The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26
ORIGINAL
OF MAY 10Th, IT'S
First Narrative of the Celebrated
Mecklenburg Declaration In .
Raleigh Newspaper.

Mecklenburg Declaration In .
Raleigh Newspaper.
(From the Raleigh Register Of April
3oth, 1879
North Carolina, Mecklenburg
County, May Goth. 1775-In the
spring of 1775, the leading characters
Of M~ecklenburg county. stimulated by
that enthusiastic patriotism which Ell
eyates the mind above considerations
Of individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and
scorning to shelter themselves from
the impending storm by submission
to lawless power, etc, held several
detached meetings. In each of which
the individual sentiments were, that
the cause Of Boston was the cause OF
ALL ETC., etc.
Conformabiy to these principles,
Colonel Adam Alexander. through So
licitatiOn. issued an order to each
Captains company in the county of
Mecklenburg Chen comprising the
present county of Cabarrus), direct
ing each military company to elect
two persons, and delegate to them
ample power to devise ways and
means to aid and assist their suffer-
ing brethren in Boston, and also gem
orally to adopt measures to extricate
themselves from the impending storm,
and to secure u~nimpaired their inal-
ienable rights. privileges and liberties.
from the dominant grasp OF British
imposition and tyranny.
In conformity to sale order, on
May 10, 1775, the delegation met in
Charlotte, vested with unlimited pow
ers; at which time official news by
express, arrived Of the battle Of Lex
ington on that day of the preceding
month.
Every delegate felt the value and
Importance of the prize, and h aw-
full and solemn crisis which had ar
rived-every bosom swel1ed with in
~dignation at the malice, inveteracy,
and Unsuitable revenge developed IN
the late attack at Lexington. The
universal sentiment was: Let us not
fatter ourselves that popular har-
argues or resolves, that popular Va
por, will; avert the storm OF vanquish
our common enemy-let us deliberate
let us calculate the issue-the prob
able result; and then let us act with
energy, as brethren leagued to pre-
serve our property-our lives-and
what is still more endearing. the lib
critics of America"
Alexander was then elect
ed chairman, and John McKnitt Alex
ander clerk. After free and fHIl dis
cussion of the various objects for
which the delegation had been con-
vened. it was unanimously ordained:
3 ct is not necessary to reprint
the resolves-(
A number of bylaws were also
added merely to protect the ass cla-
ton from confusion. and to regulate
their general conduct as citizens
After sitting in the courthouse all
night, neither sleepy, hungry, nor ia
tigued, and after discussing every
paragraph. they were all passed.
sanctioned, and declared unanimously
about 2 a. m. May goth.
In a few days a deputation of said
delegation convened, when Captain
James Jack, Of Charlotte. was Dnt
az express to the Congress at Ph11a-
delphia, with a copy OF said Resolves
n Proceedings, together with a let
ter addressed to our three represent
atives there. viz: Richard Caswell,
William Hooper, and Joseph HUGHES
under express in junction, personal
" and through the State representa-
ton, to use all possible means to have
said proceedings sanctioned and ap-
proved by the General Congress.
On the return Of CAPTAIN Jack, the
delegation learned that their pro-
PROCEEDINGS were individually ap-
proved by the members OF
but that it was deemed premature to
lay them before the House. etc, etc
The subsequent harmony, unanir,-
ftv, and exertion in the cause of lib
ertv and Independence. evidently re-
sultine from these regulations and the
continued exertion of said delegation.
apparertly traruuilized this section
of the State, and net with the concur
renee and HIGH appreciation Of the
Council Of Safety. which held their
sessions at Wilmington and New Bern.
alternately, and who confirmed the
nomination and acts of the
in their official capacity.
From this delegation o~riginated the
Court Of Enquiry Of this county. who
constituted and held their first ses-