Squatter sovereign., 1855-09-18

pendence of the United States the
seventy-ninth.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
BY the President:
w. l. MARCY, Secretary Of State.
By the President Of the United States o.
.dniertcd.
PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS a convention, between the nitedU
States of America and his Majesty the Empe-
ror Of all tho Russias, was concluded and sign
ed by their respective plenipotentiaries, at
Washington, on the 22d day OF July last which
convention, being in the English and French
languages, is, word for word, as follows:
The United States of America and his Maj
esty the Emperor of all the Russas, equally
animated with desire to maintain, and to pre-
serve from all harm, the relations of good un-
derstanding which have at all times 80 happily
subsisted between themselves, as also the in
habitants of their respective States, have mu-
tualy agreed to perpetuate, by means of for
NAL convention, the principles of the right of
neutrals at sea, which they recognise as indis-
pensablc conditions of all freedom of naviga-
tion and maritime trade. For this purpose, the
President Of the United States has conferred
full powers on William l.. Marcy, Secretary of
State of the United States; and his Majesty the
Emperor of all the Russias has conferred like
powers on Mr.. Edward de Stoeckl, Counsellor
Of State, knight of the orders Of Ste. Anne, of
the I'd class, st. Stanslas, of the 4th class, and
of the IRON Crown of Austria, of the Sd class,
his Majesty's charge d'affaires near the govern
inent Of the United States Of America: and
the said plenipotentaries after having eXchan-
ged their full powers, found in good and due
form, have concluded and signed the following
articles:-
ARTICLE I. The two high contracting par
ties recognise as permanent and immutablo the
following principles, to wit:
1st. That free ships make free goods-that
is to say, THAI the effects or goods belonging to
subjects or citizens of Power or State at war
are free from capture and conhscation when
found on board of neutral vessels, with the ex-
ception of articles contraband of war.
ID. That the property of neutrats on board
IN enemy's vessel is not subject to confiscation,
unless the same be contraband of war. They
engage to apply these principles to the COM
merce and navigation of all such Powers and
States as shall consent to adopt them on their
part as permanent and immutable.
ARTICLE II. The two high contracting par
ties reserve themselves to come to an Interior
understanding as circumstances may require,
with regard to the application and extension to
be given, if there be any cause for it, to the
principles laid down in the 1st article. But
they declare from this time that they will take
the stipulations contained in said article 1st as
q rule, whenever it shall become question, to
Judge OF the rights of neutrality.
ARTICLE III. 1t is agreed by the high con-
tracing parties that all nations which shall or
may consent to accede to the rules of the first
article of this convention, by formal declara-
ton stiputating 10 observe them, shall enjoy the
rights resulting from such accession as they
shall be enjoyed and observed by the two Pow
ers signing this convention. They shalt mutu-
ally communicate to each other the results of
the steps which may be taken on the subject.
ARTICLE Nv. The present convention shall
be approved and ratified by the President of the
United States of America, by and with the adj
vice and consent of the Senate OF said States,
and by his Majesty the Emperor of all the Rus
sias, and the ratifcations of the same shall be
exchanged at Washingsoe, within the period of
ten months, counting from this day, or sooner,
if possible.
In faith whereof, the respective plenipoten-
tiaries have signed the present convention, in
duplicate, and thereto affixed the seal of their
arms.
Done at Washington, the twenty second day
Of July, the year Of Grace. 1854.
W. Z. MARCY, L 81
EpouARp SToEcKL. L. ST.
And whereas the said convention has been
duly ratified on both parts, and the rati6cations
OF the same were exchanged in this city on the
3lst ultimo, by William L. marcy, Secretary OF
State OF the United States, and MT. Edward de
Stoeckl, his Imperial Majesty's charge d'afaires
to this government, on the part or their respec-
tive governments
Now, therefore, be it known that /, FRANK
LIN PIERCE, President of the United States oi
America, have caused the said compact to OF
made public, TO the end that the same and eve
ry clause and article thereof may be observed
andfuflled with good faith by the United States
and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof. have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this
first day of November, in the year OF
our Lord one thousand eight hundred
r. ST. and fjfty-fve, and of the indepeal-
ence of the United States the seven
ty-ninth.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
BIZ THE PRESIDENT:
w. L. MARCY, Secretary Of State.