to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated. VI. Whereas by the former Treaty of Peace that portion of the boundary of the United States from the point where the 45th degree of north latitude strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraguy, to the Lake Superior, was declared to be "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 Erie, through the middle of said Lake, until it arrives at the water communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said Lake to the water communication between that Lake and Lake Superior;" And whereas doubts have arisen what was the middle of the said river, lakes, and water communications, and whether certain islands lying in the same were within the Dominions of His Britannic Majesty or of the United States : In order, therefore, finally to decide these doubts, they shall be referred to two Commissioners, to be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding Article, unless otherwise specified in this present Article. The said Commissioners shall meet in the first instance at Albany, in the State of New York, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall, by a report or Declaration, under their hands and seals, designate the boundary through the said river, lakes, and water communications, and decide to which of the two Contracting Parties the several islands lying within the said river, lakes, and water communications, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of 1783. And both Parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements, shall be made by them, or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made, in all respects, as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated. VII. It is further agreed, that the said two last-mentioned Commissioners, after they shall have executed the duties assigned to them in the preceding Article, shall be, and they are hereby authorized upon their oaths, impartially to fix and determine, according to the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of 1783, that part of the boundary between the Dominions of the two Powers, which extends from the water communication between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, to the most north western point of the Lake of the Woods; to decide to which of the two Parties the several islands lying in the lakes, water communications and rivers forming the said boundary, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of 1783, and to cause such parts of the said boundary as require it, to be surveyed and marked. The said Commissioners shall by a report or declaration, under their hands and seals, designate the boundary aforesaid, state their decision on the points thus referred to them, and particularize the latitude and longitude of the most north-western point of the lake of the woods, and of such other parts of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both Parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both, or either of them, refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements, shall be made by them, or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated. VIII. The several boards of two Commissioners mentioned in the four preceding Articles shall respectively have power to appoint a secretary, and to employ such surveyors or other persons as they shall judge necessary. Duplicates of all their respective reports, declarations, statements, and decisions, and of their accounts, and of the journal of their proceedings, shall be delivered by them to the agents of His Britannic Majesty, and to the agents of the United States who may be respectively appointed and authorized to manage the business on behalf of their respective governments. The said Commissioners shall be respectively paid in such manner as shall be agreed between the two Contracting Parties, such agreement being to be settled at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this Treaty. And all other expences attending the said Commissions shall be defrayed equally by the two Parties. And in the case of death, sickness, resignation, or necessary absence, the place of every such Commissioner respectively, shall be supplied in the same manner as such Commissioner was first appointed, and the new Commissioner shall take the same oath or affirmation, and do the same duties. It is further agreed between the two Contracting Parties, that in case any of the islands mentioned in any of the preceding Articles, which were in the possession of one of the Parties prior to the commencement of the present war between the two countries, should, by the decision of any of the boards of Commissioners aforesaid, or of the Sovereign or State so referred to, as in the four next preceding Articles contained, fall within the Dominions of the other Party, all grants of land inade previous to the commencement of the war by the Party having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such island or islands, had by such decision or decisions, been adjudged to be within the Dominions of the Party having had such possession. IX. The United States of America engage to put an end, immediately after the ratification of the present Treaty, to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such ratification, and forthwith to restore to such tribes or nations respectively, all the possessions, rights and privileges which they may have enjoyed, or been entitled to in 1811, previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such tribes or nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their citizens and subjects, upon the ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such tribes or nations, and shall so desist accordingly. And His Britannic Majesty engages, on His part, to put an end immediately after the ratification of the present Treaty, to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom He may be at war at the time of such ratification, and forthwith to restore to such tribes or nations respectively, all the possessions, rights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in 1811, previous to such hostilities. Provided always, that such tribes or nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against His Britannic Majesty and His subjects, upon the ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such tribes or nations, and shall so desist accordingly. X. Whereas the traffic in Slaves is irreconcileable with the principles of humanity and justice, and whereas both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that both the Contracting Parties shall use their best endeavours to accomplish so desirable an object. XI. This Treaty, when the same shall have been ratified on both sides without alteration by either of the Contracting Parties, and the ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding on both Parties, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, in the space of four months from this day, or sooner if practicable. In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty, and have thereunto affixed our seals. Done in triplicate, at Ghent, the 24th day of December, 1814. Signed GAMBIER, (L.S) H. GOULBURN, (L.S.) JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, (L.S.) J. A. BAYARD, (L.S.) H. CLAY, (L.S.) JON. RUSSELL, (L.S.) ALBERT GALLATIN, (L.S.) CONVENTION OF COMMERCE between Great Britain and the United States. Signed at London, 3d July, 1815. His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, being desirous, by a Convention, to regulate the commerce and navigation between their respective countries, territories and people, in such a manner as to render the same reciprocally bene ficial and satisfactory, have respectively named Plenipotentiaries, and given them full Powers to treat of and conclude such Convention; that is to say, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, has namedfor His Plenipotentiaries the Right Honourable Frederick John Robinson, Vice President of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations, Joint Paymaster of His Majesty's Forces, and a Member of the Imperial Parliament; Henry Goulburn, Esq. a Member of the Imperial Parliament, and Under Secretary of State; and William Adams, Esq. Doctor of Civil Laws: and the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, hath appointed for their Plenipotentiaries John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Albert Gallatin, citizens of the United States; and the said Plenipotentiaries having mutually produced and shewn their said full Powers, and exchanged copies of the same, have agreed on and concluded the following Articles; viz. 3 I. There shall be between all the territories of His Britannic Majesty in Europe, and the territories of the United States, a reciprocal liberty of commerce. The inhabitants of the two countries respectively shall have liberty freely and securely to come with their ships and cargoes to all such places, ports, and rivers in the territories aforesaid, to which other foreigners are permitted to come, to enter into the same, and to remain and reside in any parts of the said territories respectively; also to hire and occupy houses and warehouses for the purposes of their com merce; and generally the merchants and traders of each nation respectively shall enjoy the most complete protection and security for their commerce; but subject always to the Laws and Statutes of the two Countries respectively. II. No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into the territories of His Britannic Majesty in Europe, of any articles the growth, produce, or manufacture, of the United States, and no higher or other duties shall be imposed on the im portation into the United States, of any articles the growth, produce or manufacture of His Britannic Majesty's Territories in Europe, than are or shall be payable on the like articles, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country; |