The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-12-05
[ NUMBER IL.

ed much maturity Of oplniou, on the sub
Ject Of Independence; the people were &C.
tually living under wing Cove rnment, and,
consequently, no where felt the restraints
Of royal authority. la every section Of the
state, the great principles Of liberty, and the
uua!enable and Inherent rights Of man
had been sedulou5ly intoxicated by the dis
tiuguished wing leaders of the day-to
them the people were ardently attached,
and to them they anxiou-Iy looked for a re-
moyai of grievances. Upon the memory Of
such men as Johnston, a Harvey, 40 Ashe,
Hooper, a Caswell, an IrdeiI, Polk,
with many others, pioneers in the cause Of
liberty, the patriot delights to dwell. Tn.
der the auspices Of such men, the preYjn.
cal congress Of l77i was called into Icing,
comprising the virtue and intelligence Of
the people. In this congress, The delegates
OF each county and town we're instructed to
have elected county commuters whose
duty il was TO have the resolves Of congress
properly executed, arrest tories, aud con-
suit for the general good. these county
committees" soon sprung into existence at
the recommendation of the delegates, aud
proved one Of the most useful Instruments
employed 10 the revolution Of public opin-
ion. They held four regulur sessions dur.
Ing the year, but from their great facility
Of assembling, we're in the habit Of meeting
at short notices for the transaction Of
any important business. History informs
Us, they sometimes " usurped the authority
OF the county court, and subjected the gray.
ity and reason of the law TO The contro! of
the popular will" This conflicting juFis.
diction, however, did not "uproei the toun-
da,:oDs of civil society,"" as predicted by
governor Martin ION the contrary, their
lmpudences were amply atoned for by the
good they accomplished. "They exercis-
ed, rigidly, political censorship, and did
not hesitate to subject to the penance Of
dungeon all persons convicted Of dsrespect-
full language to the American cause That
they held frequent meetings throughout tho
year 1875, we have abundant proof IN the
history of the state, and proclama.ions Of
governor Martin, denouncing them as "traI-
torous " and sedluous combinations, and
"subversiye Of his maiesty's government"
And again, We ask, may not these resolu.
lions OF May 3lst have emanated from this
committee" deriving It's authority from q
provincial congress? At this distant day
II is, perhaps, Impossible to say with which
committee they origlnated-eithcr nigh;
have passed them, and It IS now matter Of
little moment to which we ascribe their pa.
ternity. The flame, kindled at the bal.lc
OF Lexington, continued 10 rage with una.
bated fury throughout the state, and was
the active excitantIn the Mecklenburg Con.
ventlon of May 18th and 20th, Of promoting
the adoption Of the most stern and declata-
tive measures. The same soul stirring AZ
gumeat-the " inhuman shedding of blood"
al LeSlngton-Is heard and felt, 10 the pro.
ceedlngs the :" Cumberland Association,
one month afterwards, (June 20th.) These
associations 5" prevailed extensively du.
ring the year 1910, and, although only a
few acts, breathing the most spirited tone
OF resistance, have reached our times, shall
we reject these as spurious, unworthy of 4
" local habtatIon and 4 name" because
they have not yet been found in the pages
of newspaper, and thus fall within the linz
lis of our narrow prejudices The proceed.
lngs of these associations" and few 9th.
er patriotic meetings, as well as the Meek
lenburg resolves of May Goth, have come
down TO US IN properly,authentlcated man
ner, and they all await the same doom-a
rejection or reception By an impartial pub.
lie. The Meckleuburg Declaration was
found among the valuable papers of the late
General William r. DAVE, IN all respects
proper depositary of such a record, and
TO whom we have evidence copy was sent.
This copy, now in the executive office at
Raleigh, somewhat torn, aud bearing all
the marks OF age, is entirely legible. A
bare inspection OF this venerable paper IS
we'll calculated to produce favorable opln-
perticial or ncredulous investigator Of this
subject. But apart from these explanatory
views relative TO a consistent accountable
~ Of the resolutions of May 3lst, have we
not the most direct and specific testimony?
The late Col. William Polk of Raleigh,
say >, ITO was present OH lue ~VIu ui hidEg
l775, and heard bis father, (Col. Thomas
Polk,) proclaim independence to the assem-
bled multitude And need i: be inquired,
Will he be believed The proclamation OF
independence on such an inspiring occasion.
was we'll calculated TO make deep lmpres.
sion on every interested spectator. The
late General Graham, of Llnco!n, citizen
and soldier worthy of the best days of the
republic, and noted for his general iuteli-
gence and accurate knowledge of revoIu-
tionary events, says, During the winter
and spring preceding that event, (Declara.
ton Of independence, several popular meet
ings of the people were held in Charlotte;
two Of which attended. Ga the goth of
May, 1915, besides the two persons elected
from each militia company, Casually called
committee men, a much larger number OF
citizens attended in Charlotte than at any
former neutrality-suspicious. half the men in
the county. The news Of the battle OF Lex