The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-18
The Meck1enburg Declaration

Ihey. used to arms, were beaten
put theirs was the first bloodshed for
freedom In the American colonies.
Many true patriots who did not compre-
mend the magnitude of their grievances.
fought against them but the urincinles
OF right and justice for which they con-
tended could never die In less than
TOUR years, all the colonies were found
oattiing FOR the same principles and borne
along In the rushing tide of. kevolution.
Martin Tryon's Successor
oh May "A Tryon, after committing
acts OF revenge, cruelty and barbaritv
succeeding the Almance battle, returned
10 his palace at Newbern, and on the goth
TOOK shipping for New York. over which
Sea,e ne had been appointed governor.
'osIah Martin was appointed by the crown
as Iryon's successor as governor of North
Saroilna. lie met the legislature for the
Iirst time in the town of Newbern in
l7l. Had he lived in less troublesome
unes, MS administration might have been
peacefui and prosperous. Governor Mar
tin had the misfortune to differ verv soon
with the lower house of the assembly,
and during the whole of his adlninistra-
tpn the difficulties continued and grew
IN magnitude, helping at last to accelerate
the downfall of the royal government.
In this assembly we find the names of
host of distinguished patriots, as John
Ashe, Cornelius Harnett. THE Samuel
Adams of North Carolina" Samuel John
son. Willis Jones, Joseph Hews. Abner
Nash, John Harvey, Thomas Parson,
Griffith Rutherford, Abraham Alexander,
Ihomas Polk, and many others, showing
at that early date the whig party had
complete control OF the popular house of
the assembly. In accordance with the
recommendations of Governor Martin, the
veil of oblivion was drawn over the past
unhappy trouble and the animosities and
distinctions which they created.
The year 1772 passed by without meet
Ing OF the assembly, and the only political
meeting or election of any great impor-
tance which occurred in the province
was the election of members to the popu-
lar House. Such was the triumph of the
wing party, that in many of the coun-
tries there was no opposition to the cleo
ton of the old leaders, nor could the gov
ernor be said TO have a party sufficiently
powerful to effect an election before the
people or the passage of a bill before the
assembly.
Convened in 1873
rhe assembly, however, in consequence
of two dissolutions by the governor, did
not convene in Newbern until January IS.
lIIs. and the popular House illustrated its
political character by the election of John
Harvey to the office of speaker. To this
new assembly. many leading members
oil the House in III We're returned
Thomas Polk and Abraham Alexander
were not members, the former having
been employed in the service of the gov
ernor as surveyor in running the dividing
line between North and South Carolina,
and the latter not having solicited the
suffrage of the people. The county OF
Mecklenburg was in the assembly repre-
sented by Martin Pheifer and John David.
son.
During the summer of 1774, the people in
all parts of the province manifested their
appreciation of the proposed plan of call
ing a Congress or assembly to consult
upon common grievances, and in nearly
all of the counties and principal towns,
meeting were held, and delegates ap-
pointed to meet in the town of Newbern
on August 25, liza.
Issued Proclamation
On August l3 Governor Martin issued
a proclamation complaining that meet.
ings of the people had been held with.
out legal authority of the King and par
lament. He advised the people to for.
bear attending any such meetings and
ordered the Kings officers Nto oppose