RESOLUTIONS *** AND STATE PAPERS* FROM 1782 TO 1784. Resolution of Virginia declaring any Proposition proposition, from the enemy for a my for a seseparate peace, insidious and inad declared inmissible. IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Friday the 24th of May, 1782. Resolved unanimously, that a proposition from the enemy to all or any of these United States for peace or truce, separate from their allies, is insidious and inad missible. Resolved unanimously, that a proposition from the enemy for treating with any assembly or body of men in America, other than the congress of these United States, is insidious and inadmissible. Resolved unanimously, that this assembly will not listen to any proposition, nor suffer any negotiation, inconsistent with their national faith and foederal union, Resolved unanimously, that this assembly will exert the utmost power of the state to carry on the war with vigour and effect, until peace shall be obtained in a manner consistent with our national faith and foederal uniom Resolved, that the above resolutions be transmitted to the delegates of this state at congress, as an instruction to the said delegates. 44 1782, May the 25th. JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D... Agreed to by the Senate unanimously. Amen VOL. XI. T 3 parate peace, sidious and inadmissible. No prop. for a sep peace. Resolution of Congress, on the subject of a separate peace. Resolution of Congress of the subject of a separate peace. BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, Whereas by the articles of confederation and perpetual union the sole and exclusive right of making peace is vested in the United States in congress assembled; and by the treaty of alliance between his Most Christian Majesty and these United States it is declared that neither of the contracting parties shall conclude peace or truce with Great Britain without the consent of the other, and the Ministers Plenipotentiary of these United States in Europe are vested with full power and authority in their behalf and in concert with their allies to negociate and corclude a general peace: Nevertheless it appears that the British Court still flatters itself with the vain hope of prevailing on the United States to agree to some terms of dependence upon Great Britain or at least to a separate peace; and there is reason to believe that commissioners may be sent to America to offer propositions of that nature to the United States or that secret emissaries may be employed to delude and deceive: In order to extinguish ill founded hopes, to frustrate insidious attempts and to manifest to the whole world the purity of the intentions and the fixed and unalterable determination of the United States; Resolved unananimously, That congress are sincerely desirous of an honorable and permanent peace: That as the only means of obtaining it they will invio lably adhere to the treaty of alliance with his Most Christian Majesty and conclude neither a separate peace or truce with Great Britain: that they will prósecute the war with vigor until by the blessing of God on the United arms a peace shall be happily accom→ plished, by which the free and absolute sovereignty and independence of these United States having been duly assured, their rights and interests as well as those of their allies shall be effectually provided for and secured. That congress will not enter into the discussion of any overtures for pacification, but in confidence and in concert with his Most Christian Majesty, T That to guard against the secret artifices and machi- No prop. for nations of the enemy, it be and hereby is recommend- a sep. peace. ed to the respective states to be vigilant and active in detecting and seizing all British emissaries and spies, that they may be brought to condign punishment: That it be enjoined on all officers of departments charged with persons coming from the enemy under the protection of flags of trace to take special care that such persons do not abuse their priviledges but be restrain❤ ed from all intercourse with the country and inhabitants which is not necessary for transacting the public business on which they may be sent; and lastly it is recommended to the several states that no subjects of his Britannic majesty coming directly or indirectly from any part of the British dominions, be admitted into any of the United States during the war; Ordered, that the honorable, the minister plenipotentiary of France, be furnished with a copy of the above act, and that copies be transmitted to the ministers of these states at foreign courts and that in the mean time it be published. CHA. THOMSON, Sec'y, Letter from the Chancellors on the Letter from revision of the laws. Richmond, November 24th, 1783. SIR After having approved the mode adopted by the Levecutive for carrying into execution the resolution of the assembly in their last session for a revision and collection of the laws and ordinances since the code in 1769, in order to a new impression thereof, we feel extream concern when we inform your excellency that we have not been able to compleat that work according to the wishes of the legislature and executive. A mistake occasioned by the miscarriage of letters, had retarded the progress of the business in vacation, and tho * For the resolution, see Vol. 9, page 176, note. the Chancellors on the re vision of the laws. Chancellors we have devoted to it, each leisure moment since our Letter. meeting, a necessary attention to official duty, hath permitted us, only to examine some of the laws and form a general system, which will enable us soon to compleat the work in our retirement, This you will be pleased to mention to the legislature and executive, and present us in terms of perfect respect for both We have the honour to be, Your excellency's most obedient servants. * EDMD. PENDLETON e di effe ~ G. WYTHE, Letter from the secretary of foreign af. fairs, announcing the ces Letter from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, announcing the cessation of hostilities. SIR, Philadelphia, 12th April, 1783, Permit me to offer you my congratulations on the important event announced by the United States in congress in the enclosed proclamation for the cessation of hostilities-an event which is not only pleasing as it relieves us from the accumulated, distresses of war in the bowels of our country, but as it affords the fairest and, most flattering prospects of its future greatness and prosperity; I need not, I am persuaded, sir, use any arguments to urge your excellency and the state in which you preside to the most scrupulous attention to the execution of every stipulation in our, treaty, which may depend upon you or themet e fund A national character is now to be acquired. 4 ven ture to hope that it will be worthy of the struggles by Letter from which we became a nation. I have the honor to be, → With great respect and esteem, ... Your excellency's most obedient, humble servant. ROB. R. LIVINGSTON, His excellency the gov ernor of Virginia. Secretary of foreign affairs Proclamation of congress, declaring ces By the United States of America in congress assembled. A proclamation declaring the cessation of arms, as well by sea as by land, agreed upon sation of arms between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty; and enjoining the observance thereof. WHEREAS provisional articles were signed at Paris on the thirtieth day of November last, between the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of America for treating of peace, and the minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty, to be inserted in, and to constitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty, when terms of peace should be agreed upon be tween their most Christian and Britannic majesties: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between their most Christian and Britannic majesties were sign ed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by the ministers of their most Christian and Britannic majessies: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between the said king of Great Britain and the king of Spain were also signed at Versailles on the same twentieth day of January lastra 1.20 By which said preliminary articles it hath been agreed, that as soon as the same were ratified, hostilities between the said kings, their kingdoms, states and subjects, should cease in all parts of the world; and it was |