Halifax Resolves
The
Halifax Resolves is the name later given to a resolution adopted by
North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress in
Halifax County on
April 12,
1776.
The resolution empowered Richard Caswell, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn - North Carolina's delegates to the second Continental Congress - to join with those from other colonies to declare independence from British rule. The 83 delegates present in Halifax at the Fourth Provincial Congress unanimously adopted the Halifax Resolves, which also encouraged delegates from all the colonies to the second Continental Congress to declare independence. Virginia soon proclaimed a similar resolution.
Every year, on April 12, Halifax County celebrates Halifax Day. Interpreters in period costumes demonstrate crafts such as woodworking, butter churning, quilt making and other Colonial activities. They also reenact encampments and military drills and fire historical weapons.
Original Text
- THE HALIFAX RESOLUTION
- The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations and violences at tempted 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 concerted 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 div ers Legislative Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity against the Continent in General. That British Fleets and Armies have been and still are 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 co nfiscated 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 of obtaining 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 delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, reserving 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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