Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-05-28

Lney aiHAeu Iu6 udLS vi May HVs Ass~f
to them.
Case for Mecklenburgers.
The case for the Mecklenburgers Is
set forth as follows: In 1918 there
arose great rivalry between Massa-
chusetts and Virginia as to which COM
monwealth should receive the credit
for the Philadelphia document, and
the controversy was brought up In
congress. 1t was at this time thar
Davidson, a representative in con-
gress from North Carolina, announced
that Mecklenburg county had declared
her independence 10 months before
the PRONUNCIATION of the document In
Philadelphia.
While the statement created some
surprise it resulted in an investiga-
ton into the facts as to the Mecklen-
burg declaration. This inquiry was
made by Nathaniel Macon, who pre-
resented North Carolina in the senate,
and through Gen. Joseph Graham and
Representative Davidson, Senator Ma
con received from DR.. Joseph Mcknitt
Alexander, the son of John Mcknitt
Alexander, a full account of "th"
event." which Dr. Alexander said he
had copied from papers left by his
father" This statement, which in
Guided the May goth declaration, Sena-
tor Macon sent to Raleigh, N. c., and
it was published in the Register on
Friday, April 30. 1919.
DR.. Alexander's story.
DR.. Alexander related at length how
the farmers of Mecklenburg county
in the spring of IT'S had called con-
vention to be composed of two dele
gates from each settlement in the
county to meet May 10 to devise
means for the assistance of the "suf.
fering people of Boston and to extri'
cate themselves from the impending
storm" Official news, by express, ar
rived of the battle of Lexington" &C
cording to DR.. Alexander's report to
Senator Macon, and the influence OF
the news from Lexington, he added,
resulted in the unanimous adoption or
the Mecklenburg declaration of indie
pendence.
, The declaration, as written by DR..
Brevard. and approved by the conven-
ton ON May 20, Its, reads:
81. Resolved, That whosoever di-
rectly or indirectly abetted or in any
way. form or manner countenanced
sion of our rights, as claimed by
: Great Britain, is an enemy to this
: ry-America-and to the inner
, ent and inalienable rights of man.
q Resolved, That we, the citizens
of Mecklenburg county, do hereby dis
: solve the political bands which have
connected us to the mother country,
and hereby absolve ourselves from all
\ | TT "A
abjure all political connection. c0n
tract or association with that nation
, who have wantonly trampled on our
. rights and liberties and inhumanly
: shed the innocent blood of American
, patriots at Lexington.
+ Declared Themselves Free.
s 80. Resolved, That we do hereby de
n clare ourselves a free and independ
. ent people, are, and of right ought tx
t be, sovereign and self-governing as
q sociation under the control Of nj
j. power other than that of our Goo
g, and the general government of thu
e. congress to the maintenance of which
/ independence we solemnly pledge :,
l. each other our mutual cooperation
our lives, our fortunes and our mos
d sacred honor.
d a. Resolved, That as we now aC
r knowledge the existence and contrc
e. of no law or legal officer, civil or mi
itary, within this county, we do here
by ordain and adopt as a rule of life
each and every one of our forme
= laws, wherein, nevertheless, the crow
= of Great Britain never can be consit
:, cred as holding privileges, immunitie
- or authority therein.
- "5. Resolved That 1t is also furthe
: decreed that all, each and every mil
=. tary officer in this county is heret
- reinstated in his former command ar
- authority he acting conformably
{, these regulations. And that evel
-, member present Of this delegate
- shall henceforth be a civil officer, vi
~ a justice of the peace, in the chara
ter of a committeeman to issue pre-
s, ess, hear and determine all matters
-. controversy, according to said ado
- ed laws, and to preserve peace a.
union and harmony in said count
and to use every exertion to spre
.- 9 the love of the country and fire
- freedom throughout America until
more general and organized govel
ment be established in this provinc
re-
or aBIind Tiuerso Even in China,