Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-11
CONVENTION WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
THE CONVENTION.


Ike King OF the uuitcd Kingdom OF Great Britain
znd' reland, being DESTROYS to cooperate for the
complete suppression Of the African slave trade, by
making the law al piracy, as applied to that traffic
under the statutes ct their respective legislatures
immediately and reciprocay operative the vcs-
sells and subjects, citizens of each other, have
respectively appointed their Plcnpotentiarics to ne
goate aud conclude convention for that purpose,
that is say the part of the United states of
America, Richard Rush, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plcnipotcntiaty from those states to the
court of his majesty and, tho part OF his Britain
mic majesty, the right honorable William HuSkis-
son, member of his majesty most honorable Pri-
w Council, President of the Committee of Privy
Council for affairs of trade and foreign plantations,
Treasurer OF his maJcStys navy, and Il member OF
the Parliameut of the united Kingdom; and the
right honorable Suauord Canning, member of his
said majcsty's most honorable Privy Council, and
his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotcn-
taty 10 the United States of America which Plcu-
potcntiarics, after duly communicating to each
ther their respective full powers, found be in pro-
per for:n, have agreed upon and concluded, the fol-
lowing articles:
ARTICLE I.
The commanders and commissioned officers OF
each of the two high contracting parties, duly
thorzed under the regulations and instructions of
their respective Governments to cruZe the
of Africa, of America, aud of the West Indies, for
the suppression of the slave trade, shall be cmpow-
cred, under the conditions, Limitations, and rcStric-
turc and deliver over for trial and adjudication, by
some competent tribunal of whichever of the two
countries il shall be found examination, to be-
long to, any ship or vessel concerned in the illicit
traffic OF slaves, and carrying the flag of the other,
owned by any subjects citizens of either of the
two contracting parties except, when in the pre-
scncc of ship of of its uation: and, ii is
further agreed that any such ship vessel, cap
tured, shall be either carried, by tho captur-
ing officer, to some port Of the country to Which il
Saln
iities or be delivered up for the purpose n
ny duly commissioned officer of the other party it
being the intention of the high contracting powers,
that any ship or vessel within the purvicw of this
convention, and seized Oh that account, shall be
tried and adudged by the tribunals OF the captured
party, and not by those of the captor.
ARTICLE III.
In the case of any ship OF vessel detained under
this convention, by the cruzcrs of either of the two
contracting parties. suspicion of carrying the
slave trade, being found on due examination by the
Boarding officer, to be chartered of any
OF the subjects citizens of the other party a!tho'
not actually bearing the flag of that party, nor own
ed by the individuals whose account she is char
tered, or by any other ctiZcG; or subjects of the
same nation ii is hereby agreed, that, in such case
aSo upon the delivery of the said vessel to the tr-
bunals Of that country which the persons on
whose account she is chartered, belong, the vessel,
cargo and crew, shall be proceeded against in like
manner as any other vessel cargo, and crew, with
general practice under the Law Of Nations will al
low.
ARTICLE IIT.
Whenever any naval comma ndcr. o cOmmiss
ed officer, OF either of the two contracting powers,
shall, on the high seas, any where not within the
exclusive jurisdiction of either pary boa M or cause
co be boarded, merchant vessel he ring the flag
OF the Diner power, and visit the as lave
trader, suspicion of her being in the
slave trade in every such case, whether the vessel
so visited shall, or shall not, be captured AMI deli
yered over, or sent into the ports OF her country
for trial and adjudication the boa riding officer shall
deliver to the master commander OF the visited
vessel, certificate, in writing, signed b. the said
boarding ohccr, and specifying his rank in the ma
Wy of his country, together with the names of the
commander by whose orders he is acting and of
the national vessel commanded by him; and the
SAID certificate shall further contain Il declarations
purportng that the only object of the visit is to as
certain whether the merchant vessel in question is
engaged IN the slave trade, not and if found TO
be so engaged, TO take ana deliver her to the officers
or tribunals of her country, being that of one
Of the two contracting parties for trial and adudi
ca,ion.
In all such cases, the commander of tic national
vessel, whether belonging Great Britain or to the
United States, shall, when he makes delivery OF bis
capture either 70 the Officers the tribunals of
the other power, deliver all the papers found Gu
board the captured vessel, indicating her national
chatacter and the objects of her voyage and tore-
tler WIN the!n certhcate, as above, of the visit.
signed with his name, and specifying his rank in tie
navy Of his country, well the name of the YES
sci commanded by him. together with the name and
professional rank Of the boarding officer by whom
the said visit has been made.
This certificate shall also contain list OF all the
papers received from the master of the vessel de-
taned or visited, well as those found on board
the said vessel: il shall also contain an exact dos
crptIon OF the state in which the vessel was found
when detained, AMI Il statement of the changes. if
any, which have taken place in it, and of the num-
Der of slaves, if any, founi OH board at the moment
Of the dcteation
ARTICLE ".
whenever any merchant vessel of either nation
shall be visited, under this conventions on suspcion
Of such vessel being engaged in the slave trade no
search shall, in any Such case be made on board
the SAID vessel, except what is necessary for ascer-
tanning, 10y due and sufficient proofs, whether she is
or Is noi engaged in that illicit traffic No person
shall be taken out OF the vessel so visited (though
such reasonable restraints may be indispensable
for the detention and safe delivery of the vessel
may be used against the crew. by the commanding
officer OF the visiting vessel under his orders; nor
shall any part of the cargo of the visited vessel be
taken out Of her, till after her delivery to the Off
GERS tribunals of her own nation; executing only
when the removal of all, Il part Of the slaves if
any, found on board the visited vessel shall be in
dispensabc, either for the preservation of their lives
or from any other urgent consideration of humans
~, or for the safety of the person charged with tho
navigation of the said vessel after her capture. Aud
any of the slaves, removed, shall be duly account
ed for to the government of that country TO which
the visited vessel belongs and shall be disposed of
according 30 the laws of the country into which they
are carried the regular bounty or hcud-noncy, al
lowed by law, being, each Instance secured to the
captOrs, for their and benefit, by the receiving
government.