Lower coast gazette. [volume], May 22, 1909, Image 1

About Lower coast gazette. [volume] (Pointe-a-la-Hache, La.) 1909-1925

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The Lower Coast G(azette.
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE LOWER COAST: AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, FISHERIES AND COMMERCE.
VOLUME I. POINTE-A-LA-HIACHE, LA., SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1909. NUMBER 21.
Bishop Galloway No More
Jackson, Miss.-Bishop Charles B. Gal
loway, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, Mississippi's most dis
tinguished divine and best-known pub.
iaHist, who for th· past twenty years has
held rank among the greatest pulpit ora
tors of America, died at his recidence in
this city at 5 o'clock W6dnesday morn
ing after an illness of several days with
a mild form of pneumonia, complicated
with heart trouble.
The end was not unexpected, as Bish
op Galloway had been in a dying condi
tion for eighteen hours. He survived
longer than the attending physicians ex
pected, and, despite the fact that he was
in an unconscious state, showed won
derful vitality almost to the end.
Suffered for Years.
On several occasions during the past
three years Bishop Galloway suffered s.,
Oourtesy Commerotl Appsal.
BISHOP ALB B. GALL OWAY.
eing attseks, due to enfeebled heart as
tfon and hardening of the arteries. Al
though only in his 60th year, the prodi
glous volume of work he performed as
the "Mission Bishop of Methodism," had
greatly weakened his once powerful phy.
sique; and he was in no condition to
withstand the lung congestion that
esused hit death.
The passing away of the foremost
bishop in Methodism was quiet and
peaceful. There were no death agonies,
no suffering, no anguisk of flesh or spir
it, while the sands of his life slowly
ebbed away. Save for the labored
breathing incident to the pulmonary
trouble that was the direct cause of de
anis, he dropped into eternal slumber
likela little child crooned to sleep by the
lullabies of a loving mother.
Until toward 3 o'clock Wednesday
morftg the grieving loved ones and
anxious watchers at the bedside could
observe no perceptible change In his con
dition. At that hour the breathing
grew more irregular, the pulse slowly
ebbed swsy, and at the hour of 5 o'clock,
just as the sun was peeping over the
horizao to illumine with its brightest
rays a community plunged into the dark
eat depths of griet and gloom, the soul
of Carles B. Galloway winged its fight
to the God who gave it.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
At Evry Stags of It He Was a Bril.
lisat Man.
T1shop Charles Betts Galloway, one
of the general .-suprintendents of the
XMthodist Episcopal Church, South, was
bos .i Koscibusko, Miss., Sept. 1, 1849.
His father was a prosperous physician
and a man of taste and culture. The
asm was tenderly reared and early im
bibed elear and strong religious convic.
eaus and followed high purposes and
Mial. After atteding the common
ehebool he gradusted with ~lstintion
frem the Univesity of Mississippi. He
iras then scarely 18 years of age, and
had even before this begun preparation
for .etrance Ito the Christian ministry,
which high offie he had long adorned
with an alnmos.unexampled devotion of
servie and' eloquence of message. Even
at this early age he gave evidencs of
memarkable gifts as an orator., One of
bi professors at the University of Mis.
asmippl was the late .Associate Justice
ls mar of the supreme court of the Unite
ad. it When young Galloway was
lj.  a his albs mater the great jurist
7Cjah,1 and others are glad to
i;R thats yea are to enter the alste
t sty7 Ap t of 'm would like to go to con
£3 r i this dis.trict.
triaemdent powers of the bishop,
I irr ais)g tuot g the Olr and the New
d"that hi early prce tor
S indre tated -the posslbbites
t ;i a a.`pblie d he 'e
~a~bsstlvl~st*
tions as easily as he achieved distinction
in the ranks of the Christian ministry.
In 1868, soon after his graduation, he
entered the Mississippi conference, in
which affiliation he remained until ele
vated to the higher office of the episco
pacy. His devotion to his native state
was a passion, and yet he was perhaps
the most cosmopolitan and national spir
ited man to be found in all the South.
