ARTICLE THE SEVENTH. 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 authorised, upon their oaths impartially to fix and determine, according to the true intent of the said treaty of peace, of one thousand seven hundred and 'eighty-three, 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 northwestern 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 one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three; and to cause such parts of the said bouadary, 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 particularise the latitude and longitude of the most north-westernmost 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. . ARTICLE THE EIGHTH. 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 deeisions, 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 U. States who may be respectively appointed and authorised to manage the business on behalf of their respective governments. The said commissioners shall be respectively paid in such man her 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 commissioners 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 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 dominious of the other party, all grants of land made previous to the commencement of the war by the party having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such Island er Islands, had by such decision or decisions, been adjudged to be within the dominions of the party having had such possession. ARTICLE THE NINTH. The U. 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 U. 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 the year 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. ARTICLE THE TENTH. Whereas the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable 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 endeavors to accomplish so desirable an object. ARTICLE THE ELEVENTH. This treaty, when the same shall have been ratified on both sides, without alteration by either of the contracting parties, and the ratifications mutally 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 twenty-fourth day of December,one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. HENRY GOULBURN, JOHN Q. ADAMS, J. A. BAYARD, JONA. RUSSELL, A. GALLATIN. (L. S.) (L. S. Now therefore, to the end that the said treaty of peace and amity may be observed with good faith, on the part of the U. States, I, James Madison, President as aforesaid, have caused the premises to be made public; and I do hereby enjoin all persons bearing office, civil or military, within the U. States, and all other citizens or inhabitants thereof, or being within the same, faithfully to observe and fulfil the said treaty and every Cause and article thereof. In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the U. States to be affix(L. s.) ed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Washington, this eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the sovereignty and independence of the U. States the thirty ninth. JAMES MADISON. By the President, JAMES MONROE, Acting Secretary of State. |