The Portland daily press., 1875-05-20

To-day the people Of Meckenburg county,
North Carolina, celebrated the anniversary Of
the Mecklenburg declaration of independence.
1t is claimed that on the 10Th of May, 1775,
delegates OF the people Of the county met in
convention at Charlotte, and deliberately
adopted an instrument severing all political
connection with the mother country. The
delegates were moved to this action, not by
any fresh encroachment by the British upon
the rights Of the people of North Carolina, but
by the news, just received, of the battle of
Lexington.
There has long been controversy concern
ing the authenticity of the resolutions which
purport to have been passed at Charlotte.
They were entirely forgotten until 1919, when
they appeared for the first time in print In the
Raleigh Register. Their genuineness was
Immediately Assailed, and Jefferson at once
denounced them as torgeries. The close re-
semblance of many of the phrases to those in
the national Declaration of Independence
tends to confirm Jefferson's assertion. Affi-
davits, however, have been produced from old
people who remembered the convention, and
they are generally looked upon as establish
ing the authenticity Of the resolutions.
The declaration is good enough to be true,
and so long as the weight of evidence is in
favor Of its genuineness, perhaps it is as well
to accept it unquestionably. If the celebra-
ton of its adoption serves to rekindle the fires
of patriotism in the breasts of North Caro-
linians an easy credulity is certainly to be
recommended to them.
The following are the resolutions:
Resoloed, That whosoever directly or indi-
rectly abetted. or in any way, form, or manner
countenanced the uDchartered and dangerous
invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great
Britain, IS an enemy to this country, to
America, and to the inherent and lnalienable
rights of man.
ResoEved That we, the citizens of Mecklen-
burg County, do hereby dissolve the political
bands which have connected us to the Mother
Country, and hereby absove ourselves from all
allegiance to the British Crown, and abjure all
political connection, contract or association
with that nation, who have Wantonly trampled
on our rights and liberties, and inhumanly shed
the blood of American patriots at Lexington.
ReSot0ed, That we do.hereby declare ourselves
a free and independent people: are, and OF
right ought TO be, sovereign and self-govern-
other than that of our God and the general
government of the Congress; to the maintenance
of which independence we solemnly pledge to
each other our mutual cooperation, our lives,
our fortunes, and ourm most sacred honor.
ReSOlUed, That as we now acknowledge the
existence and control of no law or legal officer,
civil or military, within this county, we do
hereby ordain and adopt as rule of life, all,
each and every of our former laws wherein,
nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never
can be considered as holding rights, privileges,
immunities, or authority therein.
Resolued That it is further decreed that all,
each, and every military officer in this county
is hereby reinstated in his former command and
authority, he acting conformably to these regu-
lations; and that every member present of this
delegation shall benceforth be a civil officer,
viz. Justice of the Peace, in the character of
a committeeman. to issue process, hear and
determine all matters of controversy, according
to said adopted laws, and TO preserve peace,
union and harmony in said county; and to use
every exertion to spread the love of country
and fire of freedom throughout America, until
a more general and organized government be
established in this province.