The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-12
BIRO'S-EYE VIEW
OF the History of the United States.

British civilization, thirteen colonies, of
which New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania Delaware
and Maryland, occupied the same spa.
ces now embraced in the States of the
same names.
Massachusetts,, besides her present
territory, was possessed Of that which
is now the State of Maine, and had
claim to parts Of the North West Terri.
tory
Connecticut also laid cluims to parts
of the same, aud New York exercised
jurisdiction over the present State Of
Vermont, then known as the New
Hampshire Grant.
Virginia owned what is now Ken
lucky aud claimed as hers the vast
track known as the North West Terri.
tory, now divided into the fertile States
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan aud
Wisconsin.
North Carolina possessed the present
State Of Tennessee, aud South CAROLINA
thought herself cutitied to an extension
westward to the Mississippi, while
Georgia owned what now composes
the States Of Alabama and Mississippi
The boundary lines between the col.
onics were not clearly defined, nor we're
the divisions between them and the
Shanish possessions of Florida and the
vast territory of Louisiana, comprising
not only what is now the State of that
name, but the whole Western Basin of
the Mississippi and Missouri and stretch.
ed westward to the Pacific ocean.
These thirteen colonies were Fiefs Of
the British Crown, without any repre-.
sentation in Parliament, and the Execu.
tive functions of their Governments
were exercised by Governors appointed
by the Crown, or by proprietories grant.
ers of British Monarchs.
In 1865, the British Parliament by
passing the Stamp Act, usurped the
right to tax these Fiefs, aud although
the discomfort created by this tax in
the colonies, soon brought about its re
peal, yet the British Parliament, when
SO doing declared their right to bind
the colonies in all cases whatsoever
The Americans denied this right, and
raised the cry of mo taxation without
Representation
The imposition Of a tax on tea and
other articles in 1867, increased the
discomfort, aud in March. 1870, a con.
test occurred in the streets of Boston
between the citizens and the British
soldiers, which resulted in the death of
four persons.
The inhabitants of the colonies enter
ed into mutual compacts to abstain from
the use Of tea, aud the discomfort con.
tinued to increase, until, in 1913, large
quantities of tea having arrived in Bos.
ton, a number of men disguised as In.
dams boarded, during the night, the
tea vessels, aud threw their cargoes
overheard. TO punish this act, the
British Parliament, in IVA, passed an
act interdictiug all commercial inter.
cours with the port of Boston.
The colony of Virginia ympathizing
with Massachusetts, recommended to
its sister colonies general Congress.
The advice was accepted by sill cx.
cep'ing Georgia, anda Congress compos.
ed of delegates from twelve colonies
conveyed in Philadelphia, on September
the 4th, l774, and after determining
to continue Congressional Union, and
addressing to the King Of Great Britain
a respectful and affectonate petition,
adjourned on the 9th Of October. This
appeal was UNDECIDED, and in l775, the
British Parliament passed acts restrict
ing the trade Of all the colonies, exec pit.
ing New York and North Carolina, to
Great Britain and the " est Indies.
On April 18th, ITS, the Revolution
commenced by the battle Of Lexington,
and meetings were at once held by the
Colonial Legislature, officers appointed
and troops enrolled.
On the 10th day of May, l7T5, the
Congress generally called the Continen.
tai, which had adjourned the previous
Oct, reconvened at Philadelphia, aud
issued bills of credit to the amount of
$4,000 pledging the faith Of the
twelve United Colonies for the redemp.
ton of the same.
In the July following, Georgia ac'
ceded to the Congressional Union, and
John Hancock, of Massachusetts wa,
elected President Of Congress, George
Washington, Of Virginia, Commander
in-Chicf of the Armies, and Benjamin
Franklin, Post master General.
| This Congress, on the 4th day oil
July, A. d. 1776, gave to the world
that Declaration, written by the patriot
aud philosopher Thomas Jefferson
which asserts, shat all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights
that amongst these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" and 'thal
these United States are, and of right
ought to be. Free and Independent
States"
| 1t was this Revolutionary Congress
that, during l777 aud 1878, composed
the Articles of Confederation which was
adopted by most of tho States in ITS
but not by Maryland UNTIL 1881, wher
the Revolutionary, or Continental Con
gress ceased to exist, and q Congress
under the Articles of Confederation
with defined powers, was convened t.
the joy of all patriots.
Alliances were made with Louis the
Sixteenth, of France, ITS, aud Will
the United Provinces of Holland, il
1880.
In October, 1880, Maryland having
refused to accede to the Articles Of Con