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Manuscript Letter Signed, to Georgia Governor John Houstoun, January 16, 1784, Annapolis, Maryland. 1 p., 6 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. Charles Thomson of Pennsylvania served as Secretary of the Continental and Confederation Congresses throughout their entire fifteen-year existence, from 1774 to 1789. In that position, he signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. With a very small executive department, the role was much more than clerical; especially when Congress was not in session, he essentially acted as the prime minister of the pre-Constitutional United States.This letter to the governor of Georgia transmitted printed copies of the Proclamation of the Treaty of Paris and Congressional Resolution (both no longer present), written by Thomas Jefferson, recommending that the states restore the confiscated property of all British subjects who had "not borne arms against the.United States" in a "spirit of conciliation." The recipient, John Houstoun, had taken office as governor of Georgia one week earlier. Complete Transcript Secretary's Office January 16th 1784Sir/ In pursuance of an Order of the United States in Congress Assembled I have the honor of transmitting you the enclosed Proclamation and recommendation and am with all due respect / Your Excellency's most obedient & most hum Servt Chas ThomsonHis Excellency / The Governor of GeorgiaThe original enclosures are no longer present.Historical BackgroundNegotiation to bring the American Revolutionary War to an end began in Paris in April 1782. They completed a draft treaty on November 30, 1782, which the Confederation Congress approved in April 1783, but representatives of both sides did not sign the Treaty of Paris until September 3, 1783. The Confederation Congress, temporarily convened at Annapolis, Maryland, ratified the Treaty of Congress on January 14, 1784.Immediately after ratification, the Confederation Congress passed the following resolutions, written by Thomas Jefferson.Resolved, That a proclamation be immediately issued, notifying the said definitive treaty and ratification to the several states of the union, and requiring their observance thereof in the form following:By the United States in Congress assembled,A PROCLAMATION.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: [Here insert the treaty as above.]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 14 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 power; 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. (See website for full description).
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