In May, 1775, its walls resounded with the _tones of earnest debate
and independence_, proclaimed from the court house steps. In
September, 1780, its walls resounded with the _tones of the musket_,
by the same people, who "knew their rights, and knowing, dared
maintain."

At this period, there was no printing press in the upper country of
Carolina, and as no regular post traversed this region, a newspaper
was seldom seen among the people. Important information was
transmitted from one colony to another by express messengers on
horse-back, as was done by Captain Jack in bearing the Mecklenburg
Declaration to Philadelphia. The people were accustomed to assemble at
stated places to listen to the reading of printed hand-bills from
abroad, or to obtain verbal intelligence of passing events.

Charlotte early became the central point in Mecklenburg county for
these assemblages, and there the leading men often met at Queen's
Museum or College, to discuss the exciting topics of the day. These
meetings were at first irregular, and without system. It was finally
agreed that Thomas Polk, Colonel of the militia, long a surveyor in
the province, frequently a member of the Colonial Assembly, and a man
of great excellence of character should be authorized to call a
convention of the Representatives of the people whenever circumstances
seemed to require it. It was also agreed that such Representatives
should consist of two delegates from each Captain's Company, chosen by
the people of the several militia districts, and that their decisions,
when thus legally convened, should be binding upon the whole county.

When it became known that Governor Martin had attempted, by his
proclamation, issued on the 1st of March, 1775, to prevent the