Washington sentinel., 1901-06-22
NORTH CAROLYN A
First Pointed the Way towards
Americas Independence.

Ahak tNGtG was d PRIOR OGGAaAa
tion Of Independence TO that o.
July s,I776, will be surprising in.
formation to the general mass oil
people in the United States and
elsewhere. It's certainly a record
not included in text books or
standard American histories. In
Charlotte, N. c., however, a Dec
laration Of independence from
Great Britain was drawn up and
signed more than a year before
the United States Of Americas
iirst Fourth of July. and May 40 is
still legal holiday in the State Of
North Carolina, while in Charlotte
it is day OF great celebration with
parades, meetings and patriotic
speeches.
The history of the Charlotte or
Meckleuburg Declaration Of Inde-
pendence as accepted by the peo
pie OF that locality, says the Den
yer Republican, is as follows:
In the months of March and
April, IT'S, some OF the more en-
ergetic men Of Mecklenburg
County, N. c., held meetings to
agitate the question of opposing
Parliament's claim to impose taxes
without representation and regu-
late the colonies internal policy.
The sense OF the people being for
a resistance to Parliament's policy,
Thomas Polk, then colonel COM
mandant Of the county, was dir
ected to issue an order calling
upon each captain OF the militia to
Gala company meeting, each COM
panY to elect two delegates
to general committee on
May II, IT'S. To these dele
gates ample power was given to
adopt such measures as TO them
seemed necessary to defend the
colony's rights, and to make com
mon cause with the people Of Mas
sachusetts already aAame with re-
sentment against the mother coun
try. Various leaders addressed |
che committee before its assem- /
bling, urging a firm stand.
What the committee had origin
ally decided 20 do is rot clear, but
.6ooGtfhis time there reached the
North Carolina community the
echo OF "the shot heard around the
world" from the engagement at |
Lexington on April 10. That was
decisive. The whole assemblage |
was stirred to its depths by the I
news. The old account OF what |
occurred says: "The speakers ad-
dressed their discourses to the
spectators as we'll as to the general
committee, and those who were
not convinced by their reasoning |
were Influenced by their feelings |
and all cried ouG Let US 1--we in
dependent! Let us declare our
independence and defend It 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:-
/. Resolved, That whOsoeyer, directly
or Indirectly, abets. or in any way, form
or manner cOuntenances, the invasion |
of our rights, as attempted by the Par
lament OF Great Britain, is an enemy |
to his country, to America and to the
rights Of men,
II. Resolved, That we, the citizens
OF Mecklenburg County. do hereby dis
solve the political bonds which have
connected US with the mother country,
and absolve ourselves from all allegiance
to the British Crown, abjuring all
political connection with nation that
has wantonly trampled on our rights
and liberties, and inhumanly shed
innocent blood at Lexington and Con-
cord.
III Resolved, That we do hereby
declare ourselves free and independent
people, that we are, and of right ought l
to be, sovereign and self governing
narrN1a ttrIar h. ~ 4 .
General Congress; TO the maintenance
of which independence we solemnly
pledge to each other our mutual coop
Grafton, our lives, our fortunes aud our
most sacred honor.
w, RESOLVED, That we hereby ordain
and adopt as rules of conduct all and
each OF our former laws, and that the
Crown OF Great Britain cannot be con-
sidered hereafter as holding any rights,
privileges or immunities amongst us.
V. Resolved, That all officers, both
civil and military, in this county be
entitled to exercise the same powers
aud authorities as heretofore; that every |
member of this delegation shall hence
forth be a civil officer and exercise the
powers Of justice OF the peace, issue
process, hear and determine controver.
sizes according to law, preserve peace,
union and hnrmony in the county, and |
use every exertion to spread the love Of |
liberty and country until more general |
and better organized system OF govern
ment be established
vi, Resolved, That a copy OF these
resolutions be transmitted by express
TO the nresidenf Of the Co,s,rert,t