The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-12
VIRGINIA MADE THE
FIRST DECLARATION
Threw Of the YOKE Before MeckIen-
burg, North Carolina, Did,
PRECEDED IT FOUR MONTHS.
Documentary Records 20 SHOW tn"'
the People OF Fincas'ie County va
We're the First TO Declare Them
selves Free aud sovereign

with no desire to reopen tho eonIo-
s,hrsev In regard 70 the origin oil INC
American Revolution. claimed IN Gay ;
mast by Massachusetts, virginia 1"0
Sorth Carolina, and 10y no means III
,.nd,,v 10 detract from the eredit oil
,ha neople OF North Carolina Tor oeihs
the nrst 10 declare uumistakaoy AD1
oosltiyely their allegiance 70 t"e 80"
n Great Britain 10 De al an emu 49,.
themselves 70 be a free ana inoepe""0"'
,,eonle. | give this biz OF history 90
matter of interest 20 1he Tines i'o",'S'
The Meoltlenburg DECLARATION Is az
lows: I'VE do hereby oee'".o
fgee ana independent people. are ana
Of NIGHT ought to be a sovereign ahu 80
,,,,,e7n,,g association. under the conuol
- 20 newer other than that OF our 20"
ga he general government OF me Coh-
80. 20 the maintenance or Whlch III
aepenIence we solemnly pledge 70 co"
other our mutual cooperation our nv,
,ur fortunes. and our most sacreo hohDi.
mis- is the third resolution OF me Ia
vie copy OF the Mecklenours beClo.a-
lion. and what Is known as the Ma'"''
copy Is very similar. 800 ,ta.,,
I wish 10 put alongside or TINS Me.N
lenburg Declaration the acton o. '''o
rsoofe Of Flncastie county virginia HI
,eeara 10 their purpose % be free peo-
~ and 10 rasntain their rights as such
a. al hazards which action was taken
January 20 1855 preceding the MeCk-
lsnbu-c Declaration four months. TN
oeetle county vas organized IN lul, ana
dissolved In l115-'56. from "iich va
formed Montgomery, Washington anu
Xeuuckv counties The Virginia Dec'a-
ration Is set fourth as follows
american Archives, ith series
a Documentary history Of the Eng
rsh Colonies IN North America from the
I(ine's MESSAGE 10 Parliament OF March
I'm l-74 TO the Declaration Of lndepen-
dence by the United States."-No
J.. page 1896.
"Fincasne County. Va, Meeting"
"Jn obedience 90 the Resolves or the
Continental Congress. a meeting OF the
Freeholders OF Fincastle County IN VIZ
rinia was held on the 2oth day Of Jan
unrv. f775 who after approving OF the
Association trained by that august BODY
IN behalf Of an the Colonies and SUD-
scrb.ng thereto. proceeded 20 the cleo
ton Of Committee 20 see the same car
ried out punctua'ly into execution. when
the following gentlemen were nominated,
the Rev Charles Cummings Col. VIM.
Preston. Col William Christian. Capt.
stephen Trigr Mai Arthur Campbell.
Maj VIM. Inslis. Capt Walter Crockett
Capt John Montgomery. Can't. James
McGavock. Capt. VIM. Campbell. Capt.
Thomas Madison. Capt Daniel Smith.
Capt VIM. Russell, Capt. Evan Shelby,
and Lieut.. VIM Edmundson.
After the election. the Committee made
choice OF Col VIM. Christian for their
Chairman. and appointed Mr.. Daniel
Campbell 20 be Clerk.
The following address was then unan-
imously agreed upon 70 by the people OF
the County. and Is as follows:
ITO the Honorable Peyton Randolph
Esq, Richard Henry Lee. George
Washington. Patrick Henry. Jr.. Rich
ard Bland. BENJAMIN Harrison. and
Edmund Perdleton Esqs. the delegates
from his Colony who attended the Con-
tinental Conrrcrs held az Phnadclrhia.
Genlemen.-.lIad u not hen for our re-
mote situation and the Indian war which
We were lately engaged IN 10 chasfen
those cruel and savage people for tho
many murders and depredations They
have committed amongst as. now hap
PLY terminated under the auspices OF
our present worthy Governor. His Ex-
cellency. the Right Honorable the Earl Of
Dunmore. we should before this have
made known 70 you our thankfulness for
The very important services you have
rendered 20 your country IN conjunction
with tho worthy delegates from the other
provinces.
Your noble efforts FOR reconrdfing the
mother country aud the colonies on ra-
tional and constitutional principles and
your pacific steady and uniform conduct
IN that arduous work euii1e you 20 tho
esteem OF all British America and will
immOrtallze YOU I'm The annals OF you-
country. We heartily concur in y0ur
resolutions and shall. I'm every Instance
strictly and invariably edhere thereto"
I'VE are ready AM willing 20 contribute
oil IN our power for the eunoort OF His
Maicsfy's government n aanl.cd 70 con-
stitnflOraiiy. and when the grants tra
made by our representative. but cannot
think OF submitting our liberty or pro-
pertv 10 the power OF r venal British
Parliament or 70 the viii OF a corrupt
ministry Wc by no means desire TO
shake or our duty or our allegiance 10
our lawful sovereign. but. on the con-
trarv. shall ever glory IN Jelng the loyal
subjects 81 Protestant Prince, de-
scended from such illustrious progenitors.
20 long as We can enjoy the free cxer-
ciso OF our religion as PrOtestants and
our rberties and properties as British
subjects. But n no pacific measures
shall be proposed or adopted by Great
Britain. and our enemies VIII attempt
20 dravoon Us out Of those inestimahle
privileges which we are entitled 70 al
subjects. and % reiuce MS 20 a state of
sIavery. we declare That we are de'b-
era1e'v ard res,lpfely determined never
20 surrender them % any power uoon
Garth but az the expense Of our lives
These are our real though unpublished
sentirnents Of liberty ani Loyalty and IN
them we are resolved 70 1--we ard die
I'VE are gentlemen. With tire most rer-
feet esteem ana regard. your ohedient
servants"
HOr ID