Protection to persons and property. Liberty of conscience, and rites of worship, &c. secured. Both parties at liberty to trade with those at enmity with either, &c. Free ships to make free goods. ARTICLE 13. Both the contracting parties promise and engage, formally, to give their special protection to the persons and property of the citizens of each other, of all occupations, who may be in the territories subject to the jurisdiction of the one or the other, transient or dwelling therein, leaving open and free to them the tribunals of justice, for their judicial recourse, on the same terms which are usual and customary with the natives or citizens of the country in which they may be; for which they may employ in defence of their rights, such advocates, solicitors, notaries, agents and factors, as they may judge proper, in all their trials at law; and such citizens or agents shall have free opportunity to be present at the decisions and sentences of the tribunals, in all cases which may concern them; and likewise at the taking of all examinations and evidence which may be exhibited on the said trials. ARTICLE 14. The citizens of the United States residing in the territories of the Republic of Venezuela, shall enjoy the most perfect and entire security of conscience, without being annoyed, prevented or disturbed on account of their religious belief. Neither shall they be annoyed, molested or disturbed in the proper exercise of their religion in private houses, or in the chapels or places of worship appointed for that purpose, with the decorum due to divine worship, and with due respect to the laws, usages, and customs of the country. Liberty shall also be granted to bury the citizens of the United States who may die in the territories of the Republic of Venezuela, in convenient and adequate places, to be appointed and established by themselves, for that purpose, with the knowledge of the local authorities, or in such other places of sepulture as may be chosen by the friends of the deceased; nor shall the funerals or sepulcres of the dead be disturbed, in any wise, nor upon any account. In like manner, the citizens of Venezuela shall enjoy within the Government and territories of the United States, a perfect and unrestrained liberty of conscience and of exercising their religion publicly or privately, within their own dwelling-houses, or in the chapels and places of worship appointed for that purpose, agreeable to the laws, usages, and customs of the United States. ARTICLE 15. It shall be lawful for the citizens of the United States of America and of the Republic of Venezuela, to sail with their ships, with all manner of liberty and security, no distinction being made who are the proprietors of the merchandises laden thereon, from any port, to the places of those who now are, or hereafter shall be at enmity with either of the contracting parties. It shall, likewise, be lawful for the citizens aforesaid to sail with their ships and merchandises before mentioned, and to trade with the same liberty and security from the places, ports, and havens of those who are enemies of both, or either party, without any opposition or disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from the places of the enemy before mentioned to neutral places, but also from one place, belonging to an enemy, to another place, belonging to an enemy, whether they be under the jurisdiction of one power, or under several. And it is hereby stipulated, that free ships shall also give freedom to goods, and that every thing shall be deemed to be free and exempt, which shall be found on board the ships belonging to the citizens of either of the contracting parties, although the whole lading, or any part thereof, should appertain to the enemies of either; contraband goods being always excepted. It is also agreed, in like manner, that the same liberty shall be extended to persons who are on board a free ARTICULO 13. Ambas partes contratantes se comprometen y obligan formalmente á dar su proteccion especial á las personas y propiedades de los ciuda danos de cada una reciprocamente, transeuntes ó habitantes, de todas ocupaciones, en los territorios sujetos á la jurisdiccion de una y otra, dejandoles abiertos y libres los tribunales de justicia para sus recursos judiciales, en los mismos terminos que son de uso y costumbre para los naturales ó ciudadanos del pais en que residan; para lo cual, podrán emplear en defensa de sus derechos, aquellos abogados, procuradores, escribanos, agentes ó factores, que juzguen conveniente, en todos sus asuntos y litijios; y dichos ciudadanos ó agentes tendrán la libre facultad de estar presentes en las decisiones y sentencias de los tribunales, en todos los casos que conciernan á aquellos, como igualmente al tomar todos los exámenes y declaraciones que se ofrezcan en los dichos litijios. ARTICULO 14. Los ciudadanos de la Republica de Venezuela residentes en los territorios de los Estados Unidos, gozarán una perfecta é ilimitada libertad de conciencia, sin ser molestados, inquietados ni perturbados por su creencia religiosa. Ni serán molestados, inquietados ó perturbados en el ejercicio de su religion en casas privadas, en las capillas ó lugares de adoracion designados al efecto, con el decoro debido á la divinidad, y respeto a las leyes, usos y costumbres del pais. Tambien tendrán libertad para enterrar los ciudadanos de Venezuela que mueran en los territorios de los Estados Unidos, en los lugares convenientes y adecuados, designados y establecidos por ellos con acuerdo de las autoridades locales, ó en los lugares de sepultura que elijan los amigos de los muertos; y los funerales y sepulcros no serán trastornados de modo alguno ni por ningun motivo. De la misma manera los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos gozarán en los territorios de la Republica de Venezuela perfecta