The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-08


William Kennon, esq, a lawyer, addressed
the meeting The resolutions from the pen
| Of DR.. Brevard were debated the whole night,
section by section, were unanimously adopted
on the morning of the 10th Of May, 1775, and
were proclaimed from the Courthouse by the
herald, Col Thomas Polk. The resolutions
were as follows
/. That whoever, directly or indirectly,
allotted or in any wRJ, form, OF manner coun.
tenaneed the unchariered and dangerous in-
vasion Of our rights, MS claimed By Great
Britain, is an enemy 10 the country, 70 Amer
lea, and TO the interests and inalienable rights
Of man.
2. That we, the citizens Of Meeklenbure
County, do hereby dissolve the political bands
which have contested US with the mother
country, and hereby absolye ourselves from
all allegiance TO the British Crown, and abjure
all political connection, contract and associa.
ton with that nation, who have wantonly
trampled on our rights and liberties, and in
humanity shed the blood Of American patriots
at Lexington.
3. That we do hereby declare ourselves q
free and independent people; are and Of right
ought TO be n sovereign and self.goyerning
association, under the control OF no power,
other than that Of our God, aud the General
Government Of the Congress; TO the mainte.
nance OF which independence we solemnly
pledge to each other our mutual cooperation,
our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred
honor.
| They tell the whole story. The names Of
the principal aetors-Alexander Balch, Bre.
ward, kennon, Polk-all testify to the blow
OF the covenant, aud that tough breed which
never bowed the knee to any Baal anywhere.
| Mecklenburg County, which took this stand,
covered all that western country extending
over the fertile valleys of the Appalachian
chain, which teemed with the "Hornets'i who
afterwards stung Ferguson 10 death at the
battle Of Kings Mountain, and whence the
SWANS flew on the TANKS and rear Of Corn.
wallis in his pursuit of Greene. Their reso
lutions were sent of by express TO the Cont
mental Congress at Philadelphia and the
| Provincial Congress at Hillsboro, but were
not adopted as the general policy until the
passage Of Richard Henry Lees resolution,
in June, 1915. Such is the simple story Of
the Regulators and the first Declaration Of
Independence by the mountain men Of North
| Carolina.
| have only Swallowed faintly those stirring
scenes and not even named the patriot leaders
who fired the peoples hearts and directed
their arms in those days---for in the war which
swiftly followed, every eross.road became d
battle-ground and every river ford pass,
held at arms. The romance Of the Reyolu.
tion was in North and South Carolina. The
homogeneous Democratic population of New
England allowed little difference of opinion,
for there the germs Of an aristocratic society
| had never existed But the foundation 81
South Carolina was based on landed nobili.
/ ty and gentry; and John Loeke's Institutes OF
| Government for North Carolina attempted to
organize hereditary rank as the foundation OF
society there. Again, after the rebellions OF
l7l5 and lI45, many Of the Highland adher.
ents OF the House OF Stuart found refuge near
Cape Fear. Neal MacNeal purchased lands
near Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, and set.
tied 800 or GOO colonists there. Flora Nc.
Donald, who saved the Chevalier Charles
Edward, after Culloden, settled here, and
between the Highlauders Of the Cumberland
and the Covenanters Of Mecklenburg there
was sure to be bad blood. The Highland
stock appears to have been the backbone Of
loyalty, as the other was of rebellion, and
their ieud waged hot and bloody during the
ensuing years. The hardest fighting, the most
destructive encounters, the bitterest, most
fatal contests of the Revolution were between
the Wings and Tories of North Caoolina. 1t
was cruel aud a ruthless war, as civil war
always is, and even now loyalty has no very
fine SAVIOR nor any very refreshing associations
in the Old North State. have written this
sketch in hopes that it may excite some in.
| quiry and interest in our Revolutionary ira.
ditlons outside of the immediate locality in
which we preserve and cherish them.
BRADLEY I. JOHNSON.
Riehmond, Ta.i April "a, 1875.