A board of commissioners to be appointed to ascertain the validity, &c. of claims. the last payment, at four per centum per annum, to be computed from the first payment, on the 31st March, 1831. To the third payment shall also be added the interest for that payment, at four per centum per annum, to be computed from the second payment, on the 30th September, 1831. The above sums, thus specified in Spanish milled dollars, shall be paid in bills of exchange, at fifteen days sight, at Hamburg; for the payment of which the Danish Government shall be responsible. At the time when the first payment shall be made, on the 31st March 1831, two obligations, corresponding to the two last payments to be effected for the capital and the interest thereof, shall be issued by the Direction for the public debt and the sinking fund of Denmark, to the order of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and assigned to the Government of the United States. By the said obligations, His Majesty the King of Denmark shall acknowledge himself debtor, for the sums not yet paid to the Government of the United States of America, and the same shall be delivered to such person or persons, as may be authorized to receive the same by the said Government; and when the said obligations are to be discharged, according to the tenor thereof, by the Danish Government, the person or persons authorized by the Government of the United States, to receive the stipulated payments, shall deliver up the said obligations with receipts for the amount thereof, from the said Government. ARTICLE III. To ascertain the full amount, and validity of the claims, mentioned in Article I, a Board of Commissioners, consisting of three citizens of the United States, shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall meet at Washington, and within the space of two years from the time of their first meeting shall receive, examine and decide upon, the amount and validity of all such claims, according to the merits of the several cases, and to justice, equity and the law of nations. The Commissioners shall take an oath or affirmation, to be entered in the journal of their proceedings, for the faithful and diligent discharge of their duties. In case of the death, sickness or necessary absence of any Commissioner, his place may be supplied by the appointment of another Commissioner, in the manner before mentioned, or during the recess of the Senate, by the President of the United States. The Commissioners shall be authorized to hear and examine, on oath or affirmation, every question relating to such claims, and to receive all suitable authentic testimony concerning the same. In order to facilitate the proceedings of this Board, His Majesty the King of Denmark engages, when thereunto required, to cause to be delivered to any person or persons, who shall be duly authorized for that purpose, by the Government of the United States, in addition to the papers already delivered, all the acts, documents, ships' papers and prize proceedings, which may still remain in the archives of the High Court of Admiralty, or the Prize Tribunals of Denmark, relating to the seizure, detention, condemnation or confiscation, of the vessels, cargoes or property whatsoever, belonging to the citizens of the United States of America before the said tribunals. The Commissioners shall award, and cause to be distributed among the several parties, whose claims shall be allowed by the Board, the sum mentioned in Article I and II, in a ratable proportion to the amount of the respective claims thus allowed. somme, et pour celle à payer au dernier terme, de quatre pour cent par an, à compter depuis le terme du premier payement du 31 Mars, 1831. Au troisième terme seront également ajoutés les intérêts pour cette dernière somme de quatre pour cent par an, à compter du second terme du 30 Septembre, 1831. Les sommes ci-dessus spécifiées en piastres seront acquittées par des lettres de change, à quinze jours de vue, payables à Hambourg, pour le payement des quelles, le Gouvernement Danois restera responsable. En même tems que le payement du premier terme du 31 Mars, 1831, aura lieu, deux obligations, qui corresponderont aux deux derniers terms ci-dessus indiqués, pour le capital et les intérêts, seront émises par la Direction de la dette d'Etat et du fond d'amortissement du Dannemarc, à l'ordre du Département des affaires étrangères du Dannemarc, et transportées au Gouvernement des Etats Unis. En vertu de ces obligations, Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, se reconnoîtra, comme débiteur des sommes point encore payées au Gouvernement des Etats Unis d'Amérique, et elles seront délivrées à celui ou à ceux qui seront