WHEREAS, the United States was founded on the principle that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed, not from divine right or royal decree; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hillsborough holds a unique place in the American story as the epicenter of the Regulator Movement, an early rebellion against unchecked authority and colonial injustice that helped lay the groundwork for the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, in 1775, Hillsborough hosted the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress, which organized resistance to His Majesty’s government and laid the foundation for independence, and whose delegates included Hillsborough resident Thomas Burke, a future governor of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, William Hooper, a prominent North Carolinian and one of Hillsborough’s most notable historical figures, served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was among the original signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, affirming that all people are created equal and entitled to liberty under law; and

WHEREAS, in 1788, Hillsborough hosted North Carolina’s second Constitutional Convention, where delegates refused to ratify the United States Constitution without the addition of a Bill of Rights, recognizing the importance of explicitly protecting individual freedoms and liberties against governmental overreach; and

WHEREAS, these historic acts reflect Hillsborough’s 254-year commitment to the rule of law, to holding power accountable, and to upholding the rights and responsibilities of democratic governance;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners reaffirms our town’s commitment to the founding American principle that ours is a nation of laws, not kings; a nation where democratic institutions and constitutional protections must be continually defended; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that as elected officials who have sworn an oath to support and defend both the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of North Carolina, we take that responsibility seriously; not as a formality, but as a solemn promise to uphold the rule of law, protect the rights of all people, and carry forward the legacy of those who, in Hillsborough and throughout our state, have and will continue to stand for liberty, justice, and democratic self-government.

Approved this 23rd day of June in the year 2025.

Mark Bell, Mayor