposite positions in Federal politics; nay, more. to De made ostensibly bitter adversa ries. If I knew at this moment that all political connection was to cease be tween the North and the South, I would, as a matter or cnoice, hang up in my parlor the portraits of such men as Adams, Hancock and Sherman, and they would be full of historical instruc tion; one lesson they especially teach, never to submit to a wrongful and op pressive exercise of authority. Dio medes was the youngest hero at the siege of Troy. His courage was marked oy promptness and mtrepiditv and compared well with the sagacious and perhaps selfish couraee of Ul vases. Georgia was the youngest sister of the tnirteen. ane nad made her pledge in the spirit of Diomedes. And. sir. she will with her sisters maintain her motto: Lquality or Independence. None of these hardv colonists of Mecklenburg would seem to have been men or rank, or to have been the de scendants of men of rank. They were of the sturdy, hard-working, middle class. When their ancestors had been forced from Scotland by the destruc tion of their land tenures, and had proudly refused to seek their "sheep- BKins rrom manorial lords, and could no longer maintain the tenures which trom time immemorial had been their right, they crossed the narrow sea and settled in the north of Ireland in the "Kingdom of Ulster, lhere again after a century of struc- gle and unrest, they found themselves the victims of renewed dislocations of the tenure of their lands, and wearvine of the uncertainties; and unsubmissive to the caprice of arbitrary rulers, they made their way across the broad At lantic to a new country, where the right to property should have security and stability, and where the fruits of nonest labor could be transmitted to their posterity. Ihe school in which thev had been trained was that of adversity. No one can read their public declarations, their resolves, their State papers, bills of rights and constitutions promulgated here in North Carolina, without catch ing the echo ot magna charta, and every hard won battle for civil and religious liberty in the long history of England. y do am not recognize in the resolu . : " X Il - . r nuns ui meusienuurg oi May, 177ft, as read by our honored friend Snr.nr Ransom, the spirit and almost the words themselves of the great charter, forced from the unwilling hand of a treacher ous and tyrannical king by the barons wno camped upon the held of Runny mede in June, 1215. Magna charta was itself but a revival of still more ancient laws and charters extorted by persistent liberty from unwilling power. What more did the men of Mecklen burg demand a hundred years ago, than was asked at Runnymede nearly seven centuries before? What was asked bv them then, that we do not ask to-dav. and which it behooves us to see is not withheld to-day ? "That no freeman shall be seized or imprisoned or dispossessed, or outlawed or in any degree brought to ruin. "1 hat no man shall be pursued ex cept by the legal judgment of his peers, or by the laws of the land. "That justice and nerht shall nfir.hr be sold nor denied, nor delayed to any man." And then mindful that a mi and independent judiciary is essential to every man's safety, it declared: xnac juages or assize were to make regular circuits four r,ims a voar "That justiciaries were to be chosen from among men well versed in law. -xnat royal officers were not to hold pleas. "That royal Heralds were not to brinr men to trial for their own pleasure, nor whqouc creaioie witnesses. Here we have the germs of the great principler that ' the administration. justice is to be independent of the po litical ; administration. No matter whether it be King or Congress, wheth er it be President, or Parliament the independence and separation ef judi cial from 'political power is an essential that can never be lost sight of whether in England in the 13th century, in North Carolina in the 18th century, or in South Carolina in the 19th century. The Declaration and Resolves which Gen. Ransom has just read to us, were carried to the first Provincial Congress of North Carolina, and on April 12th, 1776, that Congress unanimously adopt ed this resolution : Resolved, That the delegates for this colony in the Continental Congress, be empowered to concur with the dele gates of other colonies in declaring in dependence, and forming foreign alli ances ; reserving te this colony the sole and exclusive right of forming a con stitution and laws for this colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time, under the direction of the Gener al Representative Assembly thereof, to meet the delegates of other colonies." Here we see, the men of Mecklen burg, having quickened the feeling and the vision of the Provincial Cengress of their own State, sending an electric sprk still further on into the councils ot .he Osmfederatfc colonies. Let the mists and vapors of time be dense as they may let ignorance or envy raise what doubts they may as to the precise date of the original action of the men ot Mecklenburg ; of this fact there is no doubt, of this fact there can be no contradiction, none so foolhardy a3 to make it; that the resolution which I have just read to you preceded the National Declaration of Independ ence nearly three montfis. It is also one month older than the action of the Virginia Provincial Congress, which also recommended a declaration of Na tional Independence. These facts leave the men of Meck lenburg and the State of North