The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-05-28
The Mecklenburg Centennial Celebration.

The celebration of the Declaration of In.
dependence adopted in May, 1775, by the
patriots of Mecklenburg county, North Car.
DINA, was held on the Goth inst, at Char.
lotte, in that State. A large number of per-
sons were in attendance, the streets were
gaily decorated, patriotic speeches were
made, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed
1t is claimed by North Carolina that the
first meeting that was ever held in any OF
the colonies to declare separation from the
British command, to organize fer armed re-
sistance, was in North Carolina, in the coun-
ty of Mecklenburg, in the month of May,
1775-nearly fifteen months before the ma
tional declaration.
The following is copy of the Declaration
which is said to have been adopted at this
meeting, and which has been pronounced
authentic by the Legislature of North Caro-
lima:
/. Resolved, That whatsoever directly or
indirectly abetted, or in any way, form, or
manner countenanced the unchartered and
dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed
by Great Britain, is an enemy to this coun-
y, H.
alienable rights of man.
2. Resolced That we, the citizens of Neck
lenburg County, do hereby dissolve the DO
litical bands which have connected us to the
Mother Country, and hereby absolve our
selves from all allegiance to the British
Crown, and abjure all political connection,
contract or association with that nation, who
have wantonly trampled on our rights and
liberties, and nhumanly shed the blood of
American patriots at Lexington
]. RsSol0ed, That we do hereby declare
ourselves free and independent people :;
are, and OF right ought to be, a sovereign
and seH-geverning association, under the
control OF no power other than that of our
God and the general government of the Con-
gress; to the maintenance of which indepen-
dence we solemnly pledge to each other our
mutual co operation, our lives, our fortunes
and our most sacred honor
t. Resotced That as We now acknowledge
the existence and control of no law or legal
olncer, civil or military, within this country,
we 90 hereby ordain and adopt as a rule of
lille, all, each and every of our former laws
wherein, nevertheless, the Crown of Great
Britain never can be considered rs holding
rights, privileges, immunities, or authority
therein.
D. Resolved That it is further decreed that
oil, each, and every military officer in this
country is hereby reinstated in his former
command and authority, he acting conform.
ably TO these regulations; and that every
member present of this delegation shall
henceforth be civil officer, viz Justice of
the Peace, in the character of Committee.
man., to issue process, hear and determine
all matters OF controversy, according to said
ADOPTED laws, and to preserve peace, union,
ana harmony in said country; and to use
every exertion to spread the love of country
and hre OF freedom throughout America, un-
til more general and organized government
DE established in this province.
This Declaration was not mere matter of
patriotic words; the citizens of Mecklenburg
sustained it with treasure, blood and lives
Its language is so much like that of the
Philadelphia Declaration of July 4th, 1776,
that it is not all improbable that it formed
model at least, for the latter Whether this
be SO or not it does not detract from the pa
triotic glory of either document.
This and similar celebrations will accom-
plish more, perhaps, than may be intended
in drawing together the two sections whose
citizens have been alienated by civil strife.
The stirring up of memories of the Reyolu-
tionary struggle will rekindle feeling of
pride in our common coantry that will do
much towards bridging the bloody chasm.
The numerous centennial celebrations of the
present year are fitting prelude to the great
Centennial celebration to take place next
year at Philadelphia. They mark revival
OF patriotism North and South; and when
the people Of both sections unite in ceebrat
ing events in which the ancestors of both
bore an equally distinguished and gallant
part, a more kindly spirit will be engender-
cd between them. With the accomplish
ment of this fact, the country will again re-
sumo her place in the path of progress and
go onward to prosperity.