é ilimitada libertad de conciencia, y ejercerán su religion publica ó privadamente en sus mismas habitaciones, ó en las capillas y lugares de adoracion designados al efecto, de conformidad con las leyes, usos y costumbres de la Republica de Venezuela. ARTICULO 15. Será licito á los ciudadanos de la Republica de Venezuela y de los Estados Unidos de America, navegar con sus buques, con toda seguridad y libertad, de cualquier puerto á las plazas ó lugares de los que son ó fueren en adelante enemigos de cualquiera de las dos partes contratantes, sin hacerse distincion de quienes son los dueños de las mercancias cargadas en ellos. Será igualmente licito á los referidos ciudadanos, navegar con sus buques y mercaderias mencionadas, y traficar con la misma libertad y seguridad, de los lugares, puertos y ensenadas de los enemigos de ambas partes, ó de alguna de ellas, sin ninguna oposicion ó disturbio cualquiera, no solo directamente de los lugares del enemigo arriba mencionados á lugares neutros, sino tambien de un lugar perteneciente á un enemigo, á otro enemigo, ya sea que esten bajo la jurisdiccion de una potencia, ó bajo la de diversas. Y queda aqui estipulado, que los buques libres dan tambien libertad á las mercaderias, y que se ha de considerar libre y esento, todo lo que se hallare á bordo de los buques pertenecientes á los ciudadanos de cualquiera de las partes contratantes, aunque toda la carga ó parte de ella pertenezca á enemigos de una ú otra, esceptuando siempre articulos de contrabando de guerra. Se conviene tambien del mismo modo, en que la misma libertad se estienda á las personas que se encuentren á bordo de 474 Free ships to make free per sons. Proviso. Enemy's property, to be protected by a neutral flag, must be shipped, when. Contraband specified. Goods not contraband. Contraband only, liable to Provided, ship, with this effect, that, although they be enemies to both, or either ARTICLE 16. It is likewise agreed, that in the case where the neutral flag of one of the contracting parties shall protect the property of the enemies of the other, by virtue of the above stipulations, it shall always be understood that the neutral property found on board such enemy's vessels, shall be held and considered as enemy's property, and, as such, shall be liable to detention and confiscation; except such property as was put on board such vessel before the declaration of war, or even afterwards, if it were done without the knowledge of it: but the contracting parties agree, that two months having elapsed after the declaration, their citizens shall not plead ignorance thereof. On the contrary, if the flag of the neutral does not protect the enemy's property, in that case, the goods and merchandises of the neutral, embarked in such enemy's ship, shall be free. ARTICLE 17. This liberty of navigation and commerce shall extend to all kinds of merchandise, excepting those only which are distinguished by the name of contraband; and under this name of contraband or prohibited goods shall be comprehended: 1st. Cannons, mortars, howitzers, swivels, blunderbusses, muskets, fusees, rifles, carbines, pistols, pikes, swords, sabres, lances, spears, halberds and grenades, bombs, powder, matches, balls, and all other things belonging to the use of these arms. 2d. Bucklers, helmets, breastplates, coats of mail, infantry-belts, and clothes made up in the form and for military use. 3d. Cavalry-belts, and horses with their furniture. 4th. And generally all kinds of arms and instruments of iron, steel, brass, and copper, or of any other materials, manufactured, prepared, and form expressly to make war by sea or land. ARTICLE 18. All other merchandises and things not comprehended in the articles of contraband explicitly enumerated and classified as above, shall be held and considered as free, and subjects of free and lawful commerce, so that they may be carried and transported in the freest manner, by the citizens of both the contracting parties, even to places belonging to an enemy; excepting, only, those places which are, at that time, besieged or blockaded; and to avoid all doubt in this particular, it is declared, that those places only are besieged or blockaded, which are actually attacked by a belligerent force capable of preventing the entry of the neutral. ARTICLE 19. The articles of contraband before enumerated and classified, which may be found in a vessel bound for an enemy's port, shall be subject to detention and confiscation, leaving free the rest of the cargo and the buques libres, con el fin de que aunque dichas personas sean enemigos de ambas partes ó de alguna de ellas, no deban ser estraidos de los buques libres á menos que sean oficiales ó soldados en actual servicio de los enemigos: á condicion no obstante, y se conviene aqui en esto, que las estipulaciones contenidas en el presente articulo, declarando que el pabellon cubre la propiedad, se entenderán aplicables solamente á aquellas potencias que reconocen este principio; pero si alguna de las dos partes contratantes estuviere en guerra con una tercera, y la otra permaneciese neutral, la bandera de la neutral cubrirá la propiedad de los enemigos cuyos Gobiernos reconocen este principio, y no de otros. ARTICULO 16. Se conviene igualmente que en caso de que la bandera neutral de una de las partes contratantes, proteja las propiedades de los enemigos de la otra, en virtud de lo estipulado arriba, deberá siempre entenderse, que las propiedades neutrales encontradas á bordo de tales buques enemigos, han de tenerse y considerarse a como propiedades enemigas, y como tales estarán sujetas á detencion y confiscacion; esceptuando solamente aquellas propiedades que hubiesen sido puestas á bordo de tales buques antes de la declaracion de la guerra, y aun despues, si hubiesen sido embarcadas en dichos buques sin tener noticia de la guerra: y se conviene que pasados dos meses despues de la declaracion, los ciudadanos de una y otra parte no podrán alegar que la ignoraban. Por el contrario, si la bandera neutral no protegiese las propiedades enemigas, entonces serán libres los efectos y mercaderias de la parte neutral embarcadas en buques enemigos. ARTICULO 17. Esta libertad de navegacion y comercio se estendera á todo genero de mercaderias, esceptuando aquellas solamente que se distinguen con el nombre de contrabando; y bajo este nombre de contrabando ó efectos prohibidos, se comprenderán: 1° Cañones, morteros, obuces, pedreros, trabucos, mosquetes, fusiles, rifles, carabinas, pistolas, picas, espadas, sables, lanzas, chuzos, alabardas y granadas, bombas, pólvora, mechas, balas, con las demas cosas correspondientes al uso de estas armas. 