[GOPcapitalist]

The colonies regarded themselves as states, self-governing.

But only upon ridding their crown governors and setting themselves up as states. Your buddy capitan is simply spouting garbage when he suggests that states did not arise before the declaration. Virginia's constitution, as I have thoroughly documented, declared its ties with Britain "totally dissolved" and assumed complete self government on their own right. One cannot get more explicit than that.

[fortheDeclaration]

And they were already linked to the other colonies (states) with the agreement of 1774.

Not one of these states made a separate treaty with a foreign nation, the real test of a nation.

Only Texas could claim to be have been totally independent when she entered the union.

[capitan_refugio]

as I have thoroughly documented, declared its ties with Britain "totally dissolved"

Cite the passage where the "ties" are "totally dissolved."
You can't, because it doesn't exist. What was dissolved was the government not of the people.