Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

WHE

HEREAS reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience are found by experience to form the only permanent foundation of peace and friendship between States, it is agreed to form the Articles of the propofed Treaty on fuch principles of liberal equity and reciprocity, as that partial advantages, (thofe feeds of difcord) being excluded, fuch a beneficial and fatisfactory intercourfe between the two countries may be eftablifhed, as to promife and fecure to both perpetual peace and harmony.

ARTICLE Í.

His Britannick Majefty acknowledges the faid United States, viz. New-Hampshire, Maffachufett'sBay, Rhode-Ifland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, to be Free, Sovereign, and Independent States: that he treats with them as fuch; and for himself, his heirs and fucceffors, relinquifhes all claim to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the fame, and every part thereof: and that all difputes which might arife in future, on the fubject of the boundaries of the faid United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are, and shall be their boundaries, viz.

ARTICLE II.

From the north-weft angle of Nova-Scotia, viz. That angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the fource of St. Croix River to the Highlands, along the faid iflands which divide thofe rivers that empty themselves into the River St. Lawrence from thofe which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the north-westernmoft head of Connecticut River; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

by a line due weft on faid latitude, until it ftrikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of faid river into Lake Ontario, through the middle of faid Lake, until it ftrikes the communication by water between that Lake and Lake Erie ; thence along the middle of faid communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of faid Lake, until it arrives at the water communication between that Lake and Lake Huron; thence along the middle of faid water communication between that Lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior, northward of the Ifles Royal and Phelipeaux, to the Long Lake; thence through the middle of faid Long Lake, and the water communication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the faid Lake of the Woods; thence through the faid Lake to the moft north-western point thereof, and from thence on a due weft courfe to the River Miffiffippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the River Miffiffippi, until it fhall interfect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude.-South, by a line to be drawn due eaft from the determination of the line laft mentioned in the latitude of thirty-one degrees north of the Equator, to the middle of the River Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; thence ftrait to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of St. Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean.-East, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the River St. Croix, from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy, to its fource; and from its fource directly north, to the aforefaid Highlands which divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from thofe which fall into the River St. Lawrence, comprehending all iflands within twenty leagues of any part of the fhores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforefaid boundaries between Nova-Scotia on the one part,

and

and Eaft Florida on the other, fhall refpectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting fuch iflands as now are, or heretofore have been, within the limits of the faid Province of Nova Scotia.

ARTICLE III.

It is agreed, that the people of the United States fhall continue to enjoy unmolefted the right to take fifh of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland, and alfo in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and at all other places in the fea where the inhabitants of both countries ufed at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the inhabitants of the United States fhall have liberty to take fish of every kind on fuch part of the coast of Newfoundland as British fishermen fhall use (but not to dry or cure the fame on that island), and also on the coafts, bays and creeks of all other of his Britannick Majefty's dominions in America; and that the American fifhermen fhall have liberty to dry and cure fifh in any of the unfettled bays, harbours and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the fame fhall remain unsettled; but so soon as the fame, or either of them, fhall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the faid fishermen to dry or cure fifh at fuch fettlement, without a previous agreement for that purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors, or poffeffors of the ground,

ARTICLE IV.

It is agreed, that creditors on either fide fhall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in fterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted,

[blocks in formation]

ARTICLE V.

It is agreed, that the Congrefs fhall earneftly recommend it to the Legiflatures of the refpective States, to provide for the reftitution of all eftates, rights and properties which have been confifcated belonging to real British fubjects; and alfo of the eftates, rights and properties of perfons refident in diftricts in the poffeffion of his Majesty's arms, and who have not borne arms against the faid United States and that perfons of any other defcription fhall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmolefted in their endeavours to obtain the reftitution of fuch of their estates, rights and properties as may have been confifcated. And that Congrefs fhall alfo earnestly recommend to the feveral States a reconfideration and revifion of all acts or laws regarding the premifes, fo as to render the faid laws or acts perfectly confiftent, not only with juftice and equity, but with that fpirit of conciliation which on the return of the bleffings of peace fhould univerfally prevail. And that Congrefs fhall also earnestly recommend to the feveral States, that the eftates, rights and properties of fuch laft-mentioned perfons fhall be restored to them; they refunding to any perfons who may be now in poffeffion the bonâ fide price (where any has been given) which fuch perfons may have paid on purchafing any of the faid lands or properties fince the confiication.

And it is agreed, that all perfons who have any intereft in confifcated lands either by debts,marriagefettlements, or otherwife, fhall meet with no lawful impediment in the profecution of their juft rights.

ARTICLE VI.

That there fhall be no future confifcations made, nor any profecutions commenced against any per

fon

fon or perfons for or by reafon of the part which he or they may have taken in the prefent war; and that no perfon fhall on that account fuffer any future lofs or damage, either in his perfon, liberty or property; and that those who may be in confinement on fuch charges at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, fhall be immediately fet at liberty, and the profecutions fo commenced be difcontinued.

ARTICLE VII.

There fhall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannick Majefty and the faid States, and between the subjects of the one and the citizens of the other wherefore all hoftilities both by fea and land shall then immediately ceafe; all prifoners on both fides fhall be fet at liberty; and his Britannick Majesty shall with all convenient fpeed, and without caufing any deftruction or carrying away any negroes, or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrifons, and fleets from the faid United States, and from every port, place, and harbour within the fame; leaving in all fortifications the American artillery that may be therein and fhall alfo order and caufe all archives, records, deeds, and papers belonging to any of the faid States, or their citizens, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith reftored and delivered to the proper States and perfons to whom they belong,

[blocks in formation]

The navigation of the Miffiffippi, from its fource to the ocean, fhall for ever remain free and open to the fubjects of Great Britain, and the citizens of the United States.

ARTICLE

« AnteriorContinuar »