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Power of consuls respecting vessels of their

own nation.

Power of consuls in regard to deserters, and mode of proceeding.

Citizens amenable for crimes to the judges of the country.

How to proceed when offenders withdraw on board their vessels.

thereof, which shall have been made by the consul or vice-consul, or by the judge who shall have proceeded in their absence, that the said effects and merchandize may be afterwards delivered, (after levying therefrom the costs) and without form of process, to the owners, who being furnished with an order for their delivery from the nearest consul or vice-consul, shall reclaim them by themselves, or by their order, either for the purpose of re-exporting such merchandize, in which case they shall pay no kind of duty of exportation, or for that of selling them in the country, if they be not prohibited there, and in this last case, the said merchandize, if they be damaged, shall be allowed an abatement of entrance duties, proportioned to the damage they have sustained, which shall be ascertained by the affidavits taken at the time the vessel was wrecked or struck.

ARTICLE VIII.

The consuls or vice-consuls shall exercise police over all the vessels of their respective nations, and shall have on board the said vessels all power and jurisdiction in civil matters, in all the disputes which may there arise; they shall have an entire inspection over the said vessels, their crew, and the changes and substitutions there to be made; for which purpose they may go on board the said vessels whenever they may judge it necessary. Well understood that the functions hereby allowed shall be confined to the interior of the vessels, and that they shall not take place in any case which shall have any interference with the police of the ports where the said vessels shall be.

ARTICLE IX.

The consuls and vice-consuls may cause to be arrested the captains, officers, mariners, sailors, and all other persons, being part of the crews of the vessels of their respective nations, who shall have deserted from the said vessels, in order to send them back and transport them out of the country: For which purpose, the said consuls and vice-consuls shall address themselves to the courts, judges and officers competent, and shall demand the said deserters in writing, proving by an exhibition of the registers of the vessel or ship's roll, that those men were part of the said crews; and on this demand so proved (saving however where the contrary is proved) the delivery shall not be refused; and there shall be given all aid and assistance to the said consuls and vice-consuls for the search, seizure and arrest of the said deserters, who shall even be detained and kept in the prisons of the country, at their request and expense until they shall have found an opportunity of sending them back; but if they be not sent back within three months, to be counted from the day of their arrest, they shall be set at liberty, and shall be no more arrested for the same cause.

ARTICLE X.

In cases where the respective subjects or citizens shall have committed any crime, or breach of the peace, they shall be amenable to the judges of the country.

ARTICLE XI.

When the said offenders shall be a part of the crew of a vessel of their nation, and shall have withdrawn themselves on board the said vessel, they may be there seized and arrested by order of the judges of the country: These shall give notice thereof to the consul or vice-consul, who may repair on board if he thinks proper: But this notification shall not in any case delay execution of the order in question. The persons arrested shall not afterwards be set at liberty until the consul or vice

pour les dits effets et marchandises être ensuite délivrés après le prélevement des fraix, et sans forme de procès, aux propriétaires, qui, munis de la main-levée du consul ou vice-consul le plus proche, les réclameront par eux-mêmes, ou par leurs mandataires, soit pour réexporter les marchandises, et dans ce cas elles ne païeront aucune espèce de droits de sortie, soit pour les vendre dans le païs, si elles n'y sont pas prohibées; et dans ce dernier cas, les dites marchandises se trouvant avariées, on leur accordera une modération sur les droits d'entrée proportionné au dommage souffert, lequel sera constaté par le procès verbal dressé lors du naufrage ou de l'échouement.

ARTICLE VIII.

Les consuls ou vice-consuls éxerceront la police sur tous les batimens de leurs nations respectives, et auront à bord des dits batimens tout pouvoir et jurisdiction en matière civile dans toutes les discustions qui pourront y survenir; ils auront une entière inspection sur les dits batiments, leurs équipages et les changements et remplacements à y faire; pour quel effet ils pourront se transporter à bord des dits batiments toutes les fois qu'ils le jugeront nécessaire; bien entendu que les fonctions ci-dessus énoncées seront concentrées dans l'intérieur des batiments, et qu'elles ne pourront avoir lieu dans aucun cas qui aura quelque raport avec la police des ports où les dits batiments se trouve

ront.

ARTICLE IX.

Les consuls et vice-consuls pourront faire arrêter les capitaines, officiers, mariniers, matelots et toutes autres personnes faisant partie des equipages des batiments de leurs nations respectives, qui auroient déserté des dits batimens, pour les renvoyer et faire transporter hors du païs. Auquel effet les dits consuls et vice-consuls s'addresseront aux tribunaux, juges, et officiers compétents et leur feront, par écrit, la demande des dits déserteurs, en justifiant par l'exhibition des régistres du batiment ou rôle d'equipage, que ces hommes faisoient partie des susdits équipages. Et sur cette demande, ainsi justifiée, sauf toutefois la preuve contraire, l'extradition ne pourra être refusée; et il sera donné toute aide et assistance aux dits consuls et vice-consuls pour la recherche, saisie et arrestation des susdits déserteurs, lesquels seront même détenus et gardés dans les prisons du païs, à leur réquisition, et à leurs frais jusqu'à ce qu'ils aïent trouvé occasion de les renvoyer. Mais s'ils n'étoient renvoyés dans le délai de trois mois à compter du jour de leur arrêt, ils seront élargis, et ne pourront plus être arrêtés pour la même cause.

