Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

Four Articles from the Catawba Journal:

May 10, 1825, p. 3:

20th May, 1775. – We mention sometime since, that the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by the citizens of Mecklenburg, on the 20th of May, 1775, would be celebrated in this town on the 20th inst. by the surviving revolutionary veterans, and others, who, although not actors with them, yet revere the cause and cherish the principles for which they contented; and we have the pleasure this week of publishing the arrangements for this celebrations. It will be seen also, that the committee of arrangement have given a general invitation to the revolutionary soldiers to join in the celebration of this anniversary; and it would be very gratifying, and add much to the interest of the scene, to have a full attendance of the veteran champions of liberty. Of the delegation who assembled in this town on the 19th of May, 1775, and on the 20th issued their memorable declaration of independence on Great Britain, it is believed all but one have descended to the tomb-the only individual of that band of patriots known to be living, is DAVID REESE, now residing in Cabarrus county. A special invitation, we learn, will be sent to him; and we hope it may find him in a situation to accept it.

The oration will be pronounced by Mr. WASHINGTON MORRISON, of this town and the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, it is expected, will be read by some one of the revolutionary patriots who will be present on that day. The REV. HUMPHREY HUNTER, now far down the vale of life, has been invited to perform the religious part of the ceremonies; but whether his advanced age, and consequent infirmities, will permit him to comply with the request of the committee, we have not yet understood. Col. Thos. G. Polk will act as Marshal of the Day.

The proceedings of the meeting above-mentioned, are as follows:--

----

At the meeting of the citizens of Mecklenburg, assembled at the Court-House in Charlotte, on Saturday, the 30th ult. to make arrangements for commemorating the anniversary of the 20th of May, 1775-ISSAC ALEXANDER, sen. was called, to the chair, and WILLIAM J. POLK appointed Secretary. On motion of Capt. Davidson, the following resolutions were submitted and adopted:

• Resolved, That a committee of arrangement be appointed, consisting of seven, whose duty it shall be to contract for a dinner, appoint a person to deliver an oration, to invite all, or as many of the Revolutionary Soldiers as they may think proper, and make such arrangements as to a procession, as may correspond with the importance of the occasion.
• Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to draft toasts for the day.
• The following gentlemen were then appointed on the committees: Committee of Arrangements – T. I. Polk, J. H. Blake, T. I. Johnson, W. J. Polk, W. P. Springs, Isaac Alexander, jr. and Green Kendrick; Committee of Toasts – T. G. Polk, Wm. Davidson, and T. B. Smart.
• On the motion of Isaac Alexander, jr. it was resolved that the above proceedings be published in the Catawba Journal.

ISAAC ALEXANDER, sen. Ch’m
Wm. J. Polk, Secretary.

INVITATION

The undersigned, the Committee of Arrangements, respectfully tender their acknowledgements to the Revolutionary Soldiers, and request the pleasure of their company on the 20th of the present month to join in celebrating the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by the citizens of Mecklenburg, A. D. 1775.

THOS. I. POLK

J. H. BLAKE

THOMAS I. JOHNSON

WM. J. POLK 

W. P. SPRINGS

I. S. ALEXANDER

G. KENDRICK

Committee of Arrangements.

 

May 24, 1825, p.3

The fiftieth anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was celebrated in this place on the 20th inst. Not being able to procure a copy of the toasts in season for this week’s paper, and other causes intervening to render a postponement necessary, we shall defer a particular account of the proceedings said our next; barely mentioning, at this time, that the celebration, throughout, was worthy the occasion, and honorable to the public spirit and patriotism of Mecklenburg.

 

May 31, 1825, p.3

MECKLENBURG INDEPENDENCE.

