Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-06-06

i TO call the Convention. DuCH 20"
sure TO bring together not merely me Sc
.lec,ed delegates, but the Whole country
and this explains the presence "i tf eE-
cited multitude in Charlotte on he I'm
If Nav l775, of which have made you
Imaginary spectators. =
TIE convention, proper, consiSle" OF
between twenty and dirty members one
Iof whom was a clergyman many ''',V',
professional men. and nearly "he-'''''
cons picuous for their exemplary ana con
sistent lives as christians. lLe coh'e"'
ton Tor 10 speak more correctly Tue
whole assemblage, for such was the 40
sorting interest OF the occasinn' 'ha' ''''
speeches made were delivered at once 10
both convention anG people, heard au-
dresses from Rev. Hezeklah Jones,
highly accomplished scholar. and William
Kennon, Esq, lawyer OF distinction aho
deserved influence so that The uhree
learned professions combined their power
TO set the revolutionary bail IN molIon.-
They did not, according to the testimony
Of eve witnesses, appeal to the passions or
seek 10 stir up the resentment OF the peo'
pie; they spoke 10 their reasons they
sci before them plainly the causes w'icn
were Al the foundation of the contest win
The mother country, and The consequen'
ces to be unprecedented, should The people
/ fail 10 make a firm resistance 10 the rlgh'
claimed of taxing the colonies and regnla-
tipo their internal policy, without allow
| inu them ID be heard. Into the midst oil
This assemhIage came the messenger
breathless with haste, bearing the tdIngs
from Massachusetts. The effect was
tba, of fire thrown into gunpowcer.
shout went up from the multitude, "Lrl
us be independent Let us declare our
Independence, and defend it with our
lives and fortunes. The conven'Ioh' !
should have mentioned, had duly organ
lied by choosing Abraham Alexander
their chairman aud John McknItt AleXan-
der and DR.. Buvard their secGetanes. I'm
body Immediately appointed the three
gentlemen who had addressed them, Bu-
ward. Kennon and Ralch, n commune OF
their body TO prepare suitable resolutions.
The committee had retired to perform
their duty the convention remained III
session. heard addresses from various IN
! divduaIs.
=
Thc convention then proceeded 10 en-
act certain regulations and bylaws, eXlen-
/ 1: Il Il nj
/ ing in the Courthouse, says one OF
them, "neilher sleepy. hungry or la
tigued." The committee, with the reso-
Iuions on Independence, came IN, ana
then with the bylaws and regulations
were taken up 10y The convention. One
Secretary read the resolutions, the other
the bylaws. All was silent as dcaih.--
The chaifman rose. TO these are you
all agreed said he, when from every
voice there went up response, Aye. 1t
was then determined that the convention
should adjourn the next day, and al noon
what they had determined on should be
read to The assembled people. The 2Olh
of May dawned on them brightly the
people of MeckIeuburg, men, women and
children were TIERS, They were told 10
assemble around The Court House door
to hear what their representatives. had
done. At noon Col. Thomas Polk stood
above them on the steps of the building
and read TO them these words
Resoiue, That whatsoever, directly or
indirectly, or in any way, form OF man
iner, countenanced the unchartered and
dangerous invasion of our rights, as claim
ed by Great Britain, is an enemy to his
country, TO America aud 10 the inherent
and inallnable rights of man.
ReSoIre, That we, the citizens OF
Mecklenburg county, do hereby dissolve
the political bands which have connected
us TO the neither country, and hereby ab-
solve ourselves from all allegiance TO The
British crown, and abjure all political con
Injections, contract or association, with
that nation who have wanlonly lrampIed
on our rights and liberties, and inhuman'
ly shed The blood Of American patriots al
Lexington.
ResOIre, That we do hereby declare
ourselves free and independent people,
and of right ought to be, sovereign and
self governing association, under the con-
troll Of no power other than that OF our
god and the general government of The
! Congress TO the maintenance Of which
Independence, we soemnly pledge TO
each other our mutual corporations, our
lives, our fortunes and OH most sacred
honor.
Resolue, That as we now acknowl-
edge the existence and control Of no law
or legal officer, civil or military, with thls
country, we do hereby. ordain and adopt,
as rule of life, all and every of our for
mel laws, wherein, nevertheless, tile crown