ARTICLE X.

Dans le cas où les sujets ou citoyens respectifs auront commis quelque crime ou infraction de la tranquillité publique, ils seront justiciables des juges du païs.

ARTICLE XI.

Lorsque les dits coupables feront partie de l'equipage de l'un des batiments de leur nation, et se seront retirés à bord des dits navires, ils pourront y être saisis et arrêtés par l'ordre des juges territoriaux: ceuxci en préviendront le consul ou vice-consul, lequel pourra se rendre à bord s'il le juge à-propos: mais cette prévenance ne pourra en aucun cas retarder l'éxécution de l'ordre dont il est question. Les personnes arrêtées ne pourront ensuite être mises en liberté, qu' après que le con

Disputes between citizens in a foreign

consul shall have been notified thereof; and they shall be delivered to him, if he requires it, to be put again on board of the vessel on which they were arrested, or of others of their nation, and to be sent out of the country.

ARTICLE XII.

All differences and suits between the subjects of the Most Christian King, in the United States, or between the citizens of the United States, within the dominions of the Most Christian King, and particularly all country to be settled by con- disputes relative to the wages and terms of engagement of the crews of suls. the respective vessels, and all differences of whatever nature they be, which may arise between the privates of the said crews, or between any of them and their captains, or between the captains of different vessels of their nation, shall be determined by the respective consuls and viceconsuls, either by a reference to arbitrators, or by a summary judgment, and without costs. No officer of the country, civil or military, shall interfere therein, or take any part whatever in the matter: and the appeals from the said consular sentences shall be carried before the tribunals of France or of the United States, to whom it may appertain to take cognizance thereof.

Tribunals to

cial affairs.

ARTICLE XIII.

The general utility of commerce having caused to be established decide commer within the dominions of the Most Christian King, particular tribunals and forms for expediting the decision of commercial affairs, the merchants of the United States shall enjoy the benefit of these establishments; and the Congress of the United States will provide in the manner the most conformable to its laws, for the establishment of equivalent advantages in favour of the French merchants, for the prompt dispatch and decision of affairs of the same nature.

Citizens exempted from personal service in place of settlement.

If either party grant greater consular privileges to another nation they shall

be common to both.

Duration of

ARTICLE XIV.

The subjects of the Most Christian King, and the citizens of the United States, who shall prove by legal evidence, that they are of the said nations respectively, shall in consequence enjoy an exemption from all personal service in the place of their settlement.

ARTICLE XV.

If any other nation acquires by virtue of any convention whatever, a treatment more favourable with respect to the consular pre-eminences, powers, authority and privileges, the consuls and vice-consuls of the Most Christian King, or of the United States, reciprocally shall participate therein, agreeable to the terms stipulated by the second, third and fourth articles of the treaty of amity and commerce, concluded between the most Christian King and the United States.

ARTICLE XVI.

The present convention shall be in full force during the term of this convention. twelve years, to be counted from the day of the exchange of ratifications, which shall be given in proper form, and exchanged on both sides within the space of one year, or sooner if possible.

In faith whereof, we, Ministers Plenipotentiary, have signed the present convention, and have thereto set the seal of our arms.

Done at Versailles, the 14th of November, one thousand seven hun-
dred and eighty-eight.

L. C. DE MONTMORIN, (L. s.)
THOMAS JEFFERSON, (L. S.)

sul ou vice-consul en aura été prévenu, et elles lui seront remises s'il le requiert, pour être reconduites sur les batiments où elles auront été arrêtés, ou autres de leur nation, et être renvoyeés hors du pais.

ARTICLE XII.

Tous différends et procès entre les sujets du Roi très Chrétien dans les Etats Unis, ou entre les citoyens des Etats Unis dans les Etats du Roi très Chrétien, et notamment toutes les discustions relatives aux salaires et conditions des engagements des equipages des batiments respectifs, et tous différends de quelque nature qu'ils soient, qui pourroient s'élever entre les hommes des dits equipages, ou entre quelques uns d'eux et leurs capitaines, ou entre les capitaines de divers batiments nationaux, seront terminés par les consuls et vice-consuls respectifs, soit par un renvoi par devant des arbitres, soit par un jugement sommaire, et sans fraîs. Aucun officier territorial, civil ou militaire ne pourra y intervenir, ou prendre une part quelconque à l'affaire, et les apels des dits jugements consulaires seront portés devant les tribunaux de France ou des Etats Unis qui doivent en connaître.

ARTICLE XIII.

L'utilité générale du commerce aïant fait établir dans les etats du Roi très Chrétien, des tribunaux et des formes particulières pour accélérer la décision des affaires de commerce, les négocians des Etats Unis jouiront du bénéfice de ces etablissements, et le Congrès des Etats Unis pourvoira de la manière la plus conforme à ses lois, à l'établissement des avantages équivalents en faveur des négociants Français pour la prompte expédition et décision des affaires de la même nature.