The celebration which took place in this town on the 20th instant, was equal to, if it did not surpass, anything of the kind ever before witnessed here. The day was fine, and not uncomfortably warm; and at an early hour, a large concourse of people, strangers and citizens, had assembled to do honor to the day. At 11 o’clock, A. M. a procession was formed, under the direction of Co. Thomas Polk, on the street south of the Courthouse – Capt. Kennedy’s company of calvary and the Lafayette Artillery, under the command of Capt. Thos. I. Polk, in front citizens and strangers next, and lastly, a band of revolutionary veterans, 60 or 70 in number, wearing badges with the figures ’75 stamped on them. The procession then moved to the Presbyterian church, which though spacious, was crowded to overflowing, and numbers found it impossible to procure seats.

The exercises at the church commenced with a prayer, replete with genuine piety and ardent patriotism, by the venerable Dr. Hunter; this was succeeded by appropriate music from the band; after which the Declaration of Independence, by the citizens of Mecklenburg, was read by the same Rev. gentleman. His oration was then pronounced by Mr. Morrison, which riveted the attention of the audience, and caused tears to trickle down the furrowed cheeks of numbers of the war-worn and hoary-headed veterans. The orator did ample justice to his subject-he depicted in animated colors, the undaunted patriotism of our fathers, whom no difficulties could dishearten, no errors dismay, no privations subdue-who, looking only to the justice of their cause, and the wrongs they had received, indignantly renounced their allegiance to government whose protection was felt only in the injuries which it inflicted, and whose paternal regard was evinced only in systematic attempts to wrest from them all that they held valuable as men who claimed freedom as a birth-right, and to reduce them to a state of bondage worse than death. His address to the patriotic band, whose venerable forms were before him, and whose snowy locks and bended frames formed such a striking contract to the picture he had sketched of their youthful strength and vigor, was particularly appropriate and pathetic, and excited emotions in every bosom, which may be easily imagined, but not described. The address, in short, was well conceived and happily executed, and we regret that it will not be in our power to lay it before our readers, as the author has declined the request of the committee to furnish a copy for publication.

The exercises at the church were closed with music and discharges of cannon, and the revolutionary veterans returned in procession, escorted by the military.

No one present at this celebration, could have been entirely unmoved by the recollections and associations connected with it. The occasion was peculiarly calculated to produce an intensity of feeling, and to elicit reflections at once pleasurable and profitable. It was the fiftieth anniversary of an event, of which the citizens of Mecklenburg, without the imputation of vanity, might justly be proud; it was a fit occasion of joy and gratitude, rejoicing and praise; but at the same time, the reflection could not but arise in many a bosom, that but few, very few, of the numbers then assembled to commemorate it, would live to witness its return. Fifty years hence, and of the multitude then present, the greater part will be reposing beneath the clod of the valley: dust will have returned to dust, and the spirit to Him who gave it. Such a reflection was well calculated to moderate the feelings, to induce a soberness of mirth, and to impart an interest to the scene at once peculiar and impressive.

At 4 o’clock, P. M., a large number sat down to a dinner prepared by Dr. Henderson, in the beautiful grove on the college green. Gen. George Graham officiated President, and Isaac Alexander, Esq. as Vice President. After the cloth was removed, the following toasts were drunk, interspersed with patriotic songs, and accompanied with discharges of cannon:

TOASTS.

1. The Day we celebrate-On that day the republican banners were unfurled in Charlotte, independence declared by the patriotic citizens of Mecklenburg, absolving themselves from all allegiance to Great Britain. May the noble deed be engraven on the hearts of all present, and the gilded pages of history transmit it to posterity.
2. The Patriots, who signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, the 20th of May, 1775-We honor them for their firmness, love them for their virtues, and venerate them for their patriotism.
3. The memory of those heroes of Lexington, Mass. who first sealed the broken covenant with their blood, and absolved all allegiance with mother Britain.
4. Our Country and Government-The genius of Columbus, the patriotism of Washington, the philosophy of Franklin, the wisdom of Jefferson, and compatriots, have erected a fabric that will last till time shall be no more.
5. The Heroes of the Revolution-While we hold in sacred remembrance those that are gathered to their fathers, let us not fail to cherish in our heart’s core, the scattered remnants that yet survive.
6. The President of the United States-An able Statesman-May his administration prove that the confidence of Congress was not misplaced.
7. The descendants of the patriotic members of the Mecklenburg Delegation who declared independence.
   Let no mean hope your souls enslave,
   Independence, generous, brave,
   Your fathers such examples gave-
   And such revere.
8. Popular Elections-Their purity and frequency are the best security for the safety of our republican institutions, and the strongest barrier against the encroachments of tyranny.
9. Internal Improvement-The road to national and individual independence; may constitutional scruples yield to the national welfare.

