The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-07-05
TEE WElGE&LsiNBUleG
Declaration Of independence.

In an article last week, we referred to
tide of emigration, which flowed many
years ago, from this county to Meckien-
burg county, North Carolina. We now
proceed to speak OF memorable and g!o
rious proceeding, in which natives Of this
county, after their removal thlther, were
tbe principal actors.
It has long ago been established be-
yond controyersy, that il May, 1875, more
than year prior 10 the adoption OF Jei-
terson's "Declara,lon,' the cilizens OF
Mecklenburg CO, N. c., declared them
selves a free and independent people, in "A
series of Resolutions clothed in language
in many points identical with, and in 9th
ers slrikIngly similar to that used by JEFF
(erson; so much so, that he must have drawn
upon it while engaged in preparing his
celebrated instrument, which was written
and adopted the subsequent year.
The Mecklenburg Declaration was pub.
lished in the Raleigh Register in 1919
Elk President John Adams, into whose
hands it fell, sent copy 10 MIR, Jefler-
son, who said he deemed it ''a very I'M
justIiable quizz," but also added, "nor do
! affirm positively that this paper is a fab
ricalon, because the proof of negative
can only be presunptive." The l.egis-
lature of N orth Carolina caused a tho>
rough investigation Of all The facts connec>
ted with the case to be made, which re-.
suited in establishing beyond all doubt
by nunber Of persons who wers pres
ent at the meeting which adopted the
resolutions, as well as by other conclu-
sive testimony, that they are authentic
and were drawn up and adopted at the
time of their date. The fact that Mr.
Jefferson drew upon them for some Of the
thoughts and words found in his admiIa>
bic document, need not be considered
any disparagement TO him, for the evil
dence of his ability and patriotism do not
rest alone upon that instrument; ii, how
ever, may rightly enough be supposed,
that had he been impressed with the vast
consequence which afterwards was to be
attached to tho paper on which he wos
lab oring, he would, as he was abundant,
" able to do, have made i! entirely cligi-
nal with himself.
At Lexington, on the 10Th of April,
IT'S, the first battle Of the Revolution
was fought-there was spilled the first
patriot blood. That sanguinary affair
sent thrill throughout the county, and
melted the people to appreciate the eXe>
gencies of the times and to act as they
required. In common with the rest of
the wings Of those days, the citizens OF
Meckienburg county were alive to the in
teresls of themselves and their country
They called convention in the town OF
Charlotte, composed of two members
from each military company in The coun''
ty, to which the North american Rcuiew
for January 1921, thus refers:
"Tho object Of the convention was to take into
consideration the existing state of things, and
| to deliberate Oh the best nlea surcs for res isl ing
the encroachments which were making by a
! foreign enemy on their liberties and property
Their deliberations soon terminated IN AN unan-
| imous agreement to throw off all allegiance tC
! the Government Of Great Britain, and declare
themselves independent. Resolutions to TIM
effect were passed Oh the 18th Of May, more
than thirteen months before the Declaration o
Independence by the Congress-, and they We're OF
the same day publicly proclaimed amidst tive
shouts and huz2as Of large assembly Of peo-
pie"
A certain Captain James Jack, o
Charlotte, the capitol Of the county, wa;
,np,;,IcJ II, c,rr,. Tho T. rE,lutihnS 4, ia,