Certificates of the copy, by Joel Barlow. Confirmation David Hum phreys. Signed and sealed at Algiers, the 4th day of Argil, 1211, corresponding with the 3d day of January, 1797, by HASSAN BASHAW, Dey. (L. S.) And by the Agent Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, (L. S.) I, Joel Barlow, Agent and Consul General of the United States of America, for the City and Kingdom of Algiers, certify and attest that the foregoing is a true copy of the treaty, concluded between the said United States and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, of which the original is to be transmitted by me to the Minister of the said United States, in Lisbon. In testimony whereof, I sign these presents with my hand, and affix thereto the seal of the Consulate of the United States, at Algiers, this 4th day of January, 1797. JOEL BARLOW. (L. s.) To all to whom these presents shall come or be made known: WHEREAS the under-written David Humphreys, hath been duly apof the treaty by pointed Commissioner Plenipotentiary, by Letters Patent under the signature of the President and seal of the United States of America, dated the 30th of March, 1795, for negociating and concluding a treaty of peace with the most illustrious the Bashaw, Lords and Governors of the City and Kingdom of Tripoli: WHEREAS, by a writing under his hand and seal, dated the 10th of February, 1796, he did, (in conformity to the authority committed me therefor) constitute and appoint Joel Barlow, and Joseph Donaldson, Junior, agents, jointly and separately in the business aforesaid: WHEREAS the annexed Treaty of Peace and Friendship, was agreed upon, signed and sealed at Tripoli of Barbary, on the 4th of November, 1796, in virtue of the powers aforesaid, and guaranteed by the Most Potent Dey and Regency of Algiers: AND WHEREAS the same was certified at Algiers on the 3d of January, 1797, with the signature and seal of Hassan Bashaw, Dey, and of Joel Barlow, one of the agents aforesaid, in the absence of the other. Now, know ye, that I, David Humphreys, commissioner plenipotentiary aforesaid, do approve and conclude the said treaty, and every article and clause therein contained, reserving the same nevertheless for the final ratification of the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the said United States. In testimony whereof, I have signed the same with my name and seal, at the city of Lisbon, this 10th of February, 1797. DAVID HUMPHREYS. (L. s.) TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of God is infinite. UNDER the auspices of the greatest, the most powerful of all the Princes of the Ottoman nation who reign upon the earth, our most glorious and most august Emperor, who commands the two lands and the two seas, Selim Kan, the victorious son of the Sultan Moustafa, whose realm may God prosper until the end of ages, the support of Kings, the Seal of Justice, the Emperor of Emperors. The most illustrious and most magnificent Prince, Hamouda Pacha, Bey, who commands the Odgiak of Tunis, the abode of happiness, and the most honored Ibrahim Dey, and Soliman, aga of the Janissaries, and chief of the Divan, and all the elders of the Odgiak; and the most distinguished and honored President of the Congress of the United States of America, the most distinguished among those who profess the religion of the Messiah, of whom may the end be happy. We have concluded between us the present treaty of peace and friendship, all the articles of which have been framed by the intervention of Joseph Stephen Famin, French merchant residing at Tunis, chargé d'affaires of the United States of America; which stipulations and conditions are comprised in twenty-three articles, written and expressed in such manner as to leave no doubt of their contents, and in such way as not to be contravened. August, 1797. March 26, 1799. Art. I. There shall be a perpetual and constant peace between the Peace and United States of America, and the magnificent Pacha, Bey of Tunis; friendship. and also a permanent friendship, which shall more and more increase. Art. II. If a vessel of war of the two nations shall make prize of an enemy's vessel, in which may be found effects, property and subjects of the two contracting parties, the whole shall be restored: the Bey shall restore the property and subjects of the United States, and the latter shall make a reciprocal restoration; it being understood on both sides, that the just right to what is claimed shall be proved. Art. III. Merchandise belonging to any nation which may be at war with one of the contracting parties, and loaded on board of the vessels of the other, shall pass without molestation, and without any attempt being made to capture or detain it. Restoration of subjects and goods found in vessel. an enemy's Enemies goods on board a vesties to be free. sel of the par Art. IV. On both sides sufficient passports shall be given to vessels, Passports to be that they may be known and treated as friendly; and considering the given. distance between the two countries, a term of eighteen months is given, within which term respect shall be paid to the said passports, without requiring the congé or document (which at Tunis is called testa) but after the said term the congé shall he presented. Art. V. If the corsairs of Tunis shall meet at sea with ships of war of the United States, having under their escort merchant vessels of their (a) The treaties between the United States and Tunis have been: Altered articles of the treaty of 1797-1799, February 24, 1824, post, 298. Commander of a convoy to be believed upon his word in order to exempt it from search and quarantine. Nothing to be exacted for visits. Fugitive slaves and prisoners. Prize vessels purchased at Tunis, how to obtain temporary passports. Hospitality to be granted to vessels entering the ports of the parties. Assistance to be granted to wrecked ves sels. Neutrality