10. Andrew Jackson-He has filled the measure of his country’s glory-he is the friend of the people-the people are his friends.

11. Bolivar, and the independent provinces of South America-May political and religious liberty be the basis of their constitution.

12. Washington and Lafayette.

13. The Fair Sex- Beauty and Booty, the war cry of slavery - protection to Beauty, the watch-word of freemen.

VOLUNTEERS.

• By Doct. James M. G. Ramsey, of Tennessee
  -Gen. Thos. Polk and Doct. Ephm. Brevard-the first bosoms that ever glowed with the joyous anticipation of American Independence.
• Dr. Ramsey was formerly a citizen of Mecklenburg county, participated in our revolutionary struggle, and was present in Charlotte at the declaration of independence on the memorable 20th of May, 1775. The toast was forwarded to the committee from Tennessee.
• By Wm. Davidson, Esq.-Henry Clay-This great orator of the west-an able statesman, and independent as a man:-Shielded by virtuous patriotism, he is impregnable to the shafts of malice.
• By Col. T. G. Polk-The political prospects of Henry Clay-
  Like the dew on the mountain,
  Like the foam on the river,
  Like the bubble on the fountain,
  They are gone and forever.
• By the Hon. H. W. Conner-Gen. William Davidson, who fell at Cowan’s ford, bravely fighting for the rights and liberties of his country.
• By J. H. Blake, esq.-Henry Clay-The undaunted champion of universal liberty.
• By Capt. Thos. I. Polk-The next President of the United States-May he be the choice of the people and not of Congress.
• By L. H. Alexander, Esq.-Andrew Jackson and Wm. H. Crawford-fair play is bonny play.

The Convention Committee for Mecklenburg county, met in this place on Thursday last. Besides other business, a number of resolutions were passed, which we shall probably publish in our next. They will show that the citizens of this county are still true to the cause which they have espoused, and that the idea of abandoning it was never farther from their intentions. Let but a similar spirit prevail in other counties, and our success is certain- no efforts can defeat it.

June 21, 1825, p.3

For The Catawba Journal

A gleaning, by the Rev. H. Hunter, from the Harvest of Peace, matured from the seedtime of 1775; or a selection of ideas, from the effusion of pleasing sensations, on the celebration of pleasing sensations, on the celebration of the first declaration of American Independence, in Charlotte, 20th of May, in said year.
 
O! could we search the globe around,
Where could such happiness be found,
As dwells in our much favor’d land!
Here Plenty reigns-here Freedom sheds
Her choicest blessings on our heads-
Kind Heaven supports, and firm we stand.
 
Here Commerce spreads her wealthy store,
Which flows from every distant shore:
Science and art, their charms display; 
And let us now unite to raise,
Our voices in our Maker’s praise-
As truth divine directs the way.
 
These are thy gifts, Almighty King.
From three our various blessings spring:
Prolific earth-propitious skies-
The raptures Liberty bestows-
The eternal gifts the Gospel shows-
All these-all joys, from thee arise.
 
Long as the moon her course shall run,
Or man behold the circling sun,
May God o’er fair Columbia reign!
Still crown her councils with success,
With peace, and truth, her borders bless,
And all her sacred rights maintain.
 
With grateful hearts, with cheerful tongues,
To God we raise united songs-
His power and mercy we proclaim-
Our sons, through every age shall own,
Jehovah here hath fix’d his throne,
And we will triumph in his name.