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1. Revolution and early republic · 1775–1799

2. July 23, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough The convention has the state and federal founding documents read and receives news of two states' ratifications

   On James Galloway's motion, seconded by Macon, the clerks read the state Bill of Rights and constitution, the Articles of Confederation, the act naming North Carolina's deputies to Philadelphia and the resolve of Congress sending the Constitution to the states. Johnston then laid before the members official accounts of ratification by Massachusetts and South Carolina.

3. July 23, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough Willie Jones moves that the Hillsborough Convention vote on the Constitution at once

   Jones moved that the question on the federal Constitution be put immediately, arguing that members had long since made up their minds and that a long sitting would waste public money. Thomas Person seconded him and James Iredell objected. The convention took up the Constitution clause by clause instead, debating it for eleven days.

4. July 26, 1788
   Hillsborough James Galloway speaks on the slave trade clause at the Hillsborough convention

   In committee of the whole, Galloway said he wished to see the "abominable trade" in enslaved people ended, objected to a federal tax on all immigrants, and warned that freeing enslaved people would destroy the property of the southern states. He said the state could not be happy if freed people stayed among the white population after manumission.

5. August 2, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough The convention adopts a declaration of rights and twenty-six amendments to be laid before Congress before ratification

   On Thomas Person's motion the convention concurred with its committee of the whole, resolving that a declaration of rights of twenty articles and twenty-six amendments to the most ambiguous and exceptionable parts of the Constitution be laid before Congress and a convention of the states before North Carolina would ratify. On Willie Jones's motions it also recommended a state impost matching whatever Congress laid, urged redemption of the paper currency, and ordered the resolutions sent to Congress and the twelve other states.

6. August 2, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough The convention directs its president to send its resolutions to Congress and the other twelve states

   A unanimous resolution asked Samuel Johnston to forward the resolution on the Constitution, with the impost and paper money resolutions, to Congress and to the executives of the twelve other states.

7. August 2, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough The convention recommends that North Carolina collect an impost for the use of Congress

   Having neither ratified nor rejected the Constitution, the convention adopted by a large majority Willie Jones's resolution asking the legislature to lay a duty on goods imported into North Carolina whenever Congress laid an impost in the ratifying states, and to pay the money to Congress.

8. August 2, 1788
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough The convention unanimously urges the Assembly to redeem the state's paper currency

   On Willie Jones's motion, seconded by James Galloway, the convention asked the General Assembly to retire the state's paper currency as quickly as the people's circumstances allowed.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 2, 2026.