Caroli na the admitted leaders or the u nited Colonies in the great march of Ameri can Independence. Well might John Adams write to Thomos Jefferson in June, 1819. when these papers seemed first to have met his eye. "You know that if I had possessed it I would have made the halls, of Con gress to echo and re-echo with it fifteen months before your Declaration of In dependence. What a poor, ignorant, malicious, short-sighted, crapulous mass is Tom Paine s common sense, in com panson with this paper. Had I known it, I would have commented upon it from the day you entered Congress un til the 4th of July. 1776. The genuine sense of America at this moment was never so well expressed be- tore, nor since. Kichard Caswell, Wil liam Parr, Joseph Hewes, the then representatives of North Carolina in Cougress, you know as well as I; and you know that the unanimity of the States finally depended upon the vote of Joseph Hewes, and was finally de termined by him ; and yet, history is to ascribe American revolution to Thomas Pai ne 1 Sat verbum sapienti." Therefore, fellow-citizens, it seems to me a matter of little importance, whether it was on the 20th day of May or on the 31st day of May, 1775, that the paper was prepared by Lphraim Bre vard, and signed by Abraham Alexan der as chairman and John McKnitt Alexander as secretary, and their 25 associates ; suffice it to say, it will stand torever as a monument ot the dignity of humanity, all the more impressive in its moral force and elevation, be cause of the total absence of that pomp of circumstance with which the stage managers of history so often seek to surround their action. The first step in the work of English colonization in America was the voyage of Amadas and Barlow, Lieutenants of Sir Walter Raleigh, who, under the charter of Elizabeth, commenced the voyage which terminated at Roanoke isJand in ios4. There is not one in the great sister hood of States who has earlier record, or one richer in interest, or more honor able in its facts than North Carolina, from the days when its great founder united his name and mournful history with her own, although he was fated never to see the colony or the city in which so much of his hopes and pride were centered. In no spirit of reproach, but in the earnest suggestion of friendship, let me to-day impress upon you who hear me, the need and duty of preserving and perpetuating home chronicles. To use the language of my beloved preceptor, that distinguished sonot JNorth Caro lina, Francis L. Hawks : The attempt to preserve tne story oi their childhood's home is the duty of every American. The glory of our common country be longs to us all ; it is built up by the contributions of each part, and in no spirit of detraction would I remark upon the habit of our brethren of New England of allowing no occasion ano no opportunity to hide under a bushel, the light ot their local history. On the contrary I praise and commend tnein for their activity in having torced to the front the claims of Massachusetts to be considered the leading spirit in the great struggle that led to the inde pendence of the united colonies. But while withnoiding notning oi aue acknowledgement from the courage, spirit and self-sacrifice of the men of New England in "the times that tried men's souls 1 do mase claim ior at least an equal co-operative share in the great work for their fellow colonists whose homes lay further South. It was on the 16th oi December, l i rs. that the famous "tea party" of Boston took place; which according to New England chroniclers would seem the great revolutionary landmark of spirit ed popular uprising against tyranny. The lustre of this event is so brilliant in their minds as to pale the ineffectual fires of the struggling colonists else where. But let it not be forgotten that more than eight years prior to that date, ear ly in 1765, when His Majesty's sloop of war "Defiance" arrived in Cape Fear River, having on board stamped paper for use in this colony, that a body of citizens, headed; by Col. John Ashe and Col. Hugh Waddell boarded the vessel ; took from her the paper and, in one of her own boats, conveyed it to the shore ; and they compelled Houston, the royal stamp master for North Carolina, then an inmate of the official family of Gov. Tryon, to go before the citizens and take a solemn oath not to attempt to execute his office. This was, so far as my readings of the history of that period have gone, the first, the most spirited and defiant act to be found in the records. The city of Philadelphia commenced opposition to, the shipments nf t L form t.hn o.it.v nf Rsiatsin on . 1773 learning the arrival of two yes2 laden with tea, a committee of her zens in pursuance of prior public VL solves went down to the River nil ware as far as the town of Chester boarded the vessels lying there in n, stream, ordered them back to Enelam? and their command was obeyed It thl same time the agents of the East India Company were compelled to resign their positions. After this we are told by the historian (Bancroft) Boston "adopted the Philadelphia Resolves!" In New York every preparation was made in November 1773 to prevent th landing of any tea, and grievous was the disappointment of those people tha? the tea ships failed to appeai in their harbor. And in April 1774 tea cfiS were in open daylight tumbled into th dock from the decks of the ships tw came in. F lUclt In Charleston, South Carolina, on rP cember2d, 1773 the consignees of Tear