He was the close friend and counsellor
of many public men in his own state and
the nation, and also of all parties. Ex
President Roosevelt was a. great ad
mirer of the bishop, and sought his ad
vice in more than one instance where his
policies affected the well-being of the
people of the South.
Bishop Galloway's home life was hap
py and beautiful. He was married in
1869 to Miss Hattie E. Willis, of Vicks
burg, Miss., whose devotion tp him
through life has been a song of full
notes, and the husband has been no
less a lover than a great preacher and
teacher of men. Three daughters and
two sons blessed their wedded life, of
whom all survive, except the eldest son,
who contracted in childhood an illness
from which he suffered until young
manhood. The youngest son is Dr. E.
H. Galloway, now city physician of
Jackson, Miss.
As a member of the Mississippi con
ference Bishop Galloway served a num
ber of appointments, including Port Gib
son, Yazoo City, Jackson and Vicksburg.
While pastor at the last named place
he was exposed, in 1878, to the great ep
demic of yellow fever, wphich in that year
ravaged the entire Mississippi valley. He
was himself stricken, after weeks of vis
itation among the sidk and dying, but he
rallied miraculously to live thirty won
derful and active years.
In 1882 he was elected editor of the
New Orleans Christian Advocate, then
a paper of wide and influential circula
tion. For four years he sat on the tri
pod, and during these years his fame ex
tended to every part of the church. When
the general conference of 1886 came on
he was elected bishop by a remarkable
vote, being but 37 years of age, the
youngest man ever elected to that of
fice in the Southern church.
Was Foreign Minister.
Bishop Galloway fairly won the dis
tinction, worn by I)r. Coke, the bishop
of the church, that of being styled "The
Foreign Minister of Methodism." He
was sent more frequently abroad than
any other bishop of the church, and
served in all these capacities with such
effectiveness and ability as to make him
not only the best known, but also the
most influential personality in Universal
Methodism. In Canada, in England, in
Ireland, in the Orient repeatedly, and in
South America he visited officially as
the bishop and head of the church, and
everywhere left the impression of his
great personality and the memory of his
incomparable power as a. preacher and
public teacher.
He opeed 'the great ecumenical con
ference in the City Road Chapel, in Lon
don, in 1901, with a sermon, the power
and eloquence of which was achoed to all
lands where Methodism had adherents.
It is still -a pulpit classic smong the peo
pie called Methodists.
rThe great civic and reform move
ments of his state and the country at
large felt the impulse of his adhesion
and advocacy. He was president of the
Mississippi Prohibition Association, and
the effective system of prohibition laws
now in operation in Mississippi is large
ly the result of ha wise advice.
A Dlsfipisbed 4uthor.
As am sather Bishop. Gallloway sebhe,
.a a. little distinction,; thog iwas
4 t4i. preacsher and orator thst he ex.
"iiies lie .ouuan anded'a wid M.
ing and his words always earefully
weighed.
EULOGIZED DEAD BISHOP.
His Colleagues Pronounced Funeral Ora"
tions-Tributes Were Beautiful-Six
Thousand Attended the Obsequies.
Jackson, Miss.-In the presence of a
sorrowing concourse that filled every
niche of the large edifice and overflowed
the three streets surrounding, the funeral
of the late Bishop Charles B. Galloway
took place at the First Methodist Church
at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon, and
all that is mortal of the Southland's
most gifted divine now quietly sleeps
beneath the somber cedars and a flower
strewn mound in Greenwood Cemetery.
Never before in the history of the cap
ital city or the commonwealth has there
been such a manifestation of universal
sorrow as that shown during the obse
quies over the stilled remains of this
most beloved churchman, statesman,
orator, educator and publicist, whose un
timely death has plunged a nation into
mourning, and whose passing away de
prives his church of its greatest leader.
Not less than 6,000 people assembled
at the church and the cemetery, all man
ner of business throughout the city was
suspended during the funeral hours, the
State, Federal, county and municipal de
partments of government closed, courts
suspended their sittings and class exer
cises in all educational institutions were
cancelled during the day, while the com
monwealth bowed in reverent triblute to
its Ipost beloved and distinguished citi
zen.
