III. Resolved, That as we 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 one of our former laws, wherein, nevertheless, the crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, or authorities therein.
IV. Resolved, That all, each, and every military officer in this county is hereby reinstated in his former command and authority, he acting conformably to their 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, union, and harmony in said county, 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.
ABRAHAM ALEXANDER, Chairman.
JOHN MCKNITT ALEXANDER, Secretary.
NOTE.—This declaration of independence (with a supplementary set of resolutions establishing a form of government) was adopted by a convention of delegates from different sections of Mecklenburgh county, which assembled at Charlotte, May 20, 1775.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AT NEW PLYMOUTH.
In the name of God, amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia;
Do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid. And by virtue hereof do enact, constitute and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth, anno domini, 1620.
John Carver, Samuel Fuller, Edward Tilly,
William Bradford, Christopher Martin, John Tilly,
Edward Winslow, William Mullins, Francis Cooke,
William Brewster, William White, Thomas Rogers,
Isaac Allerton, Richard Warren, Thomas Tinker,
Miles Standish, John Howland, John Ridgdale,
John Alden, Steven Hopkins, Edward Fuller,
John Turner, Digery Priest, Richard Clark,
Francis Eaton, Thomas Williams, Richard Gardiner,
James Chilton, Gilbert Winslow, John Allerton,
John Craxton, Edmund Margesson, Thomas English,
John Billington, Peter Brown, Edward Doten,
Joses Fletcher, Richard Bitteridge, Edward Liester,
John Goodman, George Soule.