Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-06-17
The Mecklenburg Gen
tennial Celebration.

Mecklenburg county, North Cnro-
lima, was held on the Goth ult., ct
Charlotte, in that State. A large
number of persons were i'll atten-
dance, the streets were gaily dec
Grated, patriotic speeches were
made, and the utmost enthusiasm
prevailed
1t is claimed by North Carolina
that the first meeting that was ev-
er held in any Of the colonies to
declare separation from the British
command, to organize for armed
resistance, was in North Carolina,
In the county of Mecklenburg, in
the month of May, l775-nearly
fifteen months before the nation,
al declaration.
The following is copy of the
Declaration which is said to have
been adopted at this meeting, and
which has been pronounced au-
thentic by the Legislature Of
North Carolina;
I. ReSolced, That whatsoever,
directly or indirectly, abet;ed, or
il any way, form or manner coUn-
tenanced the uncbartered and
dangerous invasion of our rights,
as claimed by Great Britain, is an
enemy to this country, TO Amer.
lea, and to the inherent and in
alienable rights Of man
2. ResoLced, That we, the cit
izens of Mecklenburg County, do
hereby dissolve the political bands
which have connected US to the
Mother Country, and hereby alb
solve ourselves 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 inhu
manly shed the blood of Ameri-
tan patriots at Lexington.
3. RESOLVED, That we do here,
by declare ourselves a free AID
independent people; are, and Of
right ought to be, sovereign and
self governing association, under
the control OF no power other than
that of our God and the general
government of the Congress; TO
the maintenance of which indie
ptndence we solemnly pledge tc
each other our mutual coUpera
tIon, our lives, our fortunes, and
our most sacred honor.
4. ReS0{red, That as we now
acknowledge the existence and
control of no law or legal officer,
civil or military, within this coun-
try, we do hereby dam and a.
dept as rule OF life, all, each ard
every of our former iaws--wEerein,
nevertheless, the Crown of Crest
Britain never can be considered
as holding rights, privileges, lin
munities, or authority therein.
>. ReSolred, That it is fun
ther decreed that all, each and
every military officer in this coun-
try is hereby reinstated in his
former command and authority,
he acting conformably. TO these
regulations; and that every mem
Der present of this delegation shall
hencei. nth he a civil officer, viz: IA
Justice of the Peace, in the char
acter of a "Committeeman, to Is
sue process, hear aud determine
all matters of controversy, accord
ing to said adopted laws, and TO
preserve peace, union, and harmo
ny in said country; and to use ev-
cry exertion to spread the love
of country and fire of freedom
throughout America, until a more
general and organized government
be established in this province.
This Declaration was not a
mere matter of patriotic words,
the citizens of Mecklenburg sus-
tanned it with treasure, blood
and lives.
It's language is so much like
that of the Philadelphia Declare
ton of July 4th, l776, that it is
not all improbable that it formed
a model at least, tor the latter.
Whether this be so or not, it does
not detract from the patriotic Clio,
nv of either document.
This and similar celebrations
will accomplish more, perhaps,
than may be intended, in draw
ing together the two sections
whose citizens have been alienated
civil strife. The stirring up