of ports to be enforced. Salutes. nation, they shall not be searched or molested; and in such case the commanders shall be believed upon their word, to exempt their ships from being visited and to avoid quarantine: The American ships of war shall act in like manner towards merchant vessels escorted by the corsairs of Tunis. Art. VI. If a Tunisian corsair shall meet with an American merchant vessel, and shall visit it with her boat, she shall not exact any thing, under pain of being severely punished: And in like manner if a vessel of war of the United States shall meet with a Tunisian merchant vessel, she shall observe the same rule. In case a slave shall take refuge on board of an American vessel of war, the consul shall be required to cause him to be restored; and if any of their prisoners shall escape on board of the Tunisian vessels, they shall be restored: But if any slave shall take refuge in any American merchant vessel, and it shall be proved that the vessel has departed with the said slave, then he shall be returned, or his ransom shall be paid. Art. VII. An American citizen having purchased a prize-vessel from our Odgiak, may sail with our passport, which we will deliver for the term of one year; by force of which our corsairs which may meet with her shall respect her; the consul on his part shall furnish her with a bill of sale; and considering the distance of the two countries, this term shall suffice to obtain a passport in form: But after the expiration of this term, if our corsairs shall meet with her without the passport of the United States, she shall be stopped and declared good prize, as well the vessel as the cargo and crew. Art. VIII. If a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be obliged to enter into a port of the other, and may have need of provisions and other articles, they shall be granted to her without any difficulty, at the price-current at the place; and if such a vessel shall have suffered at sea, and shall have need of repairs, she shall be at liberty to unload, and re-load her cargo without being obliged to pay any duty; and the captain shall only be obliged to pay the wages of those whom he shall have employed in loading and unloading the merchandise. Art. IX. If by accident and by the permission of God, a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be cast by tempest upon the coasts of the other, and shall be wrecked, or otherwise damaged, the commandant of the place shall render all possible assistance for its preservation, without allowing any person to make any opposition; and the proprietor of the effects shall pay the costs of salvage to those who may have been employed. Art. X. In case a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be attacked by an enemy under the cannon of the forts of the other party, she shall be defended and protected as much as possible; and when she shall set sail, no enemy shall be permitted to pursue her from the same port, or any other neighboring port, for forty-eight hours after her departure. Art. XI. When a vessel of war of the United States of America shall enter the port of Tunis, and the consul shall request that the castle may salute her, the number of guns shall be fired which he may request and if the said consul does not want a salute, there shall be no question about it. But in case he shall desire the salute, and the number of guns shall be fired which he may have requested, they shall be counted and returned by the vessel in as many barrels of cannon powder. The same shall be done with respect to the Tunisian corsairs when they shall enter any port of the United States. Art. XII. When citizens of the United States shall come within the Privileges of dependencies of Tunis, to carry on commerce there, the same respect merchants. shall be paid to them which the merchants of other nations enjoy; and if they wish to establish themselves within our ports, no opposition shall be made thereto; and they shall be free to avail themselves of such interpreters as they may judge necessary, without any obstruction, in conformity with the usages of other nations; and if a Tunisian subject shall go to establish himself within the dependencies of the United States, he shall be treated in like manner. Tunisian subject freighting an American vessel, &c. If any Tunisian subject shall freight an American vessel and load her with merchandise, and shall afterwards want to unlade or ship them on board of another vessel, we will not permit him, until the matter is determined by a reference of merchants, who shall decide upon the case; and after the decision, the determination shall be conformed to. No captain shall be detained in port against his consent, except when Embargoes. our ports are shut for the vessels of all other nations, which may take place with respect to merchant vessels, but not to those of war. The subjects of the two contracting powers shall be under the protection of the Prince, and under the jurisdiction of the Chief of the place where they may be, and no other person shall have authority over them. If the commandant of the place does not conduct himself agreeably to justice, a representation of it shall be made to us. In case the government shall have need of an American merchant vessel, it shall cause it to be freighted, and then a suitable freight shall be paid to the captain agreeably to the intention of the government, and the captain shall not refuse it. Art. XIII. If among the crews of merchant vessels of the United States, there shall be found subjects of our enemies, they shall not be made slaves, on condition that they do not exceed a third of the crew; and when they do exceed a third, they shall be made slaves: The pre-, sent article only concerns the sailors, and not the passengers, who shall not be in any manner molested. Art. XIV. A Tunisian merchant, who may go to America with a