Sixtieth Anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independenc

The celebrations of 1835 were described in letters by two eye-witnesses and later compiled in The Papers of William Alexander Graham, J. G. DeRoulhac Hamilton, editor, NC State Dept. of Archives and History 1957. William Alexander Graham (1804-1875) was at that time a lawyer and member of the Whig Party.

To- William Alexander Graham 
From- Alfred Graham. 
Spring H[ill] Forge
May 29th, 1835.

I was requested by Mr. Killian, an acquaintance of mine near Lincolnton, to write you a line and Ask the Favor of you to send him one of the advertisements relative to Allen Davies Stud Horse He has a fine Mare he wishes to put but wishes to have a History of the Horse in the first place, The terms. I saw the Horse when at Hillsboro and one of the advertisements but forget the strain and Character of the Horse. If you should visit us this summer you can put one of the advertisements in your saddlebags. Should you not do so give me an account in your Letter of the Blood and terms of Covering, etc. Killian is anxious to hear soon he would have me to write to you and Post pay the Letter. Our Friends here are well. Father, John and myself were all at the Celebration on the 20th May at Charlotte. There were a great many people there, a number from S.C., as well as the adjoining Counties. Governor Swain, Mangum and Duff Green, all gave speeches at the Dinner on being toasted. We Closed the business with a Ball at Hayes Tavern. A number of Ladies attended from Rowan, Cabarus, Lincoln, and Iredelle. The Miss Polks, Ferand, and Huger, from Salsbury, Miss Barringer of Cabarus, some from Yorckville, and numbers of others to tedious to tell you of. The Day passed of very well, I heard of no misunderstandings.

On the next Day they had a White Meeting, which caused a good deal of excitement. Julius Alexander and F. Smith addressed the People. Major M’Combs was present, a Van buran man, and stated after Alaxander was done speaking and retired to the Court House, that He had stated a Dam lie with regard to the Electioneering part he had taken in the Former Presidential Election. Julius immediately struck him and a small scuffle followed, But they were soon parted. I thought at one time there would have been several squabbls among some of the more respectable People of Charlotte. Shipp and Cansellor are elected members to the convention from this County.

 

To- William Alexander Graham
From- James W. Osborne 
Charlotte, June 3d, 1835.

My dear Friend,

We are just beginning to breathe with freshness and freedom from the engagements of the 20th. The Crowd has at length dispersed, business is going on in our village with its wonted energy, and the old order of things pretty much in every way restored. A full account of every thing which was done I do not doubt has reached you through the newspapers. I will only make one remark in which you may be interested. Your Father was there and I was much gratified that he seemed to enjoy the occasion so vividly. Every thing was done to make it agreeable to him as well as to all the men of “olden time” who honored the day with their presence at the festival. Among other visitors your friend Mr. Jones was there. He has been occasionally unwell since and is yet to our village. He speaks of leaving in a few days. Swain and Mangum gave us speeches. Both of them in that way acquitted themselves with respectability. The former gentleman has gained immortal honour from his feats of wit and humour (as well as other creditable feats) at the dinner table. So far as the dinner may effect the political feeling of Mecklenburg I much fear that it will be labour lost. Parties are very violent and the friends of the administration now rallying under the flag of Van Buren are becoming more and decided. I hope however that from some benignant quarter light may yet break on our benighted country.

We had a tolerably large collection of ladies at the ball which was given on the evening of the twentieth. It was a rare collection of grace and beauty however, as we paraded with the greatest part of that article which is afforded by the west. In other words the gems of the land seem to have been concentrated. Of all this however my enthusiastic cousin can give you a minute detail.

In my new situation I find that my prospects are slowly but I trust decidedly improving. I purpose to take a course which may result in reparation of the wrongs which indolence and inattention have inflicted on myself. And try to act on the maxim that the sure way to success is to deserve it.