Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 8.djvu/416

 404 CONVENTION WITH DENMARK. 1830. 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 pay- ment, 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, hall deliver up the said obligations with receipts for the amount thereof] from the said Government. ARTICLE III. A ,,0,,,,, of To ascertain the full amount, and validity of the claims, mentioned commissioners in Article I, a Board of Commissioners, consisting of three citizens of
 * ° be °PPQi¤'°d the United States, shall be appointed by the President, by and with the
 * ,‘;l?3§°;F":Q:,_l:? advice and consent of the Senate, who shall meet at Washington, and

claims., within the space of two years from the time of their first meeting shall ,83, eh_ 36_ 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. 'I‘he 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 ratuble proportion to the amount of the respective claims thus allowed.