The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-09
DEVELOPMENT OF
THE
North Carolina Historian Tells
About the Origin and Growth Of
the May 10th Declaration.

transcript Of the M~ecklenburg Re-
.ly.s in the Cape Fear Mercury of I
nm. %. 1875, sent in Governor Mar
ms Duplicate letter Of June 80, 1873,
l.. Lord Dartmouth
North Carolina, Charlotte Town,
N-klenburg County. This day the
committee Of We county met and pass
ID the following resolves:
Whereas by an address presented
10 Ills Ma jesty by both Houses Of
f4rliament in February last the
americans are declared Rebels. We
conceive that all the laws and Com
missions conferred by or derived from
the authority Of the King or Parlia-
nl,nf are annulled and void, and the
former Constitution Of the Colonies
ror the present wholly suspended.
10 provide in some degree for the
+1gencies Of this County in this ARM
Ing situation, We deem it proper and
necessary to pass the following Re
solVeS:
lst. That All commissions, civil and
military, heretofore granted by the
crown 70 be exercised in this Colony
e. be Null and Void, and the Consti-
tuition OF each particular colony
wholly suspended.
I'd. That the provincial Congress Of
Zach province, under the direction Of
the Great Continental Congress, is in
vested with all the Legislative and ex-
executive authority within their re-
s~Iective provinces, and that no legis-
EtiNe or Executive power does or can
exist At this time in any Of these
COLONIES.
sd. As all former laws are now sus-
pended in this Province and the Con
yress have Not yet provided Others, we
- - WV fHr r -
preservation Of good order to form
good rules and Regulations for the
internal government of this county
until laws shall be provided for us
IS Congress.
9Th. That the inhabitants of this
County do meet on a certain day ap-
pointed by the Committee, and having
formed themselves into 3 companies
VIZ; s in the County and l in the
Town of Charlotte, do chuse a Colonel
X other Militia officers, who shall hold
and exercise their several Powers Dy
virtue Of this Choice, and Independent
Of the Crown Of Great Britain and the
former Constitution Of this rovince.
5th. That for the better preserva.
ton Of the eace nj administrator
of Justice, Each Of the Companies dc
chuse from their own body two dis
Greet FreeholderS who shall be EN-
powered, each by himself singiy, tt
decide and determine all matters @
Controversy arising within the Sal(
Company under the sum of Invent,
Shillines, and, Jointly, all -~controver
sizes under 40. yet so as their decision
may admit of an appeal to the Con
Ntntion Of Select men OF the who'll
County, and also that any one Of thes'
men have power to a com
nit 10 confinement persons u 0
Petty Larceny"
Other Resolves provided for tn
election Of C~onstables; for these Elgh
Tuesday in January. April, July an
ctober at the Court House at Chariot
and hear cases &&&&; And sundr
Regulations were made Tor the ad
ministration of justice &&&.. for tn
collection Of Faxes &&&; and par-tic
tlarly; That all those officers sha
hold their Commissions during tn
pleasure Of their respective Constitu
ents."
The last Resolve was:
"20th: That the Committee appOiT
Colonel Thos. Polk & DR.. Joseph Ken
hedN 70 purchase powder, lead an
fints for the use Of the Militia of tn
County &&&."
The Evidence OF the Witnesses.
\ considerable number Of old cit
nns Of M~ecklenburg in 1920 and j
$50 made statementS giving SON
account Of the meeting Of Committe
men chosen at an election, called
order of Colonel Polk. in May III
al which independence was declare
and the Declaration was read to
large c~oncourse of people by CO
Polk.
one among other reasons offer
tfor declaring themselves indepen'
ent) said General Joseph GrahaI
vas that the King or Ministry ha
ny proclamation or some edict, d.
CARED the Colonies Out Of the prote
Won Of the British Crown III
reason is found in the preamble
the above resolves.
Another one of those present on II
occasion, Mr.. Simeson wrote: I'm a.
oitlon to what l ave said, the san
committee appointed three men
sSure all the military stores for II
county s ;. use-Thomas Polk, job
lhlfer, and .JOSeph Kennedy" W.