Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-02
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C.
| It's Alleged Declaration of Independence
Documents Relating to the Matter.
The citizens of Mecklenburg county
in the state of North Carolina, celebrate,
on the Goth of May, the one hnndredth
anniversary Of their Declaration of In
| dependence. AS the authenticity of
the declaration has been and still is
disputed, we here reproduce documents
and extracts from records pertinent to
the subject.
BANCROFT'S ACCOUNT.
The following is Bancroft's account
of the matter, as given in the seventh
volume of his Z" History of the United
States" beginning at page $40:
"The people of the county of Neck
lenburg had carefully observed the pro-
gress of the controversy with Britain;
and during the winter political meetings
had repeatedly been held in Charlotte.
That town had been chosen for the seat
Of the Presbyterian College, which the
legislature of North Carolina had char
tered. but which the king had disallow-
ed; and it was the centre of the culture
| Va UI1dO RtIU VI OAC kuOFkuGso. 4uc
Der Of houses in the village was not
more than twenty; but the district was
already well settled by herdsmen who
lived apart on their farms.
Some time in May, 1775, they re-
ceived the news of the address, which in
the preceding February had been pre-
sented to the king by both houses of
Parliament, and which declared the
American colonies to be in state of
actual rebellion. This was to them the
evidence that the crisis in American
affairs was come, and the people pro-
posed among themselves to abrogate all
dependence on the royal authority. But
The militia companies were sworn to
allegiance; and chow" it was objected,
'can we be absolved from our oath 2"
"The oath" it was answered, "binds
| only while the king protects" At the
! instance Of Thomas Polk, the comman-
der of the militia of the county,
two delegates from each COM
pany were called together in Charlotte
as a representative committee. Before
their consultations had ended the mes
sage Of the innocent blood shed at Lex
ngton came up from Charleston and
infamed their zeal. They were impa-
tient that their remoteness forbade their
direct activity; had it been possible
they would have sent hundred bull
locks from their fields to the poor of
Boston. No minutes of the committee
are known to exist, but the result of
their deliberations, framed with pecu-
liar skill, precision of language and
calm cOmprehensiveness reGlains as
the monument of their wisdom and
courage. Of the delegates to that
memorable assembly, the name of
Ephraim Brevard should be re-
membered with honor by his eoun-
trymen. He was one of q numerous
family of patriot brothers, and himself
in the end fell martyr to the public
cause. Trained in the college of Prince
ton, ripened among the brave Presby-
terians of Middle Carolina, he digested
the system which was then adopted, and
which formed in effect a declaration of
independence as we'll as complete sys-
tenn of government. All laws and
commissions confirmed by or derived
from the authority of the King or Par
lament, such are the bold but we'll
considered words of these daring states
men, are annulled and vacated; all
commissions, civil and military, here
tofore granted by the crown to be exer-
cised in the colonies, are void; the pro-
vincial Congress of each province, un-
der the direction of the great Continen-
tai Congress, is invested with all legis-
lative and executive powers within the
respective provinces, and no other legis-
lative or executive power does or can
exist at this time in any part of these
colonies. AS all former laws are now
suspended in this province, and the
Congress has not yet provided others,
we judge it necessary for the better pre-
servation of good order to form certain
rules and regulations for the internal
government of this county until laws
shall be provided for us by the Con-
gress.
In accordance with these principles
the freemen Of the county formed thena-
selves into nine military companies and
elected their own officers. Judicial
powers were conferred on men to be
singled out by the vote of the companies,
two from each of them; the whole num-
Der of eighteen constituting a court of
appeal. The tenure alike of military
and civil officers was the pleasure of
their several constituents All public
and county taxes, all quitrents to the
csewn were sequestered: and it was
voted that persons receiving new COM
missions from the King or exercised old
ones, should De dealt with as enemies of
the country.
The resolves were made binding on
all, and were to be enforced until the
Provincial Congress should provide
otherwise, or, what they knew would
never take place, till the British Parlia-
ment should resign its arbitrary preten-
sions with respect to America. At the
same time the militia companies we're
directed to provide themselves with
arms, and Thomas Polk and Joseph
Kennedy were specially appointed to
purchase powder, lead and fints.
Before the month Of May had come
to an end the resolutions were signed
by Ephraim Brevard. as clerk of the