dûment autorisés à cet effet, par le dit Gouvernement. Quand l'acquittement de ces obligations s'effectuera dans les termes qu'elles sont remboursables de la part du Gouvernement Danois, la personne ou les personnes dûment autorisées par le Gouvernement des Etats Unis pour recevoir le payement stipulé, remettront en même temps, ces obligations munies des quittances du dit Gouvernement. ARTICLE III. Pour déterminer le montant précis et la validité des réclamations des citoyens des Etats Unis, mentionnées dans l'article I, une Commission composée de trois citoyens des Etats Unis, sera nommée par le Président, par et avec, l'avis et le consentement du Sénat; ces Commissaires s'assembleront à Washington, et avant que deux ans, à compter du jour de leur première séance, se seront écoulés, ils doivent avoir reçu toutes ces réclamations, et avoir examiné et décidé leur montant et leur validité, d'après les circonstances spéciales de chaque cas, la justice, l'équité et le droit des gens. Les Commissaires prêteront serment, ou donneront des affirmations à insérer dans le journal de leurs procédés, qu'ils rempliront fidèlement et assidûment leurs devoirs. En cas de décès, de maladie ou d'absence indispensable d'un des Commissaires, sa place sera remplie par la nomination d'un autre Commissaire de la manière sus-mentionée, ou durant les vacances du Sénat, par le Président des Etats Unis. Les Commissaires seront autorisés à se faire rendre compte, et à examiner chaque question rélative à ces réclamations, et à se faire donner sous serment ou affirmation, tous les témoignages convenables et authentiques qui les concernent. A fin de faciliter les travaux de cette commission, Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, s'engage lorsque la réquisition en sera faite, outre les documens déjà remis à faire délivrer à celui ou à ceux, qui seront dûment autorisés à cet effet, par le Gouvernement des Etats Unis, tous les actes, documens, papiers de bord, et pièces de procès qui pourroient encore se trouver dans les archives de la Haute Cour d'Amirauté, ou des tribunaux de prises du Dannemarc, rélativement à la saisie, détention, condamnation ou confiscation des navires, cargaisons ou propriétés quelconques, des citoyens des Etats Unis d'Amérique, par devant ces tribunaux. La dite Commission adjugera et fera distribuer entre les différentes parties dont elle admettra les réclamations, les sommes mentionnées dans l'article I et II, dans la proportion et pro rata à leurs réclamations respectives, qui auront été ainsi admises. No further claims shall be presented by U.S. The present convention only applicable to the cases therein mentioned. To be ratified within ten months. ARTICLE IV. In consideration of the renunciation and payments mentioned in Article I and II, on the part of His Majesty the King of Denmark, the Government of the United States declares itself entirely satisfied, not only in what concerns the said Government, but also in what concerns the citizens of the said United States, on account of the claims hitherto preferred, or which may hereafter be preferred, relating to the seizure, detention, condemnation or confiscation, of their vessels, cargoes, or property whatsoever, which in the last maritime war of Denmark, have taken place under the flag of Denmark, or in the States subject to the Danish sceptre; and the said claims shall consequently be regarded as definitively and irrevocably terminated. ARTICLE V. The intention of the two high contracting parties being solely to terminate, definitively and irrevocably, all the claims which have hitherto been preferred, they expressly declare, that the present Convention is only applicable to the cases therein mentioned; and, having no other object, can never, hereafter, be invoked by one party or the other as a precedent or rule for the future. ARTICLE VI. The present Convention shall be duly ratified by the high contracting parties, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, in the space of ten months, or sooner if possible. In faith thereof, and in virtue of our respective full powers, we have signed the present Convention, and have thereunto set the seals of ARTICLE IV. Moyenant les rénonciations et payemens, mentionnées dans l'article I et II, de la part de Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, le Gouvernement des Etats Unis déclare, qu'il se regarde comme entièrement satisfait, non seulement pour ce qui le concerne, mais aussi pour ce qui concerne les citoyens des dits Etats, à raison des réclamations mises en avant jusqu'ici ou qui pourroient être élevées à l'avenir, ayant pour objet la saisie, détention, condamnation ou confiscation de leurs navires, cargaisons ou propriétés quelconques, qui dans la dernière guerre maritime du Dannemarc, ont eu lieu sous le pavillon de Dannemarc, ou dans les Etats soumis au sceptre Danois, et les dites réclamations seront par conséquent régardées comme définitivement et irrévocablement terminées. ARTICLE V. L'intention des deux Hautes Parties Contractantes étant, uniquement, de terminer définitivement et irrévocablement, toutes les réclamations qui, jusqu'ici, ont eu lieu, elles déclarent expressement, que la présente Convention n'est applicable qu'aux cas désignés, et que n'ayant d'autre but, elle ne saura jamais de part ou d'autre dans l'avenir, être invoquée comme un précédent, ou comme règle pour le futur. ARTICLE VI. La présente Convention sera dûment ratifiée par les Hautes Parties Contractantes, et les ratifications seront échangées à Washington, dans l'espace de dix mois, ou plutôt, si faire se peut. En- foi de quoi, et en vertu de nos pleins pouvoirs respectifs, nous avons signé la présente Convention et y fait apposer les sceaux de nos armes. Fait à Copenhague, ce 28me jour de Mars, 1830. HENRY WHEATON, (L. s.) May 7, 1830. Ratified Feb. 2, 1831. Proclamation of the President of the United States, Feb. 4, 1832. Motives to treaty. Merchants of the parties put, as to duties, on the footing of the most favored nation. Consuls. Employment of brokers. TREATY WITH THE OTTOMAN PORTE.(a) The object of this firm instrument, and the motive of this writing well drawn up, is, that No treaty or diplomatic and official convention, having, heretofore, existed, between the Sublime Porte, of perpetual duration, and the United States of America; at this time, in consideration of the desire formerly expressed, and of repeated propositions which have lately been renewed by that power, and in consequence of the wish entertained by the Sublime Porte to testify to the United States of America, its sentiments of friendship,-We, the Undersigned, Commissioners, invested with the high office of Chief of the Chancery of State of the Sublime Porte, existing forever, having been permitted by His very Noble Imperial Majesty to negotiate and conclude a treaty, and having thereupon conferred with our friend, the honorable Charles Rhind, who has come to this Imperial Residence, furnished with full powers to negotiate, settle, and conclude, the articles of a treaty, separately and jointly with the other two Commissioners, Commodore Biddle and David Offley, now at Smyrna, have arranged, agreed upon and concluded, the following articles: ARTICLE I. Merchants of the Sublime Porte, whether Musselmans or Rayahs, going and coming, in the countries, provinces, and ports, of the United States of America, or proceeding from one port to another, or from the ports of the United States to those of other countries, shall pay the same duties and other imposts that are paid by the most favored nations; and they shall not be vexed by the exaction of higher duties; and in travelling by sea and by land, all the privileges and distinctions observed towards the subjects of other Powers, shall serve as a rule, and shall be observed towards the merchants and subjects of the Sublime Porte. In like manner, American merchants who shall come to the well defended countries and ports of the Sublime Porte, shall pay the same duties and other imposts, that are paid by merchants of the most favored friendly Powers, and they shall not, in any way, be vexed or molested. On both sides, travelling passports shall be granted. ARTICLE II. The Sublime Porte may establish Shahbenders (Consuls) in the United States of America; and the United States may appoint their citizens to be Consuls or Vice Consuls, at the commercial places in the dominions of the Sublime Porte, where it shall be found needful to superintend the affairs of commerce. These Consuls or Vice Consuls shall be furnished with Berats or Firmans; they shall enjoy suitable distinction, and shall have necessary aid and protection. ARTICLE III. American merchants established in the well defended States of the Sublime Porte, for purposes of commerce, shall have liberty to employ Semsars (brokers) of any nation or religion, in like manner as merchants of other friendly Powers; and they shall not be disturbed in their affairs, nor shall they be treated, in any way, contrary Visit of Ame to established usages. American vessels arriving at, or departing from, the ports of the Ottoman Empire, shall not be subjected to greater visit, by the officers of the custom-house and the Chancery of the Port, than vessels of the most favored nations. rican vessels. (a) Translation from the original Turkish of the treaty concluded between the United States and the Ottoman Porte. |