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Treaty of Paris
Agreed, November 30th, 1782
Signed,
September 3rd, 1783
Ratified by Continental Congress, January 14th 1784
[Ended the American Revolution]
ARTICLE ONE.
His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States,
viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free,
sovereign and independent states: that he treats with them as such, and for
himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the
government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part
thereof:
ARTICLE TWO.
And that all disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the
boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed
and declared, that the following are and shall be their boundaries, viz.
From the north west angle of Nova-Scotia, viz, that angle which is formed
by a line drawn due north from the source of Saint-Croix river to the
Highlands; along the said Highlands which divide those rivers that empty
themselves into the river Saint Lawrence from those which fall into the
Atlantic Ocean, to the north-westernmost head of Connecticut river, thence
down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north
latitude; from thence by a line due west on said latitude, until it strikes
the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of said river into
lake Ontario, through the middle of said lake until it strikes the
communication by water between that lake and lake Erie; thence along the
middle of said communication into lake Eric, through the middle of said lake
until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and lake
Huron; thence along the middle of said water communication into the lake
Huron; hence through the middle of said lake to the water communication
between that lake and lake Superior; thence through lake Superior northward
on the isles, Royal and Philipeaux to the long lake; hence through the
middle of said long lake and the water communication between it and the lake
of the Woods, to the said lake of the Woods; thence through the said lake to
the most north-western point thereof, and from thence on a due west course
to the river Mississippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of
the said river Mississippi, until it shall intersect the northernmost part
of the thirty-first degree of north latitude. South by a line to be
drawn due east from the determination of the line last 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 straight to the head of Saint Mary's
river; and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's river to the
Atlantic Ocean. East by a line to be drawn along the middle of the
river Saint-Croix, from its mouth in the bay of Fundy to its source, and
from its source directly north to the aforesaid Highlands which divide the
rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the
river Saint Lawrence comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any
part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn
due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia
on the one part, and East Florida on the other, shall respectively touch the
Bay of Fundy, and the Atlantic Ocean; expecting such islands as now are or
heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova Scotia.
ARTICLE THREE.
It is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy
the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other
banks of Newfoundland; also in the gulf of Saint Lawrence, and at all other
places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time
heretofore to fish; and also that the inhabitants of the United States shall
have liberty to take fish of every kind on such part of the coast of
Newfoundland as British fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the
same on that island) and also on the coasts, bays and creeks of all other of
his Britannic Majesty's dominion in America: and that the American fishermen
shall have liberty to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays,
harbours and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen islands, and Labrador, so long
as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of
them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry
or cure fish at such settlement, without a previous agreement for that
purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors or possessors of the ground.
ARTICLE FOUR.
It is agreed that creditors on either side, shall meet with no lawful
impediment to the recovery of the full value in sterling money, of all bona
fide debts heretofore contracted.
ARTICLE FIVE.
It is agreed that the Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the
legislatures of the respective states, to provide for the restitution of all
estates, rights and properties, which have been confiscated, belonging to
real British subjects, and also of the estates, rights and properties of
persons resident in districts in the possession of his majesty's arms, and
who have not borne arms against the said United States. And that
persons of any other description shall have free liberty to go to any part
or parts of any of the Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve
months unmolested in their endeavours to obtain the restitution of such of
their estates, rights and properties, as may have been confiscated; and that
Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states a
reconsideration and revision of all acts or laws regarding the premises, so
as to render the said laws or acts perfectly consistent, not only with
justice and equity, but with that spirit of conciliation, which on the
return of the blessings of peace should universally prevail. And that
Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states, that the
estates, rights and properties of such last mentioned persons shall be
restored to them; they refunding to any persons who may be now in possession
the bona fide price (where any has been given) which such persons may have
paid on purchasing any of the said lands, rights or properties since the
confiscation. And it is agreed that all persons who have any interest
in confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage settlements, or otherwise,
shall meet with no lawful impediment in the prosecution of their just
rights.
ARTICLE SIX.
That there shall be no future confiscation made, nor any prosecutions
commenced against any person or persons for or by reason of the part which
he or they may have taken in the present war; and that no person shall on
that account, suffer any future loss or damage, either in his person liberty
or property, and that those who may be in confinement on such charges, at
the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, shall be immediately
set at liberty, and the prosecutions so commenced be discontinued.
ARTICLE SEVEN.
There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic Majesty
and the said States, and between the subjects of the one, and the citizens
of the other, wherefore all hostilities both by sea and land shall from
henceforth cease: all prisoners on both sides shall be set at liberty, and
his Britannic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing
any destruction, or carrying away any negroes or other property of the
American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons and fleets from the
said United States and from every post place and harbour within the same;
leaving in all fortifications the American artillery that may be therein,
and shall also order and cause all archives, records deeds and papers,
belonging to any of the said states, or their citizens, which in the course
of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith
restored and delivered to the proper states and persons to whom they belong.
ARTICLE EIGHT.
The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the Ocean,
shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the
citizens of the United States.
ARTICLE NINE.
In case it should so happen that any place or territory belonging to
Great Britain or to the United States, should have been conquered by the
arms of either from the other, before the arrival of the said provisional
articles in America, it is agreed, that the same shall be restored without
difficulty, and without requiring any compensation.
ARTICLE TEN.
The solemn ratifications of the present treaty, expedited in good and due
form, shall be exchanged between the contracting parties, in the space of
six months, or sooner if possible, to be computed from the day of the
signature of the present treaty. In witness whereof, we the
undersigned, their ministers plenipotentiary, have in their name and in
virtue of our full powers, signed with our hands the present definitive
treaty, and caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto.
DONE at Paris, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
D. HARTLEY
JOHN ADAMS
B. FRANKLIN
JOHN JAY.
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