ARTICLE XIV.

Les sujets du Roi très Chrétien et les citoyens des Etats Unis, qui justifieront authentiquement être du corps de la nation respective, jouiront en conséquence de l'exemption de tout service personnel dans le lieu de leur établissement.

ARTICLE XV.

Si quelqu' autre nation acquiert, en vertu d'une convention quelconque, un traitement plus favorable relativement aux pré-éminences, pouvoirs, autorité et priviléges consulaires, les consuls et vice-consuls du Roi très Chrétien ou des Etats Unis, réciproquement, y participeront, aux termes stipulés par les articles deux, trois et quatre, du traité d'amitié et de commerce conclu entre le Roi très Chrétien et les Etats Unis.

ARTICLE XVI.

La présente convention aura son plein effet pendant l'espace de douze ans à compter du jour de l'échange des ratifications, lesquelles seront données en bonne forme et échangées de part et d'autre dans l'espace d'un an, ou plutôt si faire se peut.

En foi de quoi, nous, Ministres Plénipotentiaires, avons signé la présente convention, et y avons fait apposer le cachet de nos armes. Fait à Versailles, le 14 Novembre, mil sept cent quatre-vingt-huit.

L. C. DE MONTMORIN, (L. S.)
THOMAS JEFFERSON, (L. S.)

Nov. 19, 1794.

TREATY OF AMITY, COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION,

Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, by their President, with the Advice and Consent of their Senate. (a)

His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, being desirous, by a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, to terminate their differences in such a manner, as, without reference to the merits of their respective complaints and pretensions, may be the best calculated to produce mutual satisfaction and good understanding; and also to regulate the commerce and navigation between their respective countries, territories and people, in such a manner as to render the same reciprocally beneficial and satisfactory; they have, respectively, named their plenipotentiaries, and given them full powers to treat of, and conclude the said treaty; that is to say: His Britannic Majesty has named for his Plenipotentiary, the Right Honorable William Wyndham Baron Grenville of Wotton, one of his Majesty's Privy Council, and his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and the President of the said United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, hath appointed for their plenipotentiary, the honorable

(a) For a list of the treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain, see ante, page 54.

Additional note of the decisions of the courts of the United States, in cases arising under the Definitive Treaty of Peace with Great Britain of September 4, 1783.

The treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, prevents the operation of the act of limitations of Virginia, upon British debts contracted before that treaty. Hopkirk v. Bell, 3 Cranch, 454; 1 Cond. Rep. 595.

The treaty of peace of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, was a mere recognition of pre-existing rights as to territory, and no territory was thereby acquired by way of cession from Great Britain. Harcourt et al. v. Gaillard, 12 Wheat. 523; 6 Cond. Rep. 628.

The act of the legislature of Virginia, of 1799, entitled "An act concerning escheats and forfeitures from British subjects," and under which a debtor to a subject of Great Britain had, in conformity to the provisions of that law, during the war, paid into the loan office of the state a portion of the debt due by him, did not operate to protect the debtor from a suit for such debt, after the treaty of peace in 1783. The statute of Virginia, if it was valid, and the legislature could pass such a law, was annulled by the fourth article of the treaty; and under this article, suits for the recovery of debts so due, might be maintained, the provisions of the Virginia law to the contrary notwithstanding. Ware, Adm'r of Jones, Plaintiff in Error v. Hylton et al. 3 Dall. 199; 1 Cond. Rep. 99.

Debts due in the United States to British subjects, before the war of the revolution, though sequestered or paid into the state treasuries, revived by the treaty of peace of 1783, and the creditors are entitled to recover them from the original debtors. State of Georgia v. Brailsford, 3 Dall. 1; 1 Cond. Rep. 8. G. C., born in the colony of New York, went to England in 1738, where he resided until his decease; and being seised of lands in New York, he, on the 30th of November, 1776, in England, devised the same to the defendant and E. C., as tenants in common, and died so seised on the 10th of December, 1776. The defendant and E. C. having entered, and becoming possessed, E. C., on the 3d December, 1791, bargained and sold to the defendant all his interest. The defendant and E. C. were both born in England, long before the revolution. On the 22d March, 1791, the legislature of New York passed an act to enable the defendant to purchase lands, and to hold all other lands which be might then be entitled to within the state, by purchase or descent, in fee simple; and to sell and dispose of the same, in the same manner as any natural born citizen might do. The treaty between the United States and Great Britain of 1794, contains the following provision: "Article 9th. It is agreed that British subjects who now hold lands in the territories of the United States, and American citizens who now hold lands in the dominions of his majesty, shall continue to hold them according to the nature and tenure of their respective estates and titles therein; and may grant, sell, or devise the same to whom they please, in like manner as if they were natives; and that neither they nor their heirs or assigns shall, so far as respects the said lands and the legal remedies incident thereto, be considered as aliens." The defendant, at the time of the action brought, still continued to be a British subject. Held, that he was entitled to hold the lands so devised to him by G. C., and transferred to him by E. C. New York v. Clarke, 3 Wheat. 1; 4 Cond. Rep. 188.

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