Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-18
NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENCE.

|
want. UNCLE SAM.
NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENCE
Mr. Polk, from the selec tcommittee to whom the
SUBJECT had been referred. made the following Re-
port. which was concurred in, AMI the accompanv-
ing resolutions ordered to be engrossed and sent to
the Senate for concurrence.
The COMMITTEE to whom it was referred tn oya-
m'ne, collate and arrange in proper order such par,
! OF the Journals of the Provincial Assemblies of
North Carolina relate to the Declaration Amer
lean Independence; also such documents as relate Tn
the Declaration of independence made by the patrio
tic men of Mecke burg in Nav 1875 and also such
measures as relate to the cause adopted by the
free men NJ Cumberland county, previous to the
fourth of July. I776. in order to the publication
and distribution Of such documents. having perform
ed the duty assigned them, respectfully Report:
That upon an attentive examination of the
Journals OF the Provincial Assembly of North Car
DINA, which met Halifax in the month of Novem
Der l776. the Committee of opinion that no
:. selection could be made from the said Journal to
answer the purpose of the House But every
thing relating to that period, must be ntere sting
| to those who value the blessing of National indie
pendence, the committee recommend that the whole
OF the Journal be printed, and receive the same ex-
tended distribution which the resolution of the
House contemplates for he proceedings in Neck
ienburg and Cumberland. This course Is deemed nv
the committee the more proper, because the Jour
nal is out OF print, and it is highly probable
that the copy in the possession of the committee IS
| the only one now eXtant.
! Your committee have also examined collated and
arranged. all the documents which have been ac-
cessibie to them, touching the Declaration of indie
pendence by the citizens of Meeklenburg, end the
proceedings of the free men of Cumberland
by the publication of these papers, it will be fully
verified that as early as the month of Nav, l775
portion of the people of North-C sensible
that their wrongs could no longer be borne without
sacrificing both safety and honor, and that redress
SO often sought SO patiently waited for, and so cru
ely delayed, was no longer to be expected did by
public and solemn declare the dissolution of tho
ties which bound them to the Crown and people Of
Great-Brta IN, and did establish an independent tho
Temporary government for their control and d.
rection.
This Grst o=in -f a.inces suci,
sentiments OF vaour and patriotisuI that we cannot
Fl and ought not lightly to esteem the o..or Of hay
ing made it The fact of the Declaration should be
announced, its language should be published and per
petuated and the names of the gallant representatives
of Mccklenbnrg, with whom it originated sbould he
preserved from an oblivion. which should it involve
them. would as much dishonor as iniure them II
The thought OF Independence did not first occur To
them, to them at least belongs the proud distinction of
having given language to the thought: and it should
be known and fortunately, it still be- concusyey
established, that the revolution received its FIRST i'm
pulse towards Independence, how feeble that nnuIse
might have been, In North Carolina. The committee
that this assertion has elsewhere been rece
we'd with doubt and at times with denial and II &c
therefore, believed TO be strongly Incumbent
upon the House to usher to the world the ieckenburg
Declaration, accompanied with such testimonials of its
genuneness shall silence increduity, and with such
for its general diffusion shall forever secure
from being forgotten And in recounting the causes
the origin and the progress of revolutionary strIq
gle, till its final Issue in acknowledged independence
whatever the brilliant achievements of other States
may have been, let it be forgotten that at ne
Rod of darkness and oppression, without concert with
others, without Of support from any quarter
afew gallant North CaFoluaus, all fear of consequences
lost in of their couptry's wrongs, relying TN
der Heaven, solely Upon themselves, nobly dared to
assert and resolved TO maintain that independence of
which whoever might have thought, none Lad then
spo1en and thus earned for themselves and for their
feilow~citizens of North Carolina the honor of giving
birth to the first Declaration of Independence.
/ The Committee respectfully recon end the adop-
4 ton Of the following resolutions
All of which is submitted,
THOMAS G. POLK, Chr'n
/ JOHN BRAGG,
/ EVAN ALEXANDER,
4 LOUIS p HENRY,
ALEX M'NEILF.
| Resolved That his Excelency the Governor be di-
rected to cause to be published in pamphlet form the
above report and the accompanying documents in the
manner and order following viz After the report 1st
The MeokleBburg Declaration with the names of the
Delegates composing the meeting. I'd, The certf-
testfyng 60 the circumstances attending the De
claration Sd, The proceedings of the Cumberland
Association. And that he be further instructed to
have reprinted IN ike manner, separate and distinct
from the above the accompanying Journal Of the Pro-
vincsl Assembly, held at Halifax in 1776
Resolved further, That after publication, the Co.
vernon be instructed TO distribute said documents as
follows TO wits 20 copies OF each 70 the Libra-y Of the
State; TO each Of the Libraries of the University 10
copies to the Library of the Congress of the United
States 10 copies; and one copy each Of the EJECT
lives Of the several States of the Uno?.
DlEDAt lis residence some weeks since in the county nj
hlbemare Col JcN JoRohS late Ser the House Of
the foremost Of that band Of Pa,rro who achieved our Rcy-
lJon at the curly OF 10 ne joined the continental amy IN
which he continued the whole of war with the ezre;5 o
Is months imprisonment Charleston and sx months copfnc
mcni from wound ne received battle of White Plains