The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24
AN IMMORTAL TWENTIETH OF MAY
mo Power Other than God and
the General Congress"
SKETCH OF AN ANCIENT CAPTAIN JACK
What the Tar Heels Did in the Days
that Tried Mems Souls
CHARLOTTE, Mecklenourg County, N. c., |
4

All honor TO our American centennials and cente-
narians. The twenty centuries OF which Napoleon
reminded bis infantry squares, as they met the
shock oil Mameluke BATTLE beheld them from the
Pyramids, were as bank ana meaningless as the
Btolid stone itself whereupon said centuries were
supposed TO perch. But an American century is
oil some account. 1t has an import, In It's relations
TO human progress, which no similar period, IN
either the primeval foretme the later ages or
the Eastern Hemisphere can match. Our centen-
NUNS are few. but significant. There are barely
four OF them since Columbus Our whole history,
since the AngIo-Saxon came to the New world 10
stay, covers but little more than two aud half or
them. II Tennyson wrote well and wisely when
he said:-
Better day of England than cycle Of Cathay.
how much more truly might the compar-
lsop be applied In favor OF tie United States.
hundred years. whether OF our national or IN
diyldual life, constitutes an historic eon. every
twelvemontn and almost every hour OF which Is
an upward step IN Tie giants stairway OF the
human race.
To-day the thoughtful patriotism OF the country
turns TO the memory OF tue heroes OF Lexington
ana Concord. Hardly viii the echoes or the church
bells and cannon which are now giving voice 10
tine GLAD applause OF their descendants have died
away ere the posterity OF tile men OF Meckienburg
will answer with q similar commemoratlon OF the
part taken Dy tnelr own ancestors IN
the great struggle which made us a nation. IL IS
he first step that costs. When Pitcairn popped ms
pistol hundred years ago to-day, ne showed
more pluck than all the artillerists OF the whole
Continental army In the seven years. war which
followed. Courage no less hign ana admirable char
acterzed the conduct OF the heroic twenty-six
VINO, at Charlotte, N. c. one month and one
day later, put their pens to tho hrst American
Declaration OF Independence. IL is well that we
render reverent nonors 10 the sublime shades or
both the Massachusetts and the North Carolina
builders OF our freedom. They were alike ~
representatives OF that dominant race when no
other shall ever supplaIt or succeed, aud TO
the sound or whose steadily advancing footsteps
the deep echoes OF eternity shall never cease 10
respond
Josiah Martin the last or the royal Cover
nors OF North Carolina. shortly alter arb-
trary dissolution OF the Assembly on tie 6th OF
April, 1875, he became fugitive and tho govern
ment OF the province was thereafter entirely al
Innistered by the patriots The highest actual
power IN North Carolina had. In fact, been exer-
clsed by the people from the 25ih OF August, 1774
the date OF the first Provincial Congress, which
was neld at Newoern. Tue purpose or tins
sembage was however, mainly one OF protest
and resistance. The aCtn OF May, l775, marked
the epocn Tor North Carolina and ALI ner sister
colonies OF q formal ana organized remuneration
or allegiance TO Great Britain. For many
months previous a republican sentiment had
been growing and gathering strength, aud not
a Jew OF the wiser aud bOider spirits had become
convinced that democratic principles were. for
them at least tue only foundation OF sound and
prosperous government. Several detached meet
ings were held during the spring o. 1915, IN winch
the leading characters OF MeckienDurg resolved,
among otner things, "that the cause OF Boston
tna nj afl nar heir wqr IN
dIssoluDIy connected with those VI their Eastern
FELLOW citizens, and that they must either submit
20 all the lmpositlons winch an unprincipled, and
10 them an unrepresented. Parliament might I'M
pose, or support their brethren who were doomed
20 sustain the FIRST shock OF that power, which n
successful then, could ultimately overwhelin ali in
the common calamity.u In one OK these patriotic
conferences Coone, Thomas Polk. ancestor OF
PRESIDENT James X. POLK requested TO issue
al order % each captains company Ia the county
OF Meckienburg tthen intending the present county
OF Cabarrus) directing each militia company 70
elect TWO persons aud delegate TO taem ample
power 20 de Use ways and means TO aid and as
sisI ;helr suffering brethren IN Boston, and also
generally 10 adopt measures 10 extrlcate them
selves nom the Irnp, nding storm ana to secure
unmpaired their lnalIenabie rights, privileges and
liberties from the grasp OF British tyranny.n
Agreeably TO Coionel Polk's orner, TINS delega-
tion. invested with plenary powers, met In Char.
lotte, the capital or MecElenburg county, on May
10 1875. when and where onlctal news by courier
arrived OF he battle OF Lexington the same day
OF the preceding month. Every delegate felt that
an awful and solemn crisis had at length come,
that tue supreme hour Of American destiny was
now at hand, and that the long IN pending Revolu-
zion was not only born but baptized IN blood.
Abraham Alexander was chosen chairman and
John McKnitt Alexander clerk. After free and
fun elaboration upon the various objects for wnica
the delegation had been convened the subjoined
resolutions were offered, and. after thorough dis
cussIon OF every paragraph, they were all passed
sanctioned ana decrecd unanimously about two
O'Clock A. NJ. May 2O:-
Resolved, That wnosoever, directly or indirectly
abets, or IN any way form or manner coun-
tenances the uncnartered and dangerous INVASION
OF our rights as claimed By treat Britain, Is an
enemy 10 TINS counrry-to America-and TO the
inherent and lnalienable rights OF man.
Resolved. That we, the citizens OF MeckenburG
county, do hereby dissolve the political bands
winch nave connected US 10 the mother country.
and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance
10 the British Crown and abjure al polItical con-
necfIon, contract or association with that nation.
who have Wantonly trampled on our rights aud
liberties, and innumanly sned the blood OF Ameri-
can patriots az Lexington.
Resolved, That we DO hereby declare ourselves
q free and independent people; are, and OF right
ought 10 be, a sovereign aud selfgoverning asso-
citation, under the control OF no power other than
that OF our God and the general government or
the Congress; to the maintenance OF winch lnde-
pendence we solemnly pledge to each other our
mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes and
most sacred honor.
Resoyed, That as we now acknowledge the ex.
istence and control OF no law or legal off1ce civil
military, within this county. we do hereby
ordain ana adopt as q rule OF life all, each and
every Of our former lsws-wnereIn nevertheless,
the crown OF Great Britain never can be considered
ashoiding rights, privileges, immuniies or author.
ity therein.
Resolved. That all. each and every military
omcer IN this county - hereby REIN
stated IN his former command and au-
thority, ne acting conormaDly 70 these
regulations. And that every memoer present OF
THIS delegation shall henceofth be civil o1lcer,
namely Justice Of the peace, in the character or
= committee man, TO issue process, near and
oeterlnne all matters Of controversy according 10
said adopted laws and TO preserve peace, union
and harmony IN said county; and 70 use every
eAertlOn 70 spread the love OF country ana ure or
freedom throughout America an I'll more general
and Organized governments be established IN TINS
province.
Prior to the adjournment OF the delegation
eelncL cOmmltLne w annnLnind - draau ~ q