Treaty of Ghent: Equality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Article.Sentence)

Quote #4

The said Commissioners shall by a declaration or report under their hands and seals decide to which of the two Contracting parties the several Islands aforesaid do respectively belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. (IV.5)

This quote shows Britain extending the hand of equality to the United States. Instead of trying to change the treaty of 1783, aka the Treat of Paris, aka the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War, the Brits shrugged their shoulders and let it stand as is. As opposed to, say, demanding New Jersey back.

Quote #5

And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States hereby agree to refer the report or reports of the said Commissioners to some friendly Sovereign or State to be then named for that purpose, and who shall be requested to decide on the differences which may be stated in the said report or reports. (IV.8)

Here the two countries agree on a method of resolving disagreements between the Commissioners themselves: give the final call to another country. Agreeing to appoint an impartial judge or mediator is definitely a gesture in the direction of equality, kind of like hiring a divorce mediator. You hope it never gets that far, but if it does you can at least try to be fair.