May 20th is Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence Day, or locally known as Meck Dec Day. This day of celebration is emblazoned on North
Carolina’s state flag. The following is
an introduction, along with the resolves:
On April 30, 1819, the Raleigh (N.C.) Register published the
following document, said to have been adopted by the Committee of Mecklenburg
county, North Carolina, on May 20, 1775, the day after the receipt of the news
of the battle of Lexington. The similarity of some of its phrases (here
italicized) to phrases in the Declaration of Independence raised questions as
to plagiarism on Jefferson's part, or, on the other hand, as to the
authenticity of the Mecklenburg document. It is clear that Jefferson never
heard of it before 1819; and the explanation most commonly adopted is, that it
is a compilation, based in part on general recollections of certain
resolutions, still extant, which were drawn up by the committee-men of
Mecklenburg on May 31, 1775.
The Document
"1. Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly
abetted, or in any way, form, or manner, countenanced the unchartered and
dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to
this County, to America, and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man.
2. Resolved, That we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do
hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother
Country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown,
and abjure all political connection, contract, 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.
3. Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and
independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and
self¬governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of
our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which
independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual cooperation, our
lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.
4. Resolved, That as we now acknowledge the existence and
control of no law or legal officer, civil or military, within this County, we
do hereby ordain and adopt, as a rule of life, all, each and every of our
former laws -where, nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never can be
considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.
5. Resolved, That it is also further decreed, that all, each
and every military officer in this County, is hereby reinstated to his former
command and authority, he acting conformably to these regulations, and that
every member present of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer,
viz. a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a 'Committee¬man,' to issue
process, hear and determine all matters of controversy, according to said
adopted laws, and to preserve peace, and union, and harmony, in said County,
and to use every exertion to spread the love of country and fire of freedom
throughout America, until a more general and organized government be
established in this province."
http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/TrailOfHistory/Pages/default.aspx
http://charlottein2012.com/blog/meck_dec_day/
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