2o Escudos, casquetes, corazas, cotas de malla, fornituras, y vestidos hecho en forma y á usanza militar. 3° Bandoleras y caballos, junto con sus armas y arneses. 4° Y generalmente, toda especie de armas é instrumentos de hierro, acero, bronce, cobre, y otras materias cualesquiera, manufacturadas, preparadas y formadas espresamente para hacer la guerra por mar ó tierra. ARTICULO 18. Todas las demas mercaderias y efectos no comprendidos en los articulos de contrabando explicitamente enumerados y clasificados en el articulo anterior, serán tenidos y reputados por libres, y de licito y libre comercio, de modo que ellos puedan ser transportados y llevados de la manera mas libre por los ciudadanos de ambas partes contratantes, aún á los lugares pertenecientes á un enemigo de una ú otra, exceptuando solamente aquellos lugares ó plazas que están al mismo tiempo sitiadas ó bloqueadas, y para evitar toda duda en el particular, se declaran sitiadas ó bloqueadas aquellas plazas que en la actualidad estuviesen atacadas por una fuerza de un beligerante capaz de impedir la entrada del neutral. ARTICULO 19. Los articulos de contrabando antes enumerados y clasificados, que se hallen en un buque destinado á puerto enemigo, estarán sujetos á detencion y confiscacion, dejando libre el resto del cargamento y el buque Notice of blockade. Vessels enter ing before blockade, may quit unmolested. Examination of vessels at sea. One of the parties being engaged in war, vessels of the other to be provided with sea letters, &c. ship, that the owners may dispose of them as they see proper. No vessel of either of the two nations shall be detained on the high seas on account of having on board articles of contraband, whenever the master, captain or supercargo of said vessel will deliver up the articles of contraband to the captor, unless the quantity of such articles be so great or of so large a bulk, that they cannot be received on board the capturing ship without great inconvenience; but in this, and in all other cases of just detention, the vessel detained shall be sent to the nearest convenient and safe port for trial and judgment according to law. ARTICLE 20. And whereas it frequently happens that vessels sail for a port or places belonging to an enemy without knowing that the same is besieged, blockaded or invested, it is agreed that every vessel so circumstanced may be turned away from such port or place, but shall not be detained, nor shall any part of her cargo, if not contraband, be confiscated; unless, after warning of such blockade or investment from any officer commanding a vessel of the blockading forces, she shall again attempt to enter; but she shall be permitted to go to any other port or place she shall think proper. Nor shall any vessel of either, that may have entered into such port before the same was actually besieged, blockaded or invested by the other, be restrained from quitting such place with her cargo; nor, if found therein after the reduction and surrender, shall such vessel or her cargo be liable to confiscation, but they shall be restored to the owners thereof. ARTICLE 21. In order to prevent all kind of disorder in the visiting and examination of the ships and cargoes of both the contracting parties, on the high seas, they have agreed, mutually, that, whenever a vessel of war, public or private, shall meet with a neutral of the other contracting party, the first shall remain out of cannon shot, and may send its boats with two or three men only, in order to execute the said examination of the papers concerning the ownership and cargo of the vessel, without causing the least extortion, violence, or ill-treatment, for which the commanders of the said armed ships shall be responsible, with their persons and property; for which purpose the commanders of said private armed vessels shall, before receiving their commissions, give sufficient security to answer for all the damages they may commit; and it is expressly agreed, that the neutral party shall, in no case, be required to go on board the examining vessel for the purpose of exhibiting his papers, or for any other purpose whatever. ARTICLE 22. To avoid all kind of vexation and abuse in the examination of the papers relating to the ownership of the vessels belonging to the citizens of the two contracting parties, they have agreed, and do agree, that in case one of them should be engaged in war, the ships and vessels belonging to the citizens of the other must be furnished with sea-letters, or passports, expressing the name, property, and bulk of the ships, as also the name and place of habitation of the master or commander of said vessel, in order that it may thereby appear that said ship really and truly belongs to the citizens of one of the parties; they have likewise agreed that such ship being laden, besides the said sea-letters or passports, shall also be provided with certificates, containing the several particulars of the cargo, and the place whence the ship sailed, so that it may be known whether any forbidden or contraband goods be on board |