GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 966*

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Sponsors: Senator Sherron.

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Referred to:  Rules Suspended; Passed 2nd and 3rd; Sent to House.

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July 12, 1991

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMBERS OF THE 1792 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE NINE CAPITAL COMMISSIONERS, AND ISAAC HUNTER ON THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF RALEIGH AS THE CAPITAL OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, between 1777 and 1790, members of the General Assembly introduced without success several bills to establish a permanent seat of government; and
Whereas, the Constitutional Convention of 1788 addressed this issue and adopted an ordinance providing that the location of the capital be established within 10 miles of the Isaac Hunter Plantation in Wake County; and
Whereas, on January 5, 1792, the General Assembly ratified the action of the Constitutional Convention and permanently established the seat of government for the State of North Carolina in Wake County; and
Whereas, a legislative commission, consisting of eight members representing the eight judicial districts of the State and one at-large member, was assigned to select a site in Wake County for a State capital, survey and lay off a town, sell lots to prospective citizens, and determine a particular site for a State house; and
Whereas, on March 20, 1792, five of the nine commissioners met at Isaac Hunter's Tavern in Wake County to begin their task; and
Whereas, the commission viewed several sites and, on April 2, 1792, purchased 1,000 acres of the Joel Lane Plantation and later completed its mission; and
Whereas, the General Assembly ratified the actions of the commission and named the city Raleigh on December 31, 1792; and
Whereas, 1992 will mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the City of Raleigh as the capital of North Carolina; and
Whereas, a planning committee has been actively preparing a year-long celebration to mark the significance of this historic occasion;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of the members of the 1792 General Assembly, the nine Capital Commissioners, and Isaac Hunter on the 200th anniversary of the founding of the City of Raleigh as the capital of North Carolina.
Sec. 2.  The General Assembly encourages the citizens of this State to participate in all of the activities planned for this historic occasion.
Sec. 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.