Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1890-06-11
Our First Declaration.
Bureau OF Southern News.
RALEIGH, N. @.
For the NORRIS TRIBUNE.

j
For the NORRIS Tribune.
Business sent our letter writer, on the
Goth of May, to the city of Raleigh, the
capital of North Carolina. Many of the
important places of business were
closed. At the banks curtains were
down, and cards. hung upon the door
knobs, bore the, to US, strange device of
Legal Holiday.
Why should the 2eth of May be legal
holiday? A little thinking, and memory
responded by reminding us that the peo-
pie of Charlotte, N, c., claim that the
first Declaration of Independence was
made there; that they keep this claim
active, and the memory of the great
event fresh, by an annual celebration,
going on this very day. A celebration
which was drawing people to that beauti-
full city from all parts of the State. A
little inquiry ELECTED the fact that, as
proper observance of the anniversary
of that event of history, Legislative en-
actment has made the Goth of May a
legal holiday in the State of North Caro-
lima.
The original Histories of the United
States make little or no mention of this
first Declaration. 1t has been denied
that such an event ever occurred. But
evidence is in its favor. The city of
Charlotte celebrates the event and day.
The State has made the day legal holt
day. Moore's Histories of North Caro-
lima are accepted as authority; and in
his large standard History of the State,
he gives the text of the Declaration.
The people of North Carolina then, as
now, were conservative, intelligent, and
determined in what they believed to be
right; and being intelligent, they per.
ceived that true conservatism then con-
sisted not in maintaining the existing
order of things, but in defending their
own rights and in resisting oppression.
They foresaw that oppression of Massa-
chusetts meant oppression for tlem;
that if men could be slain by British
soldiers in Boston, they could be slain
by British soldiers in any town in theiz
own State.
Early in 1775 provincial Congress
was established, which sat from time to
time in different towns of the State, I'm.
til late in the following year. AS we
understand it, this Provincial Congress
was in session at Charlotte in May, 1775.
On the 10th, news of the battle of Lex
ington reached the town just one month
after the battle was fought. On the Goth
Declaration of Independence, consist
ing of three parts, was made. The first
part refers to the acts of British op-
preston; the third part states the duties
of civil and military officers, as officers
of free and independent nation.
The second part is the part of greatest
interest. 1t is here given verbatim and
italicised as in the text:
'"That we do hereby declare ourselves
free and independent people; are. and
of right ought to be a sovereign and self
governing association; under control of
no person, other than our God, and the
general government of the Congress.
To the maintenance of which independ-
ence we solemnly pledge to each other
our mutual co operation, our lives, our
fortunes, and our most sacred honor"
The Congress meant in this resolution
was probably the provincial mentioned
above. In April, 1776, this Congress
met for the fourth time, at Halifax. On
the 4th of that month, it instructed the
delegates to the Continental Congress as
follows:
Resolved, That the delegates for this
colony, in the Continental Congress. be
empowered to concur with the delegates
of the other colonies, in declaring indie
pendence, and forming foreign alliences.
Reserving to this colony the sole and ex-
elusive right of forming a constitution
and laws for the colony, and of appoint
ing delegates from time to time, (under
direction of the general representation
thereby to meet delegates of the other
colonies for such purposes as shall be
hereafter pointed OUT
The historian asserts that this was the
first organized body on the continent
that dared to do such thing as to in
struct its delegates to move for complete
independence.
June 4, 1890. J.T.P.
CatArinn for all kinds of GRAND