The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-09-08
THE
MECKLENBURG DECLARATION.

establishing the authenticity of the Meek
lenburg Declaration of Independence of
May 90, 1775. One is a copy of pam
phlet issued by order of the Legislature of
North Carolina in 1881. in which are the
certificates OF several respectable and in
telligent gentlemen. who were present in
Charlotte on the Goth of May, 1775, and
eye-witnesses of the proceedings of that
occasion; the other is copy of the West
ern Carolinian," published at Salisbury in
1885, containing an Address delivered by
Gen. Joseph Graham in response to toast
given at celebration in Charlotte in May
of that year. He therein states what he
saw and heard in Charlotte on the goth of
May, l775.
We propose to make a synopsis of the
evidence contained in the pamphlet, not
because we consider it necessary for estab-
fishing the genuineness of the Mecklenburg
Declaration, (that has already been effect
ually accomplished to the satisfaction of
all unprejudiced minds) but for the benefit
of those who have not had an opportunity
to see and read the document for them
selves.
The Legislature of North Carolina had
the pamphlet published and circulated, it
seems, in consequence of letter written
by Thomas Jefferson to john Adams upon
the reception of a newspaper (sent by Mr.
Adams) containing the Resolves of the peo-
pie of Mecklenburg, in which letter Mr.
jefferson denies their genuineness and ridi-
| cules the idea that such action was had at
the time specified.
The committee in behalf of the Legisla-
ture who collected the evidence, was COM
posed of Thos. G.. Polk, John Bragg, Evan
Alexander, Louis d. Henry and Alexander
McNeill.
The first certificate is that of DR.. Saml
Henderson, who testifes that he had in his
possession a copy of the Mecklenburg
Declaration in the hand writing of John
Mcknitt Alexander.
Capt. James Jack, who lived in the town
of Charlotte at the time, certifes that he
was privy to a number of meetings of
some of the most Influential and leading
characters of the county on the subject,
before the final adoption of the resolutions"
that he was present at the time they
were adopted, and afterwards heard them
publicly proclaimed from the Court House
door in Charlotte-that he carried the pro-
ceedings to the n. G.. delegates in Congress
at Philadelphia, passing through Salisbury
and leaving a copy with Col. kennon, an
attorney at that place. He gives the names
of Rev. Francis Cummins and VIM. Polk,
to whom he refers for further testimony.
Capt. Jack was in the Revolutionary war
from the commencement to the close, and
was a patriot as we'll as a man of veracity.
Alphonso Alexander, Amos Alexander
and j. McKnitt, of Cubarrus county, certi
fly that they heard VIM. S. Alexander say
that he was in Philadelphia at the time
Capt. Jack was there for the purpose of
having the proceedings of the goth of May
laid before Congress, and that Jack told
him (Alexander) that independence was
declared by the people at Charlotte ON the
Goth of May, 1875.
The Rev. Francis Cummins, a Presby-
terrain clergyman of Greene county, Ga,
in a letter to the Hon. Nathaniel Macon of
this State, states that he was present in
Charlotte on the occasion and heard Col.
Thos. Polk proclaim, from the Court House
steps. Independence of the English Gov
eminent. He says at that time he was a
A.
stituion of learning in Charlotte, and twas
an agent in these things
If anything was wanting at this day to
place the matter beyond all doubt, the fol-
lowing statement of Gen. Joseph Graham
would do it. Gen. Graham was al officer
in the Revolution, citizen and a soldier
worthy the best days of the Republic. He
was the father of Hon. VIM. A. Graham
of Orange county. He speaks from his
own personal knowledge as follows:
VEsUvIUs FURNACE, 4th Oct, 1880.
Dear Sir:-Agreeable to your request,
will give you the details of the Mecklenburg
Declaration of independence on the goth of
May, 1875, as we'll as | can recollect after
J
about half grown, was present on that occa-
sion "a locker on.)
During the Winter and Spring preceding
that event, several popular meetings of the
people were held in Charlotte; two of
which attended. Papers were read, grieV-
ances stated, and public measures discuss
ed. As printing was not then common in
the South, the papers were mostly manu-
scripts; one or more of which from the
pen of the Reverend Doctor Reese, (then
of Mecklenburg,) which met with general
appreciation, and copies of it circulated
1t is to be regretted that those and other
papers published at that period, and the
Journal of their proceedings, are lost. They
would show much of tho spirit and tone of
thinking which prepared them for the meas
ures they afterwards adopted.
On the goth of May, 1775, besides the
two persons elected from each militia com
pany, casually called Committee a
much larger number of citizens attended in
Charlotte than at any former meetlng-per-
haps half the men in the county. The news
of the battle of Lexington, the 18th of April