The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-07-24
From :. Curios,fies Of American Literature. !"
Authorship OF the Declaration oil
INDEPENDENCE

INDEPENDENCE.
Thomas JEFFERSON desired il TO be record =
ed on his monument that he was the " author
Of the Declaration Of American lndePen-
dence." Since his death, much discussion
has been produced by the fact that many ex'
pressions in this celebrated document have
been found to be identical with the language 1
used in tho +" MeckIenburg Declarations Of
4 Independence, a paper Of eaIlicr date, aud
il il conceded ,ha, the rescmblances between
/ the two instruments are not accidental. La
1919, John Adams found copy OF The
Mecklenburg Dec!ara ion in The Essex
Register into which galetie II bad been
copied from the /" Rileigh Register and
percelving its similarity TO the Congressional
Declaration, and that it purported TO be an
older document, he inc'osed It 10 Mr.. j. Her
son, with whom he was hen in ffequen, coz
rcspondence. The Sage Of Monticello
replied 10 Mr.. Adams, informing him that
he did no, believe the paper to be authentic
Ibeiiere il TO be spurious" he says: ~
deem it a rery uJ.aifabie q'is." Z" Nor
do affirm positively tina, this paper is fab.
riruion because the proof of a negative can
only be presumptiye but | shall believe II
such until positive and solemn proof OF It's au
ihenlici,y shall be produced" The docu.
mcnt is az follows:
THE NfcKLESEuRG DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
(20A of May l775.)
THAT whosoever directly or indirectly
abcis, or in any way, form, or manner, c'un
tenances The uncharlered and dangerous m
vasion of our rights, as claimed by Great
Britain, il an enemy to this country, TO A.
merica, and 10 the uhercn, and undenia0le
rights of man.
"Tha, we, the citizens of Mecklenbufe
coun,y, do hereby dissolve the political bands
which have connected us with the mother
country, and hereby nbsolvc ourselves iiom
all allegiance to the British crown, and alb
Iire all political connection, contract, or as
sociaiion with that nation, who have wahton-
ly uamped on our rights aud liberties, and
inhumany she'd tie blood Of American palr
OTIS al Lexington.
"That We do hereby declare ourselves q
free and independent, people are, and OF
riuhi ought to be, q sovereign aud self. GOV,
: aIa,.u s.saeiai..a, .uuder The control oi nc
power. other than that nf our God, aud The
general government Of Congress; to 'ht
: maintenance Of which independence, We SO
lcmnly pledge to each other, our mutual CO
operation. our lives, our fortunes, and ou'
most sacred honour.
: That as We ackGow ledge the existence
and control of no law nor legal officer, c'vi
!, or military, within This county, We do hereby
ordain aud adopt as rule Of life, all, each
= and every OF our former laws; wherein, new
9 ef,heless, the crown Of Great Britain neve
y can be considered as holding rights, priv
: leges, immunities, or authority therein.
: "That i, is further decreed, that all, each
!. and every military officer in this county, !
- hereby rens,aled ia hi. former command an
!, authority, he acting conformably 10 the reg
,e ulalons. And that every member p'esen
a OF this dele sni,on shall henceiotlh be cav
/ officer, viz, a Justice Of the peace, IN IN
he character Of committee man, to issue Pre-
\. cess, hear, and determine all matters OF cot
i troversy, according to said adopted laws
"a and to preserve peace, union, ana harmon
SO IN said county, and to use every exet'ion
n spread the love of country and lire oil tre'
or dom throuehou, America, until a more gei
NJ. era and organized government be establish
ed ed in this province.
"ABRAuAM ALEXANDER, Chairman
,at Jouy MkNITT ALEXANDER. Secretary
The letter of Mr.. Jefferson having bet
- published, the Legislature OF North Caro'in
. Influenced by a natural state pride, made
- thorough investigation Of all the facts co
~, nected with the Mecklen6urg Declaratio
the result, of which was the establishment
the authenticity Of that documen, hy I
i, most conclusive testimony. Professor Tue
Ia er, in his Life of Jefferson, IS forced to add
',,o thai there is plagiarism IN the case but
'..a cidcs that Mr.. Jefferson could cot be I
,',,, plagiaty. He does nol deny .ha, on |
- 20,h Of May, l7,5, the citizens Of Meck''
burg county, North Ca olna, made some $
~, of a Declaration of Independence, but
-, contends that it was not in the words OF
az, instrument nov pubnshed and that the
- cond and third paragraphs or resolves VII
this contains are nierpola'lons, copied "
Mr.. Jeiii,rsou's Declaration after the 4'h
July, l776. This position OF Pfoies
rs Tucker has been ovctthrown, and the perl
nl'e' Authenticity of the Mecklenburg docum
ming so concusively and satisfactorily establish
,oc;. that it is unnecessary at this time TO Ell
~ into any discussion of that point.
'o"' THE BATTLE OF LIFE.
"a norneiual cotfc with natural des