Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-09-17

1 laration of Independence. It is from fine
 pen, and no doubt that of Doctor Ephraim | Brevard. Committeeman" were appoint
 ed, with the powers and jurisdiction of Jus
 tices of the Peace to administer the laws. - Various regulations were drawn up and adopt | ed, which were read few days after by Col. Polk to his regiment. Shortly after, what was called "1he Court of Inquiry" was constituted, who held meeting at Charlotte, at Col. Harris, and Col. Phifer's once week alternately The venerable Jno. MsKnitt tells us; It was civil court, founded upon militia ry process. It's jurisdiction was unlimited as toryism, and its decrees as final as the confi- dence and patriotism of the country" A pretty efficient court we hold it, to the iuris- dicfion df which, no pleas in abatement arc heard d. Connexions were formed with the adjoining counties, and shortly with the rest of tfe state, all of which temporary means of government were superseded by the forma- tion of the present constitution of North Car olina, in December 1776. In the mean time
 "the court of inquiry" "banished, imprisoned, and bouna to security all tories, aud suspend. ed persois.
 Such ate the facts connected with this part of the history of the revolution-ust as well remembered blythe surviving heroes of Meek lenburg, andthe descendants of such as are no more, as the celebrated resolutions of Patrick Henry are recollected by the people of Vir ginia. The venerable John Simeson tells an anecdote worthy preservation when col- lecting the facts upon which the legislatures grounded their report, he inquired of an aged neighbor, (doubtless, genuine descendant of the couenantors, and worthy the days of John KnoX,) what he recollected the affair; who ,ol <Ja T.. dehendence lang 6efore ony body else"
 There were no printing presses in the coun- try until long after the revolutionary struggle was happily ended-many of the heroes of Mecklenburg had fallen during the war, for they, with CHAM POLK" as their command ing general, fought it out, from Georgia to Connecticut, and ended the business by help ing to take Cornwallis at Little York. Many had sunk into the grave by the course of na- ture, when in 1919, the Mecklenburg Decla- ration of Independence was first published in the Raleigh Register It ran the rounds of the newspapers, and was re-published in the Es- sex Register-this paper the venerable John Adams enclosed to his compatriot and friend, Thomas Jefferson who replied-he did not believe sucL declaration was ever made ;be- cause, so important an act was not noticed at thea' 'time-he had no recollection ever to have heard of it; nor had any history ofthe times given any account of it. Says MT Jeff ferson-s'when MT Henry's resolutions, far short of Independence, flew like lightning through every paper, and kindled both sides of the Atlantic, this flaming declaration, of the same date, of the independence of Meek lenburg country, of North Carolina, absolv-
 ng it from British allegiance, and abjuring all political connection with that nation, although sent to Congress too, is never heard of, Stc " When MT Jefferson's works were published i'll 1899, this letter was inserted, and of course read by the 7uorid, as every thing coming from the pen of that incompatible patriot and political philosopher is, and ought to be read. The people of North Carolina felt themselves aggrieved. The high-toned and distinguished General William Polk, felt, as he ought to have felt, that his father had fought through seven year war to little purpose, if one of his brightest laures could be plucked from his brow, by an innocent failure of memory in MT Jefferson. They set about it, and have corrected the mistake. Wm. Polk was pre- sent at the Mecklenburg Convention, then eighteen years of age-his iron frame has been proof against the balls of tories, and Bri- tish-the hardshps of the Revolution, and succeeding time, and he now possesses the
 
 years younger He remembers the declara- tion of Mecklenburg Independence, and the subsequent government well-may others e. qually remember it. That MT Jefferson's memory was defective in 1919, is certain.- He says to MT Adams, "this declaration of independence ard MT Henry's resolutions in the Virginia Assembly of he same date. e."- The resolutions of MT Henry were brought forward in 1765, ten years before. Forty five years had gone blythe hand of time rest ed heavily upon the memory of the renowned sage of Monticello-he had forgotten the cir cumstances. That they made no strong i'm pressicn originally on the mind of MT Jeffer- son, is probable; He first took his seat in the Continental Congress, the 21st of June 1775. About this time Capt. James Jack, as the messenger to communicate copy of the pro- ceedings to Congress, delivered them to the North Carolina representation. The country and congress were in extreme agitation, grow ing out of the battle at Lexington, fought the 18th of April previous. The people of this continent have not seen time so pregnant with mighty events. Five days after MT lief ferson took his seat, we find him drafting the declaration setting forth the causes for taking up arms: on the 22d of July he commenced preparing the report upon Lord North's con- ciiiatory resolution. Subjects of such all ab- sorbing general importance as to blot from the memory to great degree, local tranaction in which he had no immediate concern. Further more, he wrote to his old friend John Adams in the feeling of '76, when that choice and master spirit, by force of words, thought and action, that had not Then, and has not now fel- low, mainly helped to raise the whirlwind, that Mir Jefferson, with others, so happily di- rected to Independence. MT Adams resist less force and impetuosity, and MT Jefferson's philosophy, were then hand-maids-an ar dour of attachment was then formed, that out lived after party contention, and in 1919, stood