Prior to the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence, all persons resident within the thirteen original states were subjects of the king of Great Britain. Upon the proclamation of that wonderful document they at once changed their status from that of subjects to that of citizens of each of the respective states within which they resided. That the Declaration, as a political document, was one of the most remarkable ever produced by man has never been controverted, but that it was charged with inaccuracies and platitudes is admitted by all students of history. That these were patent, not only before the ratification of the Constitution of the United States in 1787-88, but even in the short interval of one year between the Declaration and the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in I777, is evidenced by the discussions in the Confederate congress, and the opposing views of the statesmen of that day in the Federalist, discussing, as those papers did, all their basic principles and all the important theories of government upon which the constitution was to be founded. Then came the Ordinances adopted by the Confederate congress in 1787 providing a system of regulations, and a form of government, for the enormous Northwest Territory acquired by cession from England, which were to be applicable also to the states or territories which might thereafter be erected therein. Then followed the ratification of the Constitution of the United States in 1787-88, and a comparison of the Declaration with that