In announcing the order of exercises,
Mr. Murrah feelingly alluded to the man
ner in which Bishop Galloway had passed
away. He described the all-night vigil
at the bedside, the sweet, serene and
peaceful look his face assumed as day
light approached, and urged the friends
and loved ones of the dead divine not to
speak of him as dead, for those who serve
God as he did will never die.
Bishop Hendrix delivered the first fu
neral oration. He selected as his text
the first chapter of the Seqond Book of
Samuel, David's tribute to Jonathan,
"How are the mighty fallen."
Bishop Hendrix drew a striking conm
parison between Prince Jonathan of the
House of. David and "Prince Charlie," as
Bishop Galloway was affectionately
known in the College of Bishops, saying
that he would speak on only two of his
many great qualities-a renowned leader
and a passionate lover of men-for these
were his leading characteristics. It was
as a mighty leader that his church knew
him best. He was wonderfully efficient
as a pastor, brilliant as an editor, emi
nent as a bishop and wonderful as an
orator, whose voice was heard in all the
land, inspiring men to better lives and
nobler action. It was as a lover, intense,
loyal and devoted, that he was known
to thousands of friends.
Bishop Hendrix spoke at some length
of the rare beauty of Bishop Galloway's
personal character, of the love for his
fellowmen with which his heart expand
ed. He was a great fover, not in his
family alone, but his love was as broad
as the universe, full of the deepest ten
derness and love for mankind. No one
can be a great lover of others who loves
himself. Bishop Galloway had a love
like unto that of Jonathan, which he
poured out lavishly, and we are lonely
and broken-hearted today because he
loved us so.
Bishop Hendrix's closing remarks
brought tears to every eye in the congre
gation, and when he closed by saying
that "There is but one place for a great
soul like this, and that is in the arms
of God," the scene in the church was
deeply affecting.
Bishop Candler Overcome.
Bishop Candler was so overcome'by his
personal grief that he could not find
words to speak the funeral oration that
was in his heart. He said that he felt
more as a mourner than one called to
speak at a funeral, and was unequal to
the task. His tribute was brief but elo
quent, dealing with Bishop Galloway's
life.
Pastor, editor, educator, missionary
and statesman, and he compared the
dead divine to David, for he was always
magnanimous to those who opposed him.
His picture of Bishop Galloway was
graphic and accurate. He spoke of his
wide sympathies, of his graces of per
son, his universal love of mankind, of
the friendship he inspired and held
among the people of all classes, and the
the wonderful achievements he wrought
for the church. In conclusion he said:
"Our prince has gone over the seas, never
to return, and we shall not see his like
again."
Large Floral Designs.
There was a notably large number of
elaborate floral designs sent by church
boards, educational institutions, district
conferences, etc.
One exceptionally beautiful design re
ceived at the residence shortly after the
noon hour was from Lamar Lodge No. 30,
knights of Pythias, of this city.
A Venerable Mourner.
Levin Lake, of Oxford, Mississippi's
oldest traveling man, who is now in his
91st year, made an all-night journey
from his home in order to be present at
the funeral.
A beautiful affection existed between
this venerable kalght of the grip and
Bishop Galloway. For more than sixty
iyears Mr. Ltake was one of the best
known traveling men. in the State, and
-as a familiar Bgdre on railway trains
and in iotel :lobbies. He had often ex
pressed the hope that when he passed
sway Bishop Galloway would be withis
cal to conduct his funeral ervice, an4
who ,be sached the residear ce this more
ing ift`e a a'd and fseting igreting
phei tC this nagE ead honoreT frls
DEVELOPMENT
CLUB FORMED
De Soto Parish to Be Promoted By
Citizens-Louisiana News Briefly
Recorded For Our 'Readers.
