Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 12.djvu/1132

 1080 CONVENTION WITH CHINA. Novmmn 8, 1858. anu: 1x. Abolition of the Méltage Fac. *`¤• It is agreed that the per centage of one tael, two mace hitherto charged, ' in excess of duty payments, to defray the expenses of melting by the Chinese Government, shall no longer be levied on citizens of the United States. nom: x. Collection of Duties under one System at ad Ports. System of e¤1- It being, by treaty, at the option of the Chinese Govemment to adopt l°°°‘°" °fd“°‘°‘· what means appear to it best suited to protect its revenue accruing on American trade, it is agreed that one uniform system shall be enforced at every port. The high officer appointed by the Chinese Government to superintend foreign trade will accordingly, from time to time, either himself visit, or will send a deputy to visit, the diiferent ports. The said high officer will be at liberty of his own choice, independently of the suggestion or nomination of any American authority, to select any citizen of the United States he may see fit to aid him in the administration of the customs revpnvmumog cnue, in the prevention of smuggling, in the definition of port boundaries, ¤¤¤zsH¤8· or in discharging the duties of harbor-master; also, in the distribution of Light,, bu. lights, buoys, beacons, and the like, the maintenance of which shall be WN. &¢· provided for out of the tonnage dues. The Chinese government will adopt what measures it shall End requisite to prevent smuggling up the Yang-tsz-Kiang, when that river shall be open to trade. WILLIAM B. REED, [san.]