Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-09-17
From he National Banner.

p'd--shall goon? No.-Sterne'S WorkS.
 
 From he National Banner
 Dl, E9itor: Will you publish the follow ing Declaration Of Independence, made by the county of Mecklenburg, of North Caroli- na. on the 20th of May, 1775.
 The historical fact, that a single county first rejected the government of Great Brit ain, is not snly curious, but shews a boldness of conduct which has no fair parallel in the history of pur revolutionary struggle. In Mought, many portions of the colonies were ripe for separation, but the cool, determined, aight-forVard energy, necessary to the setting up of self-government, first displayed itself in the county of Mecklenburg rarer specimen of moral courage, adorns not the history of thii, or any other country: North Carolina is prpud of it, as well she may be- At the last ses,ion of her legislature she caus- ed to be embodied, and published, all the facts, and circumstances, connected with the transaction. Great Britain having shown determined spint, to enforce by the sword, unconditional submission upon the colonies, to the legislation of Parliament, ard having de- clared a portion of them out of the allegiance of the crown, the people of Mecklenburg held various meetings to consider ot their rights, and relative duties as subjects. In these meetings plain matter was presented: can we live with any reasonable hopes, that rue, and dur children after lts, can be else than poor, bowed down and miserable men, if the British Parliament can at pleasure strip us of our last dollar by the hand of the tax gatherer, and, if we resist, cause us to be murdered by brutal soldery, who, for the offence, are to be sent to England for trial, and there acquitted of course. The power to 4lx mil To off, across the ocean, strangers to us, ignorant of our necessities and whose interest it is to draw much money from us, so that less may be drawn from themselves; we have no voice in Pariament-to tax us without our consent is tyranny in principle, and must end in ruin and beggary in practice.
 By the statute 35, Hen. 9th, all those who might be guilty of treason, and all such as might know of its commission, and conceal the fact, although the crime was committed ont uf the kingdom, might be transferred to England for trial. This statute had never been deemedin force in the colonies, although in terms it applied to them.
 In the session of Parliament of 1769, the Lords and Commons petitioned the King to enforce it, particularly against the people of Massachusetts, for all treasons and conceai- ments of treaso7s, committed since the 29th day of December, l767. This was death blow aimed at the liberty of the colonies.- The statute prayed to be enforced upon the people of America, was one of the grossest abuses ofthat most profligate oftyrants, Hen ry 9th. The aardy and fearless people of Mecklenburs had for years maturely consi- dered and well weighed the consequences of these measures: they reasoned thus-"to carry us across the ocean to be tried for trea- son, and what is worse, to be tried tor the fm- aginary crime of concealing treason commit ted by others, where we know no man, where we have no witness to prove our innocence, where no friend will follow us, to give aid and comfort, isa7ufM Athome the chances would be dreadmlly against us; but, unfriended, alone, andin a London jail, all hope from the justice of nan would be lost, and the mercies of God tn, only resource"
 These were awful thoughts-thoughts that should sink deep in the bosoms of the young of this day. when they meet the halt and blind Revolutionary soldier-when they meet the high souled patriot of 76; the wreck of the ball and the sword: Remember! it 7vds tor YOU they fought and conquered-record, and transmit to posterity their every deed; 1t is profitable history.
 Solemn convictions that their liberties had been usurped by the mother country, fixed the determination of the patriots of Meek lenburg to throw off all allegiance to Great Britain. It was no nasty and idle vaunt-no flourshing gasconade of words; few of these were used, but it was the adoption of an'inde- pendent government in fact: The 20M of May 1775, was the last day that British pow CT was recognized or known, in Mecklenburg. This single county assumed self government and maintained it. It was bold and noble con- duct.
 The means used to frame and adopt the Declaration of Independence, and to assume self government, were straightforward and simple. Thomas Polk was colonel comman- dant of the county; upon consultation, and the assent of the common mind, or that whole people, he issued an order to his captains, directing each company of the regiment, to elect two persons to meet at the courthouse on the 18th of May: "To delegate to them ample powers to adopt measures to extrlcate themselves from the impending storm; to se- cure unimpaired their inalienable rights, pri- vileges and liberties, from the dominant grasp of British imposition and tyranny: and to de- wise ways and means, to assist their suffering brethren of Boston," On the 18th of May they met, deliberated that day, next night, and on the 2oth published the annexed Dec