Introduction
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."