Mansfield.-A meeting was held at
the court house last week to organ
ise the De Soto Parish Club, the ob
ject of which is tp promote immi
gration to this parish and to offer
inducements to promoters and capi
talists to establish new entrprises of
every kind. With this purpose lh
view they will try to enlist the co
operation of the Kansas City South
ern, the Texas and Pacific and the
Houston and East Texas railroads,
and they start with the assurance
of the active support of two of these
roads. Various committees were ap
pointed to perfect the organization,
and the board of directors adjourned
to meet at an early date to adopt a
constitution and by-laws and go into
permanent organization. The board
of directors is composed of the lead
ing merchants, mill and lumber men,
bankers, planters, capitalists and
landowners in this section. The club
will be established upon a firm finan
cial basis, and a competent and ex
perienced business man, familiar
with the objects of the association,
will be employed as secretary. A
systematic and persistent effort will
be made to build up the waste places
in De Soto parish.
Plan For School Consolidation.
New Orleans.-The State Depart
ment of Education has sent out for
distribution a pamphlet giving rea
tions for the consolidation of the
schools in the rural districts, well
illustrated with views of the schools
before and after the consolidation
took place and the new schools were
built. The pamphlet also gives views
of the transfer system that is used
at all consolidated schools to get the
children to and from the schools.
The state superintendent expects his
plan for the introduction of agricul
ture on a large scale in the country
schools to a iulate the movement
for consolidate m of the schools in
the rural communities. It is only
the consol:dated schools in the rural
communities that arc being turned
into agricultural schools and courses
of study, based upon farm and coun
try life, can only be, profitably stud
led in these schooli. These pam
phlets on the consolidation of the ru
ral schools are being gotten out now
by the educational depar'tment, and
are expected to stimulate the efforts,
that are to be made this summer to
secure rural consolidated schools for
next session.
To Form Immigrant Colony.
Covington.-It is stated that Houl
ton Bros., large sawmill and land
owners of this parish, have given
1,000 acres of land to the State Board
of Agriculture and Immigration and
that Mr. Knoepher, secretary of the
board, was in Houltonville recently,
arranging with the Houltons for the
settling on this land a colony of
thrifty emigrants from Holland. This
land is well adapted to 'trucking and
dairying and the future of the colony
will be watched with interest, as it
will afford an object lesson in agri
culture and afford a demonstration
of the value of the enormous tracts
of cutover lands in this section of
the state. The Commercial Club
hopes in the near future to make a
proposition to Mr. Knoepner looking
to the establishment of a similar col
ony near Covington. ,
Rice Growers See Salt Water.
Crowley.-The salt water situation
on the Mermentau is daily growing
more serious. The fresh water in
the Mermentau and its tributaries is
getting lower and lower, while the
current in the Mermentau above Lake
Arthur is now flowing up-stream. The
pumps are rapidly lowering the wa
ter on the upper Mermentau. Noth
ing prevents the salt water from en
te'ing the Mermentau and flowing up
the river to replace the fresh water
drawn out. Unless rain comes it is
altogether likely that it is a matter
of only a short time when salt water
will reach the upper Mermentau and
the pumps will have to stop or lift
salt water.
Cotton Crop is improved On.
Baton Rouge.-The statement of
the Department of Agriculture to the
farmers of Louisiana since the ad
vent of the boll weevil, that there
are other moneyed crops for the cot
ton growing sections of Louisiana be
sides cotton, has been demonstrated
in East Baton Rouge by James Clay
ton. This planter is cutting from a
40-acre tract of land the oats whica
he planted a few months ago. He is
cutting two tons of oats to theo'cre
and is getting $12 a ton for the prod
dyet. The income will greatly ex
ceed that derived from a cotton crop
on the same land.
Bore For Oil and Gas,
Bayou Chilcot.--Hugh Blackshire of
Plaisance has passed here with the
entire plant of the Plaisance Oil
Company for Pine Prairie, having
been purchased by Gen. Nelson Myles
to bore for oil and gas near Pine
Pra'lrie.
Church Society is Organized.
Plaucheville.-Rev. Father C, Bra
hic has organized the Holy Name So
ciety here with 12 members as the
12 apostles. .
Boll Weevil is Strong.
Baton Rouge.-That Louisiana hat
now, and will always have, a va9'
number of boll weevils, more pet
acre for the early part of the season
than are to be found per acre in Tex
as, is the opinion of Dr. W'. D. Hun
ter, entomologist of the United States
Department of Agriculture, in charge
of the work which the department is
doing in the Southern states towards
curbing the ravages of the weevil
Experlments show that a greater pet
cent of the weevils survive in this
state than in any other on account
of the river bottom lands.
