The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-08-06
REVOLUTIONARY AFFAIRS.

II is interesting to look back upon the
political times Of re, and glance at the
progress Of this country from separate and
independent colonies to lis condition of
free and united nation. We are indebted
to the industrious editor of Savannah Geor-
gian for the following items which he has
put together, and with which 1t is well to
refresh our memories on the Fourth of
July.
The estimated expense of,he Revolution
ary war, in specie is over one hundred and
thirty five millions of dollars.
To meet this immense charge, Congress
issued from l776 to 1881, 1857 ,476, SAL;
of continental or paper money, which,
during that time, depleciated nearly two
thirds Of its value; In addition 10 this, Con-
gress obtained loans from France and HoI-
land. from the former, of twenty one thou.
sand livres or. ISIS, ,s76 dollars; and from
the latter Do millions of ivres or 4,074 ,O73
dollars. The frs, loan was in 1779 and
the lasti in 1878 and in 1888.
| The first President of the old Congress
was Peyton Randolph, of Virginia. chosen
September 5lh; l774.
The last, was also Virginian, Cyrus
Griffin, elected January %, l7ss'
The oldest of the signQrs of the Declara.
tion of Independence, was BENZ Franklin,
who was then seventy. The youngest
signer was Edward Ru,edge, of South
Carolina, who was but twenty-seven
Thomas Lynch from South Carolina, was
also but twenty:seven. The average age
: of the signers, leaving out three whose ages
: are not known, is fraction short Of a
) showing that as body. they we're not Sc
young as 10 be impetuous, carried away
by the ardent feelings of youth, nor yet S,
old as to be obstinate and irert, blu, in tha
prime and vigorous manhood when hi
balaneeef the physical and mental powers
is best sas,uined, and when the mind il
fully ma.ured by experience, and disciplin
ed by study. Twenty:one of lhe ffiy-sA
lived quarter of century after the 4,h o
July l776, Three of them survived ~to''
full half century from that date. Fou
were upwards Of 90 at their death. Buttol
j Gwinnett, of Georgia, was the first whit
c died after the declaration, at the age of 45
S Charles Carol was the las, of that illustri
: Gus band, and died in 1888, we believe
!, aged &C.
d The first State Constitutions were adop
o ted by the following Colonies. before tn
Declaration of Independence.
New Hampshire. South Carolina. VII
:, gina. New Jersey. in l776.
The remainder of the odd Thirteen,
. adopted their Constitutions as follows, al
ter the Declaration:
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware
= Georgia, l776, New York, l777; Massa
chusetts, 1880 Vermont, l7S6.
9 The Constitution of the United State
'" was adopted by the Convention of whic
- George Washington was Presiden
on thel7th oS September, IT'S
- :, 1t was ratified by Congress July l4tl
| 1888, and went into operation on the fir
=, Wednesday of March. 1889. Ii W;
= adopted by ,he several States in the foloy
. order and time; the assent of nine Stat
. was required before The adoption by Co
:, gress.
~ Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
1887, Georgia. Connecticut, Massachuse
Maryland, South Carolina, New Ham
VI shire. Virginia, New York, in l7Ss;Nor
''' Carolina, 1880, Rhode Island, l79
Vermont, 1871.
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