Whereas definitive articles of peace and friendship between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty were concluded and signed at Paris on the third day of September 1783, by the plenipotentiaries of the said United States and of his said Britannic majesty, duly and respectively authorized for that purpose, which definitive articles are in the words following (see treaty, journals of Congress vol. 4, p. 393), and we, the United States in Congress assembled, having seen and duly considered the definitive articles aforesaid, did, by a certain act, under the seal of the United States, bearing date this 14th day of January, 1784, approve, ratify, and confirm the same, and every part and clause thereof, engaging and promising that we would sincerely and faithfully perform and observe the same, and never suffer them to be violated by any one or transgressed in any manner as far as should be in our popover, and being sincerely disposed to carry the said articles into execution, truly, honestly , and with good faith, according to the intent and meaning thereof, we have thought proper by these presents to notify the premises to all the good citizens of these United States, hereby requiring and enjoining all bodies of magistracy, legislative, executive, and judiciary, all persons bearing office, civil or military, of whatever rank, degree, or power, and all others the good citizens of these States of every vocation and condition, that, reverencing those stipulations entered into on their behalf under the authority of that federal bond by which their existence as an independent people is bound up together and is known and acknowledged by the nations of the world, and with that good faith, which is every man's surest guide, within their several offices, jurisdictions, and vocations, they carry into effect the said definitive articles and every clause and sentence thereof, sincerely, strictly and completely.
Given under the seal of the United States.
Witness his excellency Thomas Mifflin, our President, at Annapolis this 14th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and of the sovereignty and independence of the United States of America the eighth.
Source: The Revolutionary Correspondence of the United States Edited under the Direction of Congress by Francis Wharton Volume VI Washington : Government Printing Office, 1889. |