The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

The design of the North Carolina state flag includes the date "May 20, 1775" and North Carolinians boast of being "First in Freedom." The date commemorates the day on which the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed, declaring Mecklenburg County's independence from Britain. The boast derives from the argument that the legendary "Meck Deck" was signed over a year in advance of the Declaration of Independence. North Carolina was the first colony to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Britain.

In May 1775, a meeting was called by Thomas Polk, commander of the Mecklenburg County Militia, and was held at the Courthouse which Polk had built in the town square of Charlotte. The convention was attended by two members of each of the companies of the Mecklenburg County militia. During the meeting, a messenger arrived in town with the news that British troops fired on Americans at Lexington, Massachusetts. The declaration was then drawn up and signed by those attending the meeting.

Alas, the purported document is not in hand today. Some say that it was destroyed in 1800 by a fire which burned the residence of John McKnitt Alexander, who served as secretary to the convention. Others say it was the minutes of the convention in Mecklenburg County that were destroyed and not the document itself.

The debate over the authenticity of Mecklenburg County's claims to have issued the first declaration of independence from Britain began in 1819, when John Adams read an article in the Essex Register of Salem, Massachusetts, which included information written by Joseph McKnitt Alexander, son of John McKnitt Alexander. The article commented on Joseph Alexander's description of both the convention of May 19-20, 1775 in Mecklenburg County, and the document which was issued. After receiving a letter from Adams describing the article, Thomas Jefferson replied that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was "spurious" at best. The debate has continued since.

Resolved -- That whosoever directly or indirectly abets or in any way form or manner, covutenances the invasion of our rights, as attempted by the Parliment of Great Britain, is an enemy to his country, to America, and the rights of man.

Resolved -- That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg county, do hereby disolve the political bonds which have connected us with the mother country, and absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British crown, abjuring all political connection with a nation that has wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of Americans at Lexington.

Resolved -- That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, that we are and of right to be, a sovereign and self-governing people under the power of God and the general 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.

Resolved -- That we do hereby ordain and adopt as rules of conduct, all and each of our former laws, and the crown of Great Britain cannot be considered hereafter as holding any rights, privileges, or immunities amongst us.

Resolved -- That all the officers, both civil and military in this county, be entitled to exercise the same powers and authorities as heretofore; that every member of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer, and exercise the powers of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and determine controversies according the law, preserve peace, union and harmony in the county, and use every exertion to spread the love of liberty and of country, until a more general and better organized system of government be established.

Resolved -- That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by express to the President of the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia, to be laid before that body.