Assembling of a Provincial Congress at Newbern, on the 3d of April
following; and when it was recollected that, by his arbitrary
authority, he had dissolved the last Provincial Assembly, after a
session of only four days, and before any important business had been
transacted, the public excitement became intense, and the people were
clamorous for some decisive action, and a redress of their grievances.
A large majority of the people were willing to incur the dangers
incident to revolution, for the sake of themselves, their posterity,
and the sacred cause of liberty.

In this State of the public mind, Col. Polk issued his notice to the
committee-men, two from each Captain's district, as previously agreed
upon, to assemble in Charlotte on the 19th of May, 1775, to consult
for the common good, and inaugurate such measures as would conduce to
that desirable end. The notice of the appointed meeting spread rapidly
through the county, and all classes of citizens, intuitively, as it
were, partook of the general enthusiasm, and felt the importance of
the approaching convention. On the appointed day, an immense concourse
of people, consisting of gray-haired sires, and vigorous youths from
all parts of the county, assembled in the town of Charlotte, then
containing about twenty-five houses, all anxious to know the result of
that ever-memorable occasion. After assembling in the court house,
Abraham Alexander, a venerable citizen and magistrate of the county,
and former member of the Legislature was made chairman; and John
McKnitt Alexander, assisted by Dr. Ephraim Brevard, Secretaries, all
men of business habits, and of great popularity. A full, free and
animated discussion upon the exciting topics of the day then ensued,
in which Dr. Ephraim Brevard, a finished scholar; Col. William Kennon,
an eminent lawyer of Salisbury, and Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch, a
distinguished Presbyterian preacher, were the chief speakers. During