New-York tribune., 1875-05-15

refusal of the King to approve the charter OF theI COZ
enforced regulations Of an Established Church. which al
no distant day had imposed impedments and delays In
the celebration Of marriages. except by its own clergy
n @ he Ssd nss nsw II
afer that event the population being called out for TINS
ana had 4. ape Of
| educated and Intelligent leaders.
The North Carolina historians agree that a conven-
tiOn composed of delegates from different portions of
Mecklenburg County met at ChOrlotte on the 18th
of May The news Of the battle of Lexington which
occurred one month and day before, had inst been
received and aroused to its highest pitch the patri
otic indignation of the people. The Convention re-
NAMED in session until the night of the 10Th, and
assembled the Goth to receive the report of COM
mittee, on whose recommendation several resolu-
tions were adopted which went to declare themselves
and the people Of Meckenburg County free and indie
pendent Of the King and Parliament Of Great
| Britain, and that from that day thenceforth all
allegiance and political relation was absOlyed
between the good people of Mecklenburg and the
King of Great Britain; which Declaration was signed
by every member of the Delegation under the shouts
and huzzas of very large assembly of the people OF
| the county who had come to know the issue Of the
meeting" A few days later Capt. James Jack was
engaged to carry the resolves TO the President OF
Congress and the North Carolina delegates he exc
cuted the trust and returned with answers express
sive of appreciation of the course that had been
| adopted.
The following is a copy OF the Declaration said to
have been adopted at this meeting, and which has
been pronounced authentic by the Legislature of
| North Carolina:
| l. Resolred That whosoever directly or Indirectly
abeted, In any way, form, manner cOuntenanced
the uncharered and dangerous invasion OF rights as
claimed by Great Britain an enemy to this country to
|
| man.
| p Resolred That We the citizens Of Mecklenburg
| County do hereby dissolve the political bands which
have connected 10 the Mother Country, and hereby
absoive ourselves from all allegiance to the British
Crown and abure all political connection. contract,
association with that nations, who have wantonly
| tranpled on our rights and liberties, and nhumauy
| shed the blood Of American patriots at Lexington.
g. Resoired, That do hereby declare ourselves free
and nde pendent people and Of night ought u be-
sovereign and self governing association under the
control of power other than that OF God and the
general OF the Congress 10 the maintenance
of which independence sOemny pledge 10 each other
mutual cooperation lives, our fortunes, and our
| most sacred honor.
4. RtSOired, That acknowledge the existence
and control of no Law or legal officer civil or military,
within this country do hereby ordan and adopt
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, mmunI-
s. Rcoieed That it is further decreed that ALL each,
and every military officer in this country IL hereby rein
stated III his former command and authority, he acting
cOnormsbly 10 these regulations and that every mem
ber present Of this deiesaton shall henceforth be civil
officer, viz Justice OF the Peace. III the character OF %
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
country and 10 ue every exsrtlon TO spread me love OF
moro general and organized government De established
ID this province.
II will he observed that the names of Hezekiah J.
! Bach, John Queary, Zacheus Wilson, ST., Richard
Harris, ST, and Matthew Mcclure delegates to the
Convention and repued signers of the resolutions,
do not appear on this list.
THE RESOLVES OF TIE 31sT OF NAY.
These, which ii will be remembered are presented
by some as the only Declaration adopted by the peo-
pie of Mecklenturg, are scarcely less notable than
those given above The preamble and opening para
graphs are as follows:
Whereas, BIZ an address presented 10 hs Majesty by
both Houses Of Parliament in February last the Aneri-
can Colonies declared 10 be in state of actual re-
bcon we conceive that all laws and commissions
rncd by deri ed from the authority OF the King and
Parliament are annuled and vacated, and the former
civil constitution OF these colonies for the present
wholly suspended To provide IN some degree Iof me
oXGencics OF this county in the present alarming period
deem proper and necessary TO pass the following
resolves viz:
That all commissions civil and military heretofore
granted by the Crown be exercised In these colonies.
null and and the constitution OF each particular
r. That the Provincial Congress Of each Province, m
der me direction OF the Great Continental j. n
vested with al legislative ana executive PoHers Elt
their respective provinces anu that 10 other legislative
OF executive power does or can exist al this time III any
of these colonicg
III. As ali former laws are suspended in this
Judge necessary for the better preservation OF good
order form certain rules and regulations FOR the inter
nal government 0f this county until laws shall be pro-
yided FOR Ms Ivy the Congress.
The Succeeding 13 sections prescribe complete
system of Provisional Government. The XVlth de-
clares that whatever person shall hereafter receive
a commission from the Crown, attempt to exercise
any such commission heretofore received, shall be
deemed enemy to his country" and provision ~
made for his trial and imprisonment. Arrangements
are also adopted for the arming OF the militia.
The XVIIlth section provides hab these resolves be
in full force and virtue until instructions from the
Provincial Congress regulating the jurisprudence of
the Province shall provide otherwise. the lcgsla-
tive body of Great Britain resign its unjust and ar
bitrary prctensions with respect 10 America"
This sketch might be embelshed with many incl
dents illustrating the spirit of North Carolina in the
early days of the Revolution, and numerous author
ties might be- cited TO show the validity of her claim;
but enough has been written to revive interest in
the matter and to awaken the sympathy of other
States in the approaching celebration. Above ALL
says Washington Irving, it should not be forgotten
that at Mecklenburg in the heart of North Carolina
was Illuminated the first Declaration of Independ-
ence OF the British Crown, upward of year before
like declaration by Congress-
|
HOW TO LEARN A LANGUAGE.
To the Editor OF the Tribune.
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