The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-06-09

bat THERE WAS a prior Deolara-
tion of Independence to that IF
July A. 1776. win be surprising in
formation 60 the general mass of peO-
pie iu the Untred states and elsewhere.
tt Is certainly a record not included in
the text books or standard American
histories IN Charlotte y. c.. however,
a. Declauo ZION OF Independence from
Great Britain fvas drawn up end signed
more. than a year before the United
states Of Americas first Fourth of
July. and May 20 is still "A legal holiday
r. the state of North Carolina while i'm
Charlotte It is a day of great ceIebra-
tion ana parades. meetings and patti
otto speeches.
The history of the Charlotte or Neck
lenbUrE Declaration of Independence.
as accepted 10y fife people Of that local
ity. is s follows
Tn the months OF March and April.
1l55. some Of the more energetic men
or Mecl0enburr. county. North Caro-
Ina held meetings to agitate the cues
ton Of opposing paItiament's claim to
impose taxes Without representation
and regulate the colonies internal poll
fey. The sense Of the people being for
resistance to parHameut'S policy
Thomas Polk, then colonel CT ~lnlandant
Cf the county, was directed 30 issue an
order calling upon each captain of the
militia to 7dff "a company meeting. each
company to elect two delegates to meet
In general committee on MAY 10. 1775
To these delegates ample power was
given 20 ADOPT such measures as they
+houEht necessary to defend the col
Ouy's rights. and TO make common
cause with the people of Massachu-
sets. already afiaIne with resentment
against the mother count try. Various
leaders addressed The committee before
fits assembling, urging firm stand.
What the committee had originally
decided 10 Go is not clear but about
this time there reached the North Car
ollna community the echo or ''the shot
that was heard around the world -
from the engagement at Lexington on
April - That was decisive. The whole
assemDlaEe was stirred to IT'S depths
by the news. The ole account of what
occurred says; The speakers adj
dressed their dfscourses 60 the spec
TabOrs as web as to the general con-
ufttee, and those who were not con-
WINGED by their reasoning were fnfiu-
euced by their feelings and all cried
out.
let us live independent Let us
declare our Independence and defend
1T with our lives and fortunes.
a committee composed of the men
who had planned the whole proceedings
was appointed to draw UP resolutions.
These read:
T. Resolved. That whatsoever. directly
Or indirectly abets. or In any way. form
Of our rights. as attempted by the pay
lament of Great Britain. is an enemy
70 his country. to America. and to the
rights Of men.
IT, Resolved. That we. the citizens
OF DIeCIzlenburg county. do hereby dis
solve the political bonds which have
connected us with che mother country
and absolve ourselves form all aHeE-
lance to the British crown. abjuring al
political connection with a nation that
has wautOnly tTamplcd on our rights
apd liberties and iuhumanly shed 5n-
nOCeHt blood at Lexington and Con
cord.
III. Resolved. Tnat'we do hereby de
clare ourselves a free and independent
people; that we are. and of right ought
to he. n Sovereign and governing
people. under the power of God and
the general congress. to the mainten-
ance Of which independence we solemn
~ pledge TO each other our mutual CO.
operation. our lives, our fortunes and
our most sacred honor.
~. Resolved, That we hereby Ol-daiT
aud adcDt as rules Of conduct an and
each of our former laws. and that the
crown Of Great Britain cannot be con
sidered hereafter as holding any rights
privileges or fumuu3ties amongst us
y. Resolved. That All officers. bOtT
civil and military. in this C0untrJ be
entitled 70 exercise the same powers
and authorities as heretofore: tina
every member of this delegation shall
hencefo~th he a civil officer and eXer