The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-14
FIRST STEPS IN THE REVOLUTION.
when the Ayiiation Began I'm North
Caroiina-She Holds the First
Revolutionary Assembly-Aid to
Boston on the Closing of Her Port
by the British.
Written for The Messenger.

Written for The Messenger.
When the people Of Boston threw the
tea overheard the British parliment re-
solved to punish them by closing their
port and otherwise. The news OF this
reached America On the 10th OF jan
uarv. 177i and. the the port was to be
closed on the LIST OF June The people
OF Boston at once communicated with
the people OF every other coloney, who
agreed TO sustain the people OF Boston.
In the legislature OF North Carolina
in December. HIS. some six month be-
fore. a committee Of correspondence
had been chosen to correspond with the
other colonies, n to disseminate
news among the people.
Through these measures. and
through h newspapers. the people
were kept informed.
The general subject OF antagonism
In British measures was also discussed
in the public papers. and in correspon-
dence among the leading citizens Of
the colony.
In particular, the papers written by
James lredell. then a young man, were
very hne and strong. and he was one
OF the first writers of America. He
took advanced ground in favor Of the
people.
There were local differences between
the legislature in North Carolina and
their government, nd although the
legislature was in session in March,
these differences resulted in there be-
ing no courts in the state. The governor
had in April, in mated that he would
not call a legislature together again,
and the speaker Of the legislature, Mr..
John Harvey. had conceived the idea
of having the people to hold the legis-
lature without consent of the governor
and he. John Harvey. conferred with
Samuel Johnston. Mr.. Willie Jones and
Colonel Buncombe about it. and at his
instance. Mr.. Samuel Johnston note to
Mr.. Hooper at Wilmington and asked
him to speak to Cornelius Harnett and
Colonel Ashe and other such men. and
beg their friendly counsel and advice;
so that subject was considered at that
time.
Three months after that, when the
news came about closing the port of
Boston, there was held on the 21st of
July, IVA. a general meeting of the
six counties on the Cape Fear and sub
scriptions were opened for provisions
to he sent to Boston. and Mr.. Parker
Ounce. one of the merchants there,
gave his ship and went along with it
to carry the provisions which had to
he sent to Salem. since BoSton'S port
was closed. Besides the provisions that
We're given. they raised 1000 opunds in
cash., and the Wilmington PAPER of
July q, referring to hat matter. said,
I'VE observe with particular pleas
ure that several widow ladies Of the
town have contributed very literally
TO this benevolent design"
That meeting at Wilmington OF the
six counties, appointed a committee of
eight gentlemen. living in New Han
over county to prepare a circular letter
to the several counties of the province.
and recommended that each county
should elect deputies for a general
meeting.
That committee issued
calling for the election of deputies in
each county, and hus practically car
ried into operation the idea which
John Harvey bad conceived three
months before.
The deputies were elected according
to the recommendation Of these Will
mington gentlemen, and met at New
Bern OF the 18th day of August, IVA.
and was the first Revolutionary body
ever elected by the people in America.
After that, New Bern and other
parts Of the state held meetings and
received subscriptions to be sent to the
relief of the people of Boston, and the
whole colony was aroused to make the
cause of Boston the cause Of all.