Oil Man Terribly Injured.
Shreveport.-W, G. O'Connell, trav
eling representative of the Waters
Pierce Oil Company, has been
brought to a local sanitarium from
Rodessa, this parish, where he was
beaten by unknown parties and left
for dead. His head, face and limbs
are terribly bruised, in some places
being almost batered to a pulp., Re
cently O'Connell was a witness in a
criminal case here, and the assault
is supposed to have been due to this,
though the authorities have not de
cided.
Bridge Contract is Awarded.
St. Martinville.-At a special meet.
Ing of the school board the bids for
the new building to be erected at
Breaux Bridge were opened and the
contract awarded to an Opelousas
firm, the lowest bidders, whose bid
was $12,904. There were seven bid
ders, and their figures were pretty
close. Charles A. Favrot, architect of
the new building, was present wfJen
the bids were opened. Work will be
gin on or before May 26, and the
building is to be ready for occupancy
by October 1.
Rice Men's Interesting Meeting.
Crowley.-Much local interest is
shown in the meeting here of the
board of directors of the Louisiana
Rice Farmers' Association. The ob
ject of the meeting is to perfect
measures for gathering from the far
mers statistics on acreage and pro
duction. The Louisiana millers are
gathering statistics on these points
and an effort may be made to arrange
for co-operation between the millers
and the farmers.
Near-Beer Cases Have Echo.
Shreveport.-Prompted by a call
from Rabbi P. Jacob.son, who sa'f
,.the prosecutiOn of near-beer dealers
in Shreveport was un-American, Un
constitutional and outrageous, a num
ber of Shreveport anti-prohibitionists
have formed themselves into what is
known as the "Liberty League," a
branch of the American Liberty
League. Two meetings, it is dis
closed, have been held, and officers
have been elected.
Buirding Giant Lumber Crafts.
Lake Charles.--A coi struction com
pany of Lockport, the largest boat
btilding corporatidn between New
Orleans and Galveston, is turning
out a number of large barges to be
used in exporting lumber. The barges
are being built for, Houston and Gal
veston parties and some of them are
giants in size.
Husband and Wife Die.
Grand Cane.-E'. R. McMlichael, a
prominent planter, and his wife died
natural deaths nine hours apart one
day last week.
BRIEF MENTION.
Governor Sanders delivered diplo
mas to 83 graduates of the State Nor
mal School at Natchitoches.
The state convention of the Knigits
of Columbus will be held at Lake
Charles in 1910.
A proposition was made to the
Louisiana Conservation Commission
to stop the two burning gas wells m
the Caddo field at a cost of 5.40,000.
The Louisiana Association of Title
Men was organized at Alexandria
at a meeting of abstractors of title
of the state.
Secretary Knoepber of the Louis
lana Board of Immigration, will tour
the state and gather data on the con
dition of German colonists, the com
piled information to be published in
Berlin newspapers with the purpose
of inducing further immigration.
The necessary contracts have been
signed by Covington dairymen for
disposing of 1,500 gallons of milk dai
ly for consumption in New Orleans.
The Louisiana Retail Merchants'
Association, after electing officers at
Lake Charles, adjourned to meet next
year in Alexandria.
The city gambling ordinance of
Lake Charles will be tested in the
Supreme Court.
Fred Hinton wns killed at Bush,
La., while alighting from a train.
The Catholic Knights of America
held their annual session at Plaque
mine.
The trial of F. F. Bouvy has been
fixed for May 26 at Plaquemine.
The gasboat Jerry, with oyst-nr:.
sank off Tlmbilller Island; loss, $40,
000.
The trial of Al!den Lagrue for kill
ing Gamekeeper Jordan has Degun at
Amite City.
J. J. and Robert Parker were ad.
mitted to bail at Minden on the
charge of killing William M. Mont
gomery.
The Leguria arrived at New Or
leans last week with 200 Italian im
migrants.
Michael Fitzpatrick of New Oi'
leans was crushed to death .by an
elevator.
