Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-08
MRoKLENBURG CENTENNIAL.
Meeting Last Night at she Cotton
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Adopted
Committees Appointed. etc.

A number Of leading citizens assem-.
bled at the Cotton Exchange last night
for the purpose Of celebrating in this
city the Meoklenburg CentenniaI-the
hundredth anniversary OF the famous
declaration Of independence Of May 20,
IT'S, issued at Mecklenburg, North Caro-
lima, in advance of the (Jeffersonian)
Declaration of Independence of Phila-
delphia, issued July 4, l776. The weight
Of history is in favor of the authenticity
Of this declaration. In the American
archives, fourth series, p. $50, prepared
by Mr.. Peter Force, under the direction
OF Congress, can be found the famous
declaration and the proceedings of the
Mecklenburg meeting, which are as fol-
lows:
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
May 20, l775-Names of delegates
present: Cololel Thomas Polk, Ephraim
Brevard, John Ford, Richard Barry.
Abraham Alexander, j. McKnitt Alex
ander, Hezekiah Alexander, Charles All.
exander, Hezekiah j. Balch, John Phi
fer, Henry Downs, Ezra Alexander, Zach.
Gus Wilson, ST, Waighstill Avery, Benia-
min Patton, Mathew Mcclure, Neil Nor
rison, james Harris, William Kennon,
William Graham, John Queary, Robert
Irwin, John Flenniken, David Reese,
Richard Harrison, sr.
Abraham Alexander was appointed
chairman, and John McKnitt Alexander,
clerk. The following resolutions were
offered, viz:
|. Resolved, That w~hosoever directly
or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form
or manner, countenanced the unchar-
tered and dangerous invasion of our
rights, as claimed by Great Britain. is an
enemy to this country, to America, and
to the inherent and unalienable rights of
men.
2. Resolved, That we, the citizens Of
Meeklenburg county, do hereby dissolve
the political bands which have connected
US to the mother country, and hereby
absolve ourselves from all allegiance to
the British Grown, and ALLURE all politi-
cal connection, contract or association
with that nation, who have wantonly
trampled on our rights and liberties, and
iHhumanly shed the blood of American
patriots at Lexington.
3. Resolved, That we do hereby de-
clare ourselves a free and independent
people; are, and of right ought to be, a
sovereign and self-govetning a%ssocia-
ton, under the control of no power
other than that Of our God, and the gem
eral government Of Congress; to the
maintenance of which independence we
solemnly pledge to each other our mu-
tual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes
and our most sacred honor.
4, Resolved, That we now acknowl.
edge the existence and control of no
law or legal officer, civil or military.
within this county; we do hereby ordain
and adopt as a rule Of life all, each and
every one of our former laws; wherein,
nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain
never car be considered as holding
rights, privileges, ~immunities or author.
ity therein.
s. Resolved, That is further decreed.
that all, each and every military officer
IN this county, is hereby reinstated in his
former command and authority, he act.
ing conformably to these regulations.
And that every member present, of this
delegation, shall henceforth be a civil
officer, viz; a 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, andto preserve peace,
union and harmony in said county; and
to use every exertion to spread the love
OF country and fire of freedom through
America, until a more general and Or
ganized government be established in
this province.
After discussing these resolves. and
arranging bylaws and regulations for
the governments of q Standing Committee
Of Public Safety, who we're selected from
these delegates, the whole proceedings
were unanimously adopted and signed.
A Select Committee was then appointed
to draw a more full and definite state.
ment Of grievances, and a more formal
declaration of independence. The dele.
CATION then adjourned about 2 o'clock
am, May 20.
At the meeting held last night Jacob
Thompson, Esq, was called to the Chair,
and ]. Harvey Mathes, Esq, was selected
as Secretary. After a statement as to
the object of the meeting by the Chair.
man, Captain Mathe, offered the follow.
ing resolutions which we're adopted:
Whereas, The people of Mecklenburg
county, North Carolina, our mother
State, assembled on the 10Th of NAV,
l775, when the territory now consisting
of the State of Tennessee was included |
in the bounds of the old North State,
and solemnly declared the bonds con.
Meeting them with the mother country
severed, and their allegiance to the Brit
ish row absolved; and,
Whereas, This is believed 60 have
been the first formal declaration of in.
dependence uttered in the American
colonies, and was followed by the most
heroic and successful resistance to tyran.
ny the world has ever seen; and,
Whereas, The Governors of Tennes-
see and North Carolina have, by procla. !
nation, called upon the people Of their
respective States to observe the goth of
May as an anniversary of the dawning
of American liberty, and declared it a
holiday and a dav nj reioicinr. tho,o