vessel of any nation soever, loaded with merchandise which is the production of the kingdom of Tunis, shall pay duty (small as it is) like the merchants of other nations; and the American merchants shall equally pay for the merchandise of their country, which they may bring to Tunis under their flag, the same duty as the Tunisians pay in America. But if an American merchant, or a merchant of any other nation, shall bring American merchandise under any other flag, he shall pay six per cent. duty: In like manner, if a foreign merchant shall bring the merchandise of his country under the American flag, he shall also pay six per cent. Protection of the subjects of the parties. Government of Tunis may freight American vessels. Enemy's subjects on board the parties,-in what case they shall be made the vessels of slaves. Duties to be reciprocally paid. Liberty of commerce, contraband except ed. Art. XV. It shall be free for the citizens of the United States to carry on what commerce they please in the kingdom of Tunis, without any opposition, and they shall be treated like the merchants of other nations; but they shall not carry on commerce in wine, nor in prohibited articles: And if any one shall be detected in a contraband trade, he shall be punished according to the laws of the country. The commandants of ports and castles shall take care, that the captains and sailors shall not load prohibited articles; but if this should happen, those who shall not have contributed to the smuggling shall not be molested nor searched, no more than shall the vessel and cargo; but only the offender, who shall be demanded to be punished. No captain shall be obliged to receive merchandise on board his vessel, nor to unlade the masters of vessame against his will, until the freight shall be paid. Privileges of scis. Duty of anchorage. Right of having a Consul, and his privileges. No responsibility for subjects contracting debts, &c. Administration of the effects of a decedent. Consul's jurisdiction over his countrymen. Punishment or personal assaults, commit Art. XVI. The merchant vessels of the United States which shall cast anchor in the road of the Gouletta, or any other port of the kingdom of Tunis, shall be obliged to pay the same anchorage for entry and departure which French vessels pay, to wit: Seventeen piasters and a half, money of Tunis, for entry, if they import merchandise; and the same for departure, if they take away a cargo; but they shall not be obliged to pay anchorage if they arrive in ballast, and depart in the same manner. Art. XVII. Each of the contracting parties shall be at liberty to establish a consul in the dependencies of the other; and if such consul does not act in conformity with the usages of the country, like others, the government of the place shall inform his government of it, to the end that he may be changed and replaced; but he shall enjoy, as well for himself as his family and suite, the protection of the government : And he may import for his own use all his provisions and furniture without paying any duty; and if he shall import merchandise (which it shall be lawful for him to do) he shall pay duty for it. Art. XVIII. If the subjects or citizens of either of the contracting parties, being within the possessions of the other, contract debts, or enter into obligations, neither the consul nor the nation, nor any subjects or citizens thereof shall be in any manner responsible, except they or the consul shall have previously become bound in writing: And without this obligation in writing, they cannot be called upon for indemnity or satisfaction. Art. XIX. In case of a citizen or subject of either of the contracting parties dying within the possesions of the other, the consul or the vekil shall take possession of his effects, (if he does not leave a will) of which he shall make an inventory; and the government of the place shall have nothing to do therewith. And if there shall be no consul, the effects shall be deposited in the hands of a confidential person of the place, taking an inventory of the whole, that they may eventually be delivered to those to whom they of right belong. Art. XX. The consul shall be the judge in all disputes between his fellow citizens or subjects, as also between all other persons who may be immediately under his protection; and in all cases wherein he shall require the assistance of the government where he resides to sanction his decisions, it shall be granted to him. Art. XXI. If a citizen or subject of one of the parties shall kill, wound, or strike a citizen or subject of the other, justice shall be done ted by the sub- according to the laws of the country where the offence shall be committed: The consul shall be present at the trial; but if any offender shall escape, the consul shall be in no manner responsible for it. jects of one party upon those of the other. Trial of disputes on civil matters between them. In case of national differences, accommodation to be at Art. XXII. If a dispute or law-suit on commercial or other civil matters shall happen, the trial shall be had in the presence of the consul, or of a confidential person of his choice, who shall represent him, and endeavor to accommodate the difference which may have happened between the citizens or subjects of the two nations. Art. XXIII. If any difference or dispute shall take place concerning the infraction of any article of the present treaty on either side, peace and good harmony shall not be interrupted, until a friendly application tempted before shall have been made for satisfaction; and resort shall not be had to arms therefor, except where such application shall have been rejected; and if war be then declared, the term of one year shall be allowed to the citizens or subjects of the contracting parties to arrange their affairs, and to withdraw themselves with their property. recourse is had to arms. |