The New Orleans dock board has
old nearly $2,00A.000 more bonds.
• • , ·" •
PRESIDENT TAFT ATTENDS
CHARLOTTE CELEBRATION
Three Days' Carnival in the North Carolina City Marks
the Anniversary of the Famous Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence.
Charlotte, N. C.-With three days of
ailitary drills, band concerts,
speeches, athletic contests and other
kinds of entertainment, the one hun
dred and thirty-fourth anniversary of
the Mecklenburg declaration has been
celebrated, and all North Carolina is
happy in the knowledge that its pet
legend- has been recognized by the
president of the United States; for
Mr. Taft gave the occasion the official
sanction of his presence and was the
chief feature of the celebration.
The carnival began Tuesday noon
when the Charlotte fire companies
gave an exhibition of their skill and
speed. At three o'clock there was a
drill by a body of United States cav
alry and a band concert at the fair
grounds, followed by a league ball
game. The evening was given up to
a drill by the Charlotte drum corps and
a concert by three bands.
Governors' Day Program.
Wednesday was designated as gov
ernors' day and the main event was
the delivery of addresses by Gov.
Kitchin of North Carolina and the
chief executives of several other
states, at the fair ground. These were
preceded by a big athletic meet and
followed by a cavalry drill, military
maneuvers and band concerts, with
another ball game thrown in for good
measure.
Two events made the evening not
able. The first was a May musical
festival at the Auditorium which en
listed the services of a number of ex
w..
President Taft.
cellent soloists and a large and well
trained chorus. The second was a,
illuminated parade given by the Order
of Red Men.
President Taft Arrives,
Just at ten o'clock Wednesday
morning the booming of a 21-gun sa.
lute by the Charlotte artillery notified
the people that President Taft' had
arrived on his special train. Nearly
all the inhabitants and the thousands
of visitors were at the station, and as
Mr. and Mrs. Taft alighted from their
car they were greeted with a mighty
roar of applause. A special.recep
tion committee took the distinguished
guests in charge and conducted them
to the Selwyn hotel, where they were
,welcomed by Gov. Kitchin, Senators
Simmons and Overman and the mayor
of Charlotte.
After meeting all the committeemen
and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. Taft, to
gether with Mrs. Stonewall Jackson,
the governor and mayor and other
distinguished visitors, were escorted
by a guard of old soldiers to a review
ing stand and witnessed a great pa
rade of all the military and civic or
ganizations that could take part in the
celebration.
Mr. Taft 8peaks Twice.
A second installment of the music
festival in the Auditorium was
graced by the presence of the city's
guests, and then all returned to
the reviewing stand, where President
Taft delivered an address. His words
were listened to with close attention
and frequently elicited loud applause.
Later in the afternoon the presidentT
made a speech to the colored people
and the students of Blddle university.
From 8 to 9:30 in the evening Mr.
and Mrs. Taft held a public re
ception in the parlors of the Sel
wyn hotel and shook hands with thou
sands of people.
Military drills, band concerts and
other entertainments were provided
for the crowds all Wednesday after
noon and evening, and the great cele
bration closed in a blaze of glory.
Old Controversy Renewed.
The people of North Carolina, whose
proudest boast has been that their an
cestors were the first Americans to
throw off the yoke of British rule, now
rejoice in the feeling that President
Taft has recognized the justice of
their claim, but the century-old con
troversy has-broken out afresh. Many
historians refuse to accond to the pio
neers of Mecklenburg county the
honor that is thus accorded them.
These historians allude to the story
as "the Mecklenburg myth," and
thereby arouse the anger of North
Carolinians.
According to those unbiased investi
gators who have looked most deeply'
into the matter, the Mecklenburgers
did hold a public meeting on May
t1, 1775, and did adoat resoltautionds.
quite abreast of the public sentiment
of that time, but not venturing on the
deld of independence further than to
say that these resolutions were to re
main in force till Great Britain re
signed its pretensions. In 1793, or
earlier, some of the actors in the pro
ceeding endeavored to supply the rec
ord from memory, unconsciously inter
mingling some of the phraseology of
the Declaration of July 4, which" gave
the resolution the tone of a pro
nounced independency. Probably
through another dimness of memory,
they affixed the date of May 20, 1775,
to them.
