The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-18

them to the utmost of their power; but
the delegates of the people attended on
the day appointed without any obstruc
tion from the Kings officers The
proclamation of Governor Martin availed
nothing (Vox ct praterea nihiD. Excited
at the state of affairs, Governor Martin
consulted his council the steps most
proper to be taken in the emergency.
They advised him that nothing further
could be DONE" This first assembly or
provincial congress, independent Of royal
authority. in Newbern on August %, 1774
is an important epoch in our history. 1t
was the first act of that great drama
of revolutionary events which finally
achieved our independence
The year IT'S is full of important events,
only a few of which can be referred to
in this brief sketch In February, 1775
John Harvey issued a notice to the peo-
pie to elect delegates to represent them
in a second provincial congress at New
bern on April 3, being the same time and
place of the meeting of the colonial as
sembly. This reused the indignation OF
Governor Martin and caused him to is
sue, on March ], 1775, his proclamation
denouncing the popular convention
In his speech to the assembly Cover
nor Martin expressed ..his concern at this
extraordinary state of affairs He re-
minded the members of their oath Of al
legiance, and denounced the meeting of
delegates chosen by the people as illegal
and one that he should resist by every
means in his power
In the dignified reply Of the house. the
governor was informed that the right of
the people to assemble and petition the
throne for a redress of their grievance
was undoubted. and that their right in
cluded that of appointing delegates for
such purpose.
The house passed resolutions approving
of the proceedings of the Continental
congress of Philadelphia, September 4.
liza, and declared their determination
to use their influence in carving out
the views of that body Whereupon, the
governor, by the advice of his council,
dissolved the assembly, by proclamation,
after a session of four days.
Intercourse Ceased
Thus ceased forever all legislative ac-
tion and intercourse un0er the royal gov
ernment. Indeed, from the organization
of the first provincial congress or con-
vention in Newbern august %, 1774) COM
posed of delegates fresh from the peo-
pie, the pioneers in our glorious revo-
luton until Governor Martins expulsion.
North Carolina was enjoying and ex
ercising an almost unlimited control of
separate governmental Independence
After the dissolution of the assembly on
April 8, 1775. Governor Martin fingered
only few days, first taking refuge in
Fort Johnson. and afterwards on board
the ship of war, the Cruiser, anchored
IN the Cape Fear river. Only one more
frothy proclamation CAugust IS, 1775), ap-
peared from Governor Martin against the
patriotic leaders of North Carolina, issued
TINS time not from the palace at New
pern, but from a cruising source and
outlook and on river whose very name
typihed the real origin OF his departure
and present retirement
Ibese glimpses of the colonial history
OF North Carolina necessary to a proper
understanding of the following resolves.
VIII serve to illustrate In a limited de-
gree, the character of her people and
the unyielding opposition to all unjust
exaction ana encroachment Of arbitrary
power.
While these stirring transactions were
transpiring IN eastern North Carolina the
people Of Mscklenburg county moved in