Maryland's long and colorful history provided the text for
numerous public addresses by Governor Tawes. He felt that
all Marylanders should be well-versed in the State's contribu-
tions to the birth and development of the American nation.
Possessed of a wide-ranging knowledge of the State's history,
the Governor used the occasion of important anniversaries and
special events to remind his listeners of the proud deeds of
previous generations. He proclaimed January 14 as Ratifi-
cation Day in commemoration of the ratification of the Treaty
of Paris. That event, which took place in the old Maryland State
House in 1784, ended the American Revolution and established
the United States as an independent, sovereign nation. The
Governor also took an active part as Maryland joined in ob-
servance of the centennial of the American Civil War, a
particularly poignant era in the State's history.

ADDRESS RATIFICATION DAY
ANNAPOLIS

January 14, 1963

I am delighted to be able to greet you again on the anniversary of
the signing of the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, a most significant
event in the history of our State and nation.

A few years ago, I proclaimed January 14 Ratification Day because
I thought that this act of ratification should be honored by Ameri-
cans as highly as Independence Day. By the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, we Americans proclaimed our freedom from England.
Through the Treaty of Paris, England recognized our freedom.

We Marylanders have reason to be proud of the fact that the event
occurred in this historic State House. In January, 1784, this building
was the meeting place of the United States Congress, and, therefore,
the Capitol of the United States. So, we today are commemorating
Ratification Day on the very site in which the event occurred.

All of us have heard the story of the beginning of the American
Revolution. And most of us are inclined to think that it came to a
close at Yorktown when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Wash-
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