Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-09-20
wednesday Morning, Sept. ~, 1851.
Our Country,

Our Country.
From thirteen original colonies, subject to the
British crown, We have become thirty nde-
pendent States though united for certain purpos-
es into one General Government, styled "THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" 1t may be inter
estng to our readers, young and DID, to see in one
view, account of our progress from our coloni-
el dependence to the present time. But few among
us can recplect facts descriptive of the progress
we have made. A chronological statement of the
formation of the several State Governments, the
time when they became members OF the Union, by
their adoption of the Constitution of the United
States or BY their admission into the Union since
the establishment Of the Constitution, and other
facts connected with wonderful history and
progress, will be both Interesting and useful The
capacity Of this great country, extending from the
frozen lakes on the north to the tepic the
gulf of Mexico, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
oceans is sufficient to afford almost every variety
of soil, Climate and surface; thuS furnishing for
the use of man almost every important product OF
the earth In part or this world has nature
been so lavish of her lakes, her rivers her noun
tains, her valleys, her gold, silver, copper and
coal mines. In no other part OF the world has
man made so much progress IL so short time.
Let us, then fix upon some point nom which 20
start, with view to lay before The reader some
interesting historical facts connected with prog
On Monday the 5th. of September, 1874, there
was assembled in Carpen .er's Hall, city OF Phlla-
delphia number Of men, who had been chosen
and appointed by tie several colonies and provln-
ces in North America, to hold Congress in that
city. This congress resolved on the next day,
that each colony or province should have one vote
On Tuesday July end 1776 the congress re-
solved, THAT these United Colonies are, and Of
right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that
they are absolved from all allegiance to the British
Crown, and that all political conneXion between
them and the State of Great Britain is and ought
to be, totally dissolved
On Tuesday, July 4th., 1775, the congress a.
greed to the entire Declaration OF independence as
made by the Representatives of the United States
Of America, in Congress Assembled, and of which
the above resolve forms an important part.
On Monday, September 9th, 1875, it was re
solved that the words United Colonies should be
no longer used, and the ''UITED STATES sub
sttuted
On Saturday, November 18th, 1777, articles
of Confederation and perpetual Union of the Uni
ted States of America agreed to, by the del
egates of thirteen States in Congress assembled,
subject to the ratification Of the Legislatures of the
several States.
Eight of these States ratified these articles on
the 9Th, day of July, 1878, one State on the 2lst
day of July, same year, on the 24th. July
same year, one on the Goth November, same year
one on the 22nd February, 1779 and one. which
was the last, on the 1st of March, 1881. Thus
was the ratification completed on the day last men
toned. Here was bond of Union between thir
teen independent States, whose delegates in con
gress legislated for the general good, and execu
ted certain powers, so far as they were permitted
by the articles of Confederation, until the 4th. 0
March, $780, when the present constitution of thu
United States, which had been adopted by the con
vention and ratified by the requisite number of th
States, went into operation and thus more per
feet Union for the general good was formed.
Each of the thirteen colonies had charter gov
ernments provided for them by the mother coun
try, under which charter governments they existe'
until their independence We have given th
dates at which the original States ratified the ar
tlces of confederation, and now we will give tn
dates at which they ratified the Constitution
New Hampshire, June 21, 1873.
Massachusetts,, February 6, 1888.
Rhode Island, May 90, 1890
Connecticut January 9, l788
New York, July 26, 1888.
New Jersey, December 18, 1888.
Pennsylvania, December 12, 1897.
Delaware, December Z, 1857.
Maryland, April %, 1897.
Virginia, June 26, 1888.
North Carolina, November 26, 1888.
South Carolinna, May 90, 1888.
Georgia, January 2, l788'
The privilege of becoming members of the Fe'
eral Union, by ratfying the Constitution, was COZ
fined to those States that parties to the COZ
federation which had previously existed, and to tt
convention by which the constitution was frame
The constitution had been adopted by the col
vention ON the 17th day of September, 1877.
required nine States to ratfy It before it could
into effect. Congress, on the 18Th. day Of SEP
1888, determined that a sufficient number
States had ratified it-eleyen having done so-th
it should go into operation on the first Wednesda
4th day of March, 1889. So it appears the
were but two States-Rhode Island and Mort
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