Case for Mecklenburgers.
The case for the Mecklenburgers is
set forth as follows: In 1818 there
arose a great rivalry between Massa
chusetts and Virginia as to which com
monwealth should receive the credit
for the Philadelphia document, and
the controversy was brought up in
congress. It was at this time that
Davidson, a representative in con
gress from North Carolina, announced
that-Mecklenburg county had declared
her independence 13 months before
the promulgation of the document in
Philadelphia.
While the statement created some
surprise it resulted in an investiga
tion into the facts as to the Mecklen
burg declaration. This inquiry was
made by Nathaniel Macon, who pre
resented North Carolina in the senate,
and through Gen. Joseph Graham and
Representative Davidson, Senator Ma
con received from Dr. Joseph McKnitt
Alexander, the son of John McKnitt
Alexander, a full account of "the
event," which Dr. Alexander said he
had "copied from papers left by his
father." This statement, which in
cluded the May 20th declaration, Sena
tor Macon sent to Raleigh, N. C., and
it was published in the Register on
Friday, April 30, 1819.
Dr. Alexander's Story.
Dr. Alexander related at length how
the farmers of Mecklenburg county
in the spring of 1775 had called a con
vention to be composed of two dele-'
gates from each settlemgn in, the
county to meet May 19 to devise
means for the assistance et.the "muf-
fering people of Boston and to extri
cate themselves from the impending
storm." "Official news, by express, ar
rived of the battle of Lexington," ac
cording to Dr. Alexander's report to
Senator Macon, and the influence of
the news from Lexington, he added,
resulted in the unanimous adoption of
the Mecklenburg declaration of inde
pendence.
The declaration, as written by Dr.
Brevard, and approved by the conven
tion on May 20, 1775, reads:
"1. Resolved, That whosoever di
rectly or indirectly abetted or in any
way, form or manner countenanced
the unchartered and dangerous inva
sion of our rights, as claimed by
Great Britain, is an enemy to this
country--America-and to the inher
ent and inalienable rights of man.
"2. Resolved, That we, the citizens
of Mecklenburg county, do hereby dis
solve the political bands which have'
connected us to the mother country,
and hereby absolve ourselves from all
allegiance to the British crown and
abjure all political connection, con
tract or association with that nation,
who have wantonly trampled on our
rights and liberties and inhumanly
shed the innocent blood of American
patriots at Lexington.
Declared Themselves Free.
"3. Resolved, That we do hereby de
clare ourselves a free and independ
ent people, are, and of right ought to
be, a sovereign and self-governing as
sociation under the control of no
power other than that of our God
and the general government of the
congress to the maintenance of which
independence we solemnly pledge to
each other our mutual co-operation,
our lives, our fortunes and our most
sacred honor.
"4. Resolved, That as we now ac
knowledge the existence and control
of no law or legal officer, civil or mil
itary, within this county, we do here'
by ordain and adopt, as a rule of life,
each and every one of our former
laws, wherein, nevertheless, the crown
of Great Britain never can be consid
ered as holding privileges, immunities
or authority therein.
"5. Resolved, That it is also further
decreed that all, each and every mili
tzry officer in this county is hereby
reinstated in his former command and
authority, he acting conformably to
these regulations. And that every
member present of this delegation
shall henceforth be a civil officer, via.,
a justice of the peace, in the charac
ter of a 'committeeman,' to issue proc
ess, hear and determine all matters of
controversy, according to said adopt
ed laws,,and to preserve peace and
union and harmony in said county,
and to use every exertion to spread
the love of the country and fire of
freeidom throughout America, until a
more general and organized govern.
ment be established in this province."
Blessings of a Diet.
Nowadays it's a godsend for a man
to get rheumatism. Instead of filling
him up with salicylic acid, iodine ol
potash and other atrocities to tear
out his insides, intelligent physicians
put him on a diet. When they cure
him of being a hog they cure him ol
his rheumatism and everything else
from a murderous liver to the disposl
tion of a flend.-aew York Press.