Fifty Seven States in the Union

[palani]

Treatise on the law of non-residents and foreign corporations, 1892.

http://books.google.com/books?id=eIhAAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=treatise+on+the+law+of+non-residents&source=bl&ots=jPC5SjTFj0&sig=slZwdhtg4nYJs7xgpkyQBC1Ua8c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SJYIUNThO8Ly2QWes8iuBw&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=treatise%20on%20the%20law%20of%20non-residents&f=false

As stated in the preamble to this book


"The term 'non-resident' as herein used means a citizen of the United States who does not reside in the state in which the question arises for decision, or in which the act complained of or relied upon was performed."

"
As there are now fifty-one states in the Union, it follows that every resident of any one state is a non-resident of fifty states; and that every corporation organized under the laws of any one state is a foreign corporation with respect to fifty states."

How could there be 51 states in 1892? Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. Any clue as to which other seven "states" form the remaining seven needed to get to 51?

Generally speaking in 2012 it is recognized that there are 50 states in the union (at least there are 50 stars on the current U.S. flag). Add the remaining seven (unknown) states to get to 57 states at the current day. Didn't Obama say something about the 57 states during his 2008 election campaign and there was a lot of speculation on his confusing the U.S. with muslim states?

"... it is just wonderful to be back in Oregon, and over the last 15 months we have traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been to fifty .. seven states? I think one left to go. One left to go. Alaska and Hawaii I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit but my staff would not justify it."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/graphics/lapelpin.jpg

Quite a conundrum.

[Glass]

what about Puerto Rico, Phillipines, Panama? Those are the ones that come to my mind. Not quite 6 or 7 but a couple. What about .... is it Liberia? That terroritory they setup for the freed slaves?

I don't think there turned out to be that many freed slaves after all

[palani]

In 1892 the Spanish-American war hadn't happened yet.

The U.S. does count its' territories as "states" but by no stretch of the imagination can it be suggested that they "joined the union". There has to be an agreement to participate in the U.S. constitution and land doesn't form a quorum and come to an agreement. That requires people.

I am thinking it might have something to do with the war of 1812. The other states might be
England
Scotland
Ireland
Canada
New Zealand
Australia
District of Columbia

Here is a record of all the territories held at one time by the U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States

[Mouse]

Very interesting post, Sir. How would they have known 50 or any number at that time?

Time machine?

One must sometime wonder, what tools are in the shop.

[slowbell]

What about .... is it Liberia? That terroritory they setup for the freed slaves?

My first thought, sarcastically, was yeah, it has to be Liberia, because Liberia was a huge success. A big win for the team. We should be very proud of Liberia. :rolleyes: Then I found this little tidbit from wikipedia...

Liberia has also begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels.[58] The government divided its offshore waters into 17 blocks and began auctioning off exploration licenses for the blocks in 2004, with further auctions in 2007 and 2009.[59][60][61] An additional 13 ultra-deep offshore blocks were demarcated in 2011 and planned for auction.[62] Among the companies to have won licenses are Repsol, Chevron, Anadarko and Woodside Petroleum.[63]