of tea resigned, the tax was refu and the collector of the port S obliged to store it in cellars where i? lay until it rotted. fe u j-ucu lonowed tne destruction of thA 4 tea in RAtnn i.o.k. hm me i vast public meeting held on the n&ht of December 16, 1773, a body of 40 orS men, all of whom were disguised as In dians, "having posted guards to pre vent the intrusion of spies," proceeded on board the ship "Dartmouth" lying at the wharf, and threw overboard her cargo of tea. The Province of Maryland made its early and vigorous contributions to this honorable history. In June 1774 it resolved on a cessa tion of intercourse with the mother country and passed resolutions breath ing a spirit of the most determined re sistance to tyranny. A subscription was made for the relief of Boston whose port had just been closed by the order of Lord North, and declared that Maryland would break off all trade or dealtng with any colony, province or town, that refused to come into the common league. The brigantine "Mary Jane" bavin? tea on board consigned to parties in Georgetown and Bladenburg, arrived in St. Mary's River. Instantly the com mittee of Charles county summoned the master and consignee before them They explained that the d llt.V had Tint been paid and pledged themselves that the tea should be sent back to London With this apology, coupled with the in stant return of the vessel with the tea on board, the committee were satisfied. In October 1774, the brig "Peggy Stewart" arrived at Annapolis, having on board a few packages of tea, the du ty having been paid by Mr. Stewart, whereupon a public meeting was called and great excitement ensued, in which the life of Mr. Stewart was put in great danger. By the interposition of Charles Car roll, of Carrollton, Governor Pace, and others, the people were induced to ac cept an apology from Mr. Stewart coupled with his offer to destroy with his own hand, the obnoxious vessel and the "detestable weed" as it was called in the language of the day. According ly the ship was run aground at Wind mill Point, at the mouth of the Severn river, fired bv the hand of her owner, and utterly destroyed, in the presence of 5,000 people who lived on the banks. At Hagerstown in Maryland, about the same time, one John Parks was compelled to walk bare-headed to the market place, bearing lighted candles in his hand, and there destroy certain boxes of his own tea upon which taxes had been paid. These acts it will be observed were not committed by disguised men. nor by night; but openly in the face of dav. by men well known to the royal authori ties, and who did not flinch from anv of the consequences of their bold deeds. Let us therefore when we commemo rate the the spirited act of our brethren of Massachusetts, not forget the even more spirited conduct of their coadju tors a little further South and who have been less careful to place upOn record those facts in which to-day all Ameri can s avow their pride. Do you not agreee with me therefore that it is well worth while, nay, that it is an obvious duty, that local historical societies should be instituted, into which contributions of records, corres pondence, all the material relating to interesting periods in our histoiy as a people, should be carefully gathered ? It is delightful to observe in the his tory of that early day how little trace 6f local jealousy exhibited itself, how "None were for faction and all for the State." When the port of Boston was closed by Lord North's- act, Charleston in South Carolina, was the first to min ister to the wants of Boston and sent early in June, 74, 200 barrels of rice, promising 800 more; Wilmington, in North Carolina raised and sent prompt ly 2000 in currency. Delaware devised plans for regular and systematic relief. Maryland and Virginia gave liberally from their store ; the great Washington himself heading the subscription list with 50. saying: "We are not contending against pay ing the duty of three pence on tea; it is the right, only, to lay the tax we dis pute." It is a pleasant thing, I say, to observe the words of cheer and brotherhood that ran all along the Atlantic coast, and made the cause of Boston the cause of the United Colonies. Can you not picture to yourselves how, on a pleasant day in May, 107 years ago, where we stand to-day, little groups of plain and earnest citizens were discussing the progress of this ap proaching collision between them and their distant and ignorant ruler, who was seeking by unwise laws to compel their submission to a principle repug nant to manhood and self-respect; who forgetting they were loving subjects, sought to make them his abject slaves? Engaged in such themes as these, a horseman is described in tne aistance urging his weary steed towards them; travel stained and dusty, and with troubled face, he brines the news of Lexington and Concord, and the blood of the distant countrymen shed in the cause ot Liberty. The spark has been struck ; the flame has been kindled ; and higher and high er it mounts to the sky, destined in its conflagration to destroy the last rem nant of British power in the United Then it was that the spirit of Magna Charta was revived. Then it was that every lesson embodied in English his tory came to mind. In such a time, amid such memories, the words of the Declaration of Mecklenburg were framed ; and can you not hear to day the deep, strong voice of Col. Thomas Polk, as he stood at the little court house door, and read aloud to the as-