Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 20.djvu/353

 The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. 347

hardships and woes; it is the narrative of a cause which produced a Washington to lead its armies; a young Lafayette to bring succor and assistance from across the waters; a Franklin to give counsel; a Jefferson to defend with his voice and pen; it is the account of cour- age, heroism and fortitude unsurpassed in the annals of time. It tells of an army crossing the Delaware amid snow and ice, and of the retreat of half-starved patriot soldiers with bare feet and bloody tracks; of the capture of Ticonderoga "in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress;" of the intrepid Putnam's great leap from the rocks; of the famous exploits of " Marion's men;" of the valor of " Mad Anthony Wayne;" of the shameful treason of an Arnold at a critical period of the contest; of the deci- sive battle at Saratoga in the North and the subsequent surrender of the English army under Cornwallis at Yorktown in the South; of the evacuation of New York; of the final glorious triumph of the Continenal armies; of the recognition of our independence and the establishment of a free republic this is the epitome of the Revo- lution.

I am reminded of the fact that this county has another proud claim to distinction. It is the birthplace of Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk, two Presidents of the United States, two leaders of a great political party, two statesmen whose memory the country delights to honor, and whose achievements have reflected credit upon the county and State of their nativity. Truly you live in a most favored portion of our land. It was appropriate that these two great defenders of the rights of the people should have been born at the spot where liberty and independence were first ushered into existence.

The great heritage of freedom which was transmitted to us is is ours " Ours to enjoy, ours to preserve, ours to transmit." The exercises of this day, besides refreshing our recollection of revolu- tionary memories and stirring our hearts with patriotic pride, serve a better purpose in impressing upon our minds a sense of the respon- sibilities and duties of citizenship which devolve upon this genera- tion. The defense and preservation of the free institutions of America are obligations which we cannot escape. The eyes of the world are upon us. For over a century this country has run the glorious race of empire. We are in the lead, but the struggle is still on.

We should not be unmindful of the fact that we are the custodians of a sacred trust. Let us distinguish our discharge of that trust by