Six years prior to the American
Constitution and three months prior to the creation of the
Declaration of Independence the "Halifax Resolves" were
written making it the first document in the American colonies
promoting a full and complete separation from Great Britain.
The 4th North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax on
April 4, 1776 where a selected committee consisting of
Cornelius Harnett of Wilmington, Thomas Burke of Orange
County, Allen Jones of Northampton County, Thomas Jones of
Chowan County, Abner Nash of New Bern, John Kinchen of Orange
County, Samuel Johnston of Edenton and James Green, Jr., of
New Bern compiled a Colonist grievance report which they
completed on April 12, 1776. This document refered to as the
"Halifax Resolves" was unanimously adopted by all 83 delegates
present, and signed by the secretary of the committee James
Green, Jr., making it the first official colony action calling
for independence from Great Britain.
The Halifax Resolution
was presented to the Colonies through their respective
delegates assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the
Continental Congress followed by similar recommendation from
Virginia. The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, at which time the Declaration of
Independence was adopted that included the signatures of the
North Carolina Delegates William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and
John Penn.
The adoption date of the "Halifax Resolves" is
memorialized on the state flag of North Carolina. The original
"Halifax Resolves" is protected by the National Archives in
Washington, DC and a copy is on display in the State Archives
located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King
and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of this province
reported as follows, to wit,
It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan con certed by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great
Britain have usurped a Power over the Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrouled and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace,
Liberty and safety, have made divers Legislative Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity daily employed in destroying the People and
committing the most horrid devastations on the Country. That Governors in different Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves who should imbrue
their Hands in the Blood of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to America are declared prizes of War and many of them have been violently seized
and confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most Lamentable distress.
And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother
Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations and no hopes remain ofobtaining redress by
those Means alone which have been hitherto tried, Your Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter into the following Resolve, to wit
Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the other Colonies in
declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for
this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof to meet the delegates of the
other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out. |
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©2010 by
Deloris Williams,
the NCGenWeb, Inc., and/or individual contributors. No portion of this or any document appearing on this site is to be used for other than
personal research. Any republication or reposting is expressly forbidden without the written consent of the owner. Last updated
06/26/2020 |
