The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-08-03
THE REVOLUTION IN NORTH CARO-

the highlands which hold the head springs of lad-
kin and the Catawba. The region was pcopled
chiefly by Presbyterians of Scotch and Irish de-
scent, who brought to the new world the creed,
the spirit of resistance, and the courage Of the
| covenanterS.
| The people of the county of Mecklenburg had
carefully observed the progress of the controversy
with Britain; and during the Winter, political
meetings had repeatedly been held in Charlotte
That town had been chosen for the scat of the
Presbyterian college, which the Legislature of
North Carolina had chartered, but which the king
had disallowed and the centre of the culture
! of the province. The number of houses in the
village was not more than twenty; but the district
was already we'll settled by herdsmen who lived
apart on farms.
| Some time in May, 1775, they received the news
of the address, which in the proceeding February
had been presented to the king by both houses of
parliament, and which declared the American colo
MES to be in state Of actual rebellion. This
to them the evidence that the crisis i'll American
affairs was come, and the people proposed among
themselves to abrogate all dependence on the royal
authority But the militia companies were sworn
to allegiance; and chow" it objected ''can we
be absolved from oath % THE oath,' it was
answered, ''bnds only while the king protects
! At the instance Of Thomas Polk, the commander
of the militia of the county, two delegates from
each company were called together i'll Charlotte,
a representative committee. Before their CONSUL
tations were ended, the message OF the innocent
! blood shed at Lexington camo up from Charleston,
and nfamed their zeal. They impatient
that their rcmoteness forbade their direct activity
had it been possible, they would have sent hum
dred bullocks from their fields to the poor of Bos
ton No minutes Of the committee are known to
exist but the result of their dcliberatons framed
with superior skill, precision of language, and calm
comprehenslveness remains as the monument OF
their wisdom and their courage. Of the delegates
to that memorable assembly, the name of Ephraim
Brevarl should be remembered with honor by his
countrynen. Ile was one of numerous family OF
patriot brothers, and himself in the end fell Il
martyr to the public cause. Trained in the col
lege at Princeton, ripcned among the brave Presby
terians of Middle Carolina, he digested the system
which was then adopted, and which formed i'll eff
feet declaration of independence, we'll
complete system Of government. 'All laws and
commissions confirmed by or derived from the
thority Of the king or parliament" such arc the
bold but we'll considered words Of these daring
statesmen care nullificd and vacated; all commits
sions, civil and military, heretofore granted by the
crown to be exercised in the colonies arc void the
provincial congress Of each province, under the
direction of the great continental congress- is in
vested with all legislative and executive powers
within the respective provinces, and no other legls
lative executive power does exist at this
time in any part Of these colonies. AS all former
laws are suspended in this province, and the
congress has not yet provided others, we judge it
necessary for the better preservation of good order,
to form certain rules and regulations for the inter-
nal government of this county, until laws shall be
provided for us by the congress"
In accordance with these princi pies the trccmcn
Of the country formed themselves into nine mill
tary companies and elected their own officers
judicial powers were enforced OH men to be sin
gled out by the vote of the companies, two from
IL .I,,1o
shutting Il court Of appeal The tenure alike Of
military and civil officers 'thc pleasure Of the.
several constituents All public and county
taxes all qutrents to the crown were sequcstercd;
and it voted that persons receiving new COM
missions from the king exercising old ones,
Should be dealt with enemies of the country.
The resolves were made binding on all and were
to be enforced till the provincial congress should
provide otherwise, what they knew would never
take place till the British parliament should resign
its arbitrary pretensions with respect to America.
At the time the militia companies were direct
ed to provide themselves with arms, and Thomas
Polk and Joseph Kennedy were especially appointed
to purchase powder, lead and fnts.
Before the month of May had come to an end,
the resolutions were signed By Ephraim Brevard, as
clerk of the committee, and were adopted by the
people with the determined enthusiasm which
springs from the combined infence of the love of
liberty and of religion. Thus Mccklcnburg
county, in North Carolina, separated from the
British empire. The resolves were transmitted
with all haste to be printed in Charleston, and as
they spread through the South, they startled
the royal governors Of Georg and North Carolina
They were despatched by messenger to the con-
tinental congress, that the world might know their
authors had renowned their allegiance to the king
of Great Britain, and had constituted govern
ment for themselves.
The messenger stopped his way at Salisbury
and there, to a crowd round the court house, the
resolves were read and approved. The western
counties were the most populous part of North
Carolina, and the royal governor had fattered him
self and the king, with the fullest assurances of
their support. II have doubt" said he chat
[ might command their best services at a word Oh
any emergency. [ consider have the means in
my own hands to maintain the soverei gnty of this
country to my royal master in all events" And
now he was obliged to transmit the deliberate con-
sistent and we'll considered resolutions of Mecklen-
burg, which he described as the boldcst of all,
''most traitorously declaring the setting up sys-
tenn of rule and regulation subversive of his Maes-
tvs government"
IMPORTANT DECIsIoN.-Thc Macon Telegraph
of Tuesday says: 'On yesterday morning Judge
| Lumpkin delivered an opinion involving
cipation clause in a within case of this kind: