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8 Stat. 398 TREATY OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION Aug. 27, 1829.Proclamation of the President of the U. S., declaring that ratifications had been exchanged, Feb. 10, 1831. Motives to the treaty. *Between the United States of America, and his Majesty the Emperor of Austria.* The United States of America, and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, equally animated with the desire of maintaining the relations of good understanding which have hitherto so happily subsisted between their respective States, of extending, also, and consolidating the commercial intercourse between them, and convinced that this object cannot better be accomplished than by adopting the system of an entire freedom of navigation, and a perfect reciprocity, based upon principles of equity equally beneficial to both 399countries, have, in consequence, agreed to enter into negotiations for the conclusion of a treaty of commerce and navigation, for which purpose the President of the United States has conferred full powers on Martin Van Buren, their Secretary of State; and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria has conferred like powers on Lewis, Baron de Lederer, his said Majesty’s Consul for the port of New York, and the said Plenipotentiaries having exchanged their said full powers, found in good and due form, have concluded and signed the following articles:
Article I. There shall be between the territories of the high contracting Free trade established.parties a reciprocal liberty of commerce and navigation. The inhabitants of their respective States shall mutually have liberty to enter the ports, places and rivers of the territories of each party, wherever foreign commerce is permitted. They shall be at liberty to sojourn and reside in all parts whatsoever of said territories, in order to attend to their commercial affairs; and they shall enjoy, to that effect, the same security, protection and privileges as natives of the country wherein they reside, on condition of their submitting to the laws and ordinances there prevailing.
Article II. Austrian vessels arriving, either laden or in ballast, in Tonnage duties, &c.the ports of the United States of America; and, reciprocally, vessels of the United States arriving, either laden, or in ballast, in the ports of the dominions of Austria, shall be treated on their entrance, during their stay and at their departure, upon the same footing as national vessels coming from the same place, with respect to the duties of tonnage, light-houses, pilotage and port charges, as well as to the fees and perquisites of public officers and all other duties or charges of whatever kind or denomination, levied in the name, or to the profit of the Government, the local authorities, or of any private establishment whatso ever.
Article III. All kind of merchandise and articles of commerce, Duties on imports.either the produce of the soil or the industry of the United States of America, or of any other country, which may be lawfully imported into the ports of the dominions of Austria, in Austrian vessels, may also be so imported in vessels of the United States of America, without paying other or higher duties or charges, of whatever kind or denomination, levied in the name or to the profit of the Government, the local authorities or of any private establishments whatsoever, than if the same merchandise or produce had been imported in Austrian vessels.
And, reciprocally, all kind of merchandise and articles of commerce, either the produce of the soil or of the industry of the dominions of Austria, or of any other country, which may be lawfully imported into the ports of the United States, in vessels of the said States, may also be so imported in Austrian vessels, without paying other or higher duties or charges, of whatever kind or denomination levied in the name, or to the profit of the Government, the local authorities, or of any private establishments whatsoever, than if the same merchandise or produce had been imported in vessels of the United States of America.
Article IV. To prevent the possibility of any misunderstanding, it Preceding stipulations mutually applicable.is hereby declared that the stipulations contained in the two preceding articles, are, to their full extent, applicable to Austrian vessels and their cargoes, arriving in the ports of the United States of America; and, reciprocally, to vessels of the said States and their cargoes arriving in the ports of the dominions of Austria, whether the said vessels clear directly from the ports of the country to which they respectively belong, or from the ports of any other foreign country.
Article V. No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into the United States, of any article the produce or manufac-400Parties placed, as to duties, on the footing of the most layered nation.ture of the dominions of Austria; and no higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions of Austria, of any article the produce or manufacture of the United States, than are, or shall be payable on the like article, being the produce or manufacture of any other foreign country.
Nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the importation or exportation of any article the produce or manufacture of the United States, or of the dominions of Austria, to or from the ports of the United States, or to or from the ports of the dominions of Austria, which shall not equally extend to all other nations. Duties, bounties, and drawbacks on exports. Article VI. All kind of merchandize and articles of commerce, either the produce of the soil or of the industry of the United States of America, or of any other country, which may be lawfully exported, or re-exported from the ports of the said United States, in national vessels, may also be exported, or re-exported therefrom in Austrian vessels, without paying other, or higher duties or charges of whatever kind or denomination, levied in the name or to the profit of the Government, the local authorities, or of any private establishments whatsoever, than if the same merchandise or produce had been exported or re-exported, in vessels of the United States of America.
An exact reciprocity shall be observed in the ports of the dominions of Austria, so that all kinds of merchandise and articles of commerce either the produce of the soil or of the industry of the said dominions of Austria, or of any other country, which may be lawfully exported or re-exported, from Austrian ports, in national vessels, may also be ex ported or re-exported therefrom, in vessels of the United States of America, without paying other or higher duties or charges, of whatever kind or denomination, levied in the name or to the profit of the Government, the local authorities, or of any private establishments whatsoever, than if the same merchandise or produce had been exported, or re-exported, in Austrian vessels.
And the same bounties and drawbacks shall be allowed, whether such exportation or re-exportation be made in vessels of the one party, or of the other. Coastwise navigation. Article VII. It is expressly understood and agreed that the coastwise navigation of both the contracting parties, is altogether excepted from the operation of this treaty, and of every article thereof. Vessels of the parties to be equally favored. Article VIII. No priority or preference shall be given, directly, or indirectly, by either of the contracting parties, nor by any Company, Corporation or Agent, acting on their behalf or under their authority, in the purchase of any article of commerce, lawfully imported, on account of, or in reference to the character of the vessel, whether it be of the one party or of the other, in which such article was imported, it being the true intent and meaning of the contracting parties that no distinction or difference whatever shall be made in this respect.
Future favors. Article IX. If either party shall hereafter grant to any other nation any particular favor in navigation or commerce, it shall immediately become common to the other party, freely, where it is freely granted to such other nation, or on yielding the same compensation, when the grant is conditional. Consuls, &c. Article X. The two contracting parties hereby reciprocally grant to each other, the liberty of having, each in the ports of the other, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, Agents and Commissaries of their own appointment, who shall enjoy the same privileges and powers as those of the most favoured nations.
But if any such Consuls shall exercise commerce, they shall be subjected to the same laws and usages to which 401the private individuals of their nation are subject in the same place, in respect of their commercial transactions. Article XI. The citizens or subjects of each party shall have power Property of individuals.to dispose of their personal goods, within the jurisdiction of the other, by testament, donation, or otherwise; and their representatives, being citizens or subjects of the other party, shall succeed to their personal goods, whether by testament, or *ab intestate,* and may take possession thereof, either by themselves or by others acting for them, and dispose of the same at their will, paying such dues, taxes or charges, only, as the inhabitants of the country wherein the said goods are shall be subject to pay in like cases.
And in case of the absence of the representative, such care shall be taken of the said goods, as would be taken of the goods of a native in like case, until the lawful owner may take measures for receiving them. And if any question should arise among several claimants, to which of them said goods belong, the same shall be decided finally by the laws and Judges of the land wherein the said goods are. But this article shall not derogate, in any manner, from the force of the laws already published, or hereafter to be published by His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, to prevent the emigration of his subjects.
Article XII. The present treaty shall continue in force for ten years, Duration of the treaty.counting from the day of the exchange of the ratifications; and if twelve months before the expiration of that period, neither of the high contracting parties shall have announced by an official notification to the other, its intention to arrest the operation of said treaty, it shall remain binding for one year beyond that time, and so on, until the expiration of the twelve months which will follow a similar notification whatever the time at which it may take place.
Article XIII. This Treaty shall be approved and ratified by the Ratifications.President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by His Majesty the Emperor of Austria; and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the City of Washington, within twelve months from the date of the signature hereof, or sooner, if possible. In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed this treaty, both in the English and German languages, declaring, however, that, it having been originally composed in the former, the English version is to decide the interpretation, should any difference in regard to it unfortunately arise.
Done in triplicate, at Washington, this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine. M. VAN BUREN, (l. s.) L. BARON DE LEDERER, (l. s.) March 28, 1830 Convention 8 Stat. 402 CONVENTION March 28, 1830.Ratifications exchanged, June 5, 1830.Proclamation of the President of the U. S., June 5, 1830.*Between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark, signed at Copenhagen the* 28*th of March,* 1830. (*a*) (*a*) For notes of the treaties between the United States and Denmark, see ante, page 340.
The United States of America, and His Majesty the King of Denmark, being equally desirous of terminating the discussions which have taken place between them, in respect to the claims and pretensions formed by the citizens of the United States and the subjects of Denmark having for their object, the seizure, condemnation or confiscation of their vessels, cargoes or property whatsoever, within the territory, or under the authority of the respective Governments, have named for this purpose, and furnished with their full powers: that is to say, the President of the United States of America, by, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, Henry Wheaton, Chargé d’Affaires of the said United States at the Court of His Majesty, the King of Denmark, &c. and His Majesty the King of Denmark, the Sieur Ernest Henry, Count de Schimmelmann, Knight of the order of the Elephant, Grand Cross of the order of Dannebrog, decorated with the silver cross of the same order, His Minister (intime) of State, Chief of His Department of foreign affairs, etc. and the Sieur Paul Christian de Stemann, Knight of the order of the Elephant, Grand Cross of the order of Dannebrog, decorated with the silver cross of the same order, His Minister (intime) of State and of Justice, President of His Danish Chancery, etc., and the said Plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:
ARTICLE I. Renunciation by Denmark of indemnity. His Majesty the King of Denmark renounces the indemnities which might be claimed from the Government of the United States of America, for the subjects of Denmark, on account of the seizure, detention and condemnation or confiscation of their vessels, cargoes or property whatsoever, under the authority of the said Government; and his Majesty Agreement to indemnify U. S.engages, moreover, to pay to the said Government, the sum of six hundred and fifty thousand Spanish milled dollars, on account of the citizens of the United States, who have preferred claims relating to the seizure, detention, condemnation or confiscation of their vessels, cargoes or property whatsoever, by the public and private armed ships, or by the tribunals of Denmark, or in the States subject to the Danish sceptre.
