Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/341

 334: PUBLIC TREATIES. GREAT BRITAIN, 1862.* · T BRITAIN FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE T{1I`I§¥i1E¥EzIOI`}l%lI‘?Idz]§ED AT WASHINGTON APRIL 1, 1862; RATIFIcATION A12- VISED BY SENATE APRIL 24. 1862; RATIFIED BY PRESIDENT APRIL 2s, 1862; RATIFICATIONS EXOHANGED IN LONDON MAY 20, 1862; PROCLAIMLD JUNE 7, 1862. Treaty between the United States of and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Brotam and Ireland, for the suppression of the African slave trade. _C°¤*¤°*l"KP’“'· The United States of America and Her Majesty the_Queen of the °'°“‘ United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being desirous to render more effectual the means hitherto adopted for the suppression of the slave trade carried on upon the coast of Africa, have deemed itexpedlent to conclude a treaty for that purpose, and have named as their Plempotentiaries, that is to say: _ _ _ Ncgotiawrs. The President of the United States of America, Williani H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Her Majesty the Queen of the _Un1ted Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honorable Richard Bickerton Pemell, Lord Lyons, a peer of her United Kingdom, a Knight Grand Cross of her most honorable Order of the Bath, and her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: Anrrom I. Suspected ves- The two high contracting parties mutually consent that those ships wk- of their respective navies which shall be provided with special instructions for that purpose, as hereinafter mentioned, may visit such merchant vessels of the two nations as may, upon reasonable grounds, be suspected of being engaged in the Alrican slave trade, or of having been fitted out for that purpose; or of having, during the voyage on which they are met by the said cruisers, been engaged in the African slave trade, contrary to the provisions of this treaty; and that such cruisers may detain, and send or carry away, such vessels, in order that _ h they may be brought to trial in the manner hereinafter agreed upon. R‘·'¥"° °f '°“"° ‘ In order to iix the reciprocal right of search in such a manner as shall he adapted to the attainment of the object of this treaty, and at the same time avoid doubts, disputes, and complaints, the said right of aarrch shall be understood in the manner and according to the rules lowing: First. It shall never be exercised except by vessels of war, authorized expressly for that object, according to the stipulations of this treaty. Secondly. The right of search shall in no case be exercised with respect to a vessel of the navy of either of the two Powers, but shall be exercised only as regards merchant vessels; and it shall not be exercised by a vessel of war of either contracting party within the limits of a sgttlement or port, nor within the territorial waters of the other par y. Modeofneorch- Thirdly. Whenever a merchant vessel is searched by a ship of war, the commander of the said ship shall in the act of so doing, exhibit to the commander of the merchant vessel the special instructions by which he is duly authorized to search ; and shall deliver to such commander acertiiicate, signed by Limself stating his rank in the naval service of his country, and the name of the vessel he commands, and also declaring that the only object of the search is to ascertain whether the vessel is employed in the African slave trade, or is fitted up for the said trade. When the search is made by an oiilcer of the cruiser, who is not the