ARTICLE II. Payment of said indemnity. The payment of the above sum of six hundred and fifty thousand Spanish milled dollars, shall be made, in the times and manner following: On the 31st March, 1831, two hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar. On the 30th September, 1831, two hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar. On the 30th September, 1832, two hundred and sixteen' thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar.
To the second payment shall be added the interest for that, and for 402 CONVENTION *Entre les Etats Unis d’Amérique et Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, signée à Copenhague, le* 28 *Mars,* 1830. Les Etats Unis d’Amérique et Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, désirant également mettre fin aux discussions, qui se sont élevées, de part et d’autre, à l’égard des réclamations et prétentions formées par les citoyens des Etats Unis et les sujets du Dannemarc, ayant pour motif, la saisie, détention, condamnation, ou confiscation, de leurs navires, cargaisons, ou propriétés, quelconques, dans les territoires ou sous l’autorité des Gouvernemens respectifs, ont nommé à cet effet, et muni de leurs pleins-pouvoirs; à savoir, le Président des Etats Unis d’Amérique, par et avec l’avis et le consentement du Sénat, le Sieur Henry Wheaton, Chargé d’Affaires des dits Etats Unis près la cour de Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc etc. et Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc, le Sieur Ernest Henri, Comte de Schimmelmann, Chevalier de l’ordre de l’Eléphant, Grand Croix de celui du Dannebrog, décoré de la croix d’argent du même ordre, son Ministre (intime) d’Etat, chef de son Département des affaires étrangères etc. et le Sieur Paul Chrétien de Stemann, Chevalier de l’ordre de l’Eléphant, Grand Croix de celui du Dannebrog, décoré de la croix d’argent du même ordre, son Ministre (intime) d’Etat et de Justice, Président de sa Chancellerie Danoise, etc.; lesquels Plénipotentiaires après avoir échangé leurs pleins pouvoirs qui furent trouvés en bonne et due forme, ont arrêté et conclu les articles suivans:
ARTICLE I. Sa Majesté le Roi de Dannemarc renonce aux indemnités, qui pour-roient être réclamées du Gouvernement des Etats Unis d’Amérique, pour des sujets Danois, à cause des saisies, détentions, condamnations ou confiscations de leurs navires, cargaisons ou propriétés quelconques, sous l’autorité du dit Gouvernement; et Sa Majesté s’engage en outre, à payer au dit Gouvernement, la somme de six cent cinquante mille piastres, eu faveur des citoyens des Etats Unis, qui ont élevé des réclamations au sujet de la saisie, détention, condamnation ou confiscation de leurs navires, cargaisons ou propriétés quelconques, par les vaisseaux de guerre et armateurs, ou par les tribunaux du Dannemarc ou dans les Etats soumis au sceptre Danois.
ARTICLE II. L’acquittement de la somme de six cent cinquante mille piastres se fera de la manière et aux termes suivans: Le 31 Mars, 1831, deux cent seize mille six cent soixante-six et deux-tiers de piastres. Le 30 Septembre, 1831, deux cent seize mille six cent soixante-six et deux-tiers de piastres. Le 30 Septembre, 1832, deux cent seize mille six cent soixante-six et deux-tiers de piastres. Au second terme de payement, seront ajoutés les intérêts pour cette 403 404 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. A board of commissioners lo be appointed to ascertain the validity, &c. of claims. 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 me 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. 405 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 résponsable. En même tems que le payement du premier terme du 31 Mars, 1831, aura lieu, deux obligations, qui corrésponderont 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 dúment 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 dúment 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 assidúment 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 dúment 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, relativement 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 differentes 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. 406 ARTICLE IV. No further claims shall be presented by U. S. 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 present convention only applicable to the cases therein mentioned. 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.
To be ratified within ten months. 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 our arms. Done at Copenhagen, this 28th day of March, 1830. E. H. SCHIMMELMANN, (l. s.) STEMANN, (l. s.) 407 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 pourvoient 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 ter minées.
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 expressément, 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 régle pour le futur. ARTICLE VI. La présente Convention sera dúment 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 Treaty
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