New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-16
O FFICIAL.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION by the President Of
the United States


! ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day o
December, eighteen hundred and sixty
| eight. which convention, being In tn
| English and French languages, is word TO
word as follows:
The President of the United States o
| America and his Majesty the King of tn
| Belgians, recognizing the utility OF detinin:
| the rights, privileges and immunities OF con
sular officers in the two countries, deem i
expedient to conclude a consular convention
! for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident Of the United States of America
Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen of tn,
United States, their minister resident nea
his Majesty the King of the Belgians; an(
his Majesty the King of the Belgians, tn,
Sieur Jules Wander Stichelen, grand cross O
the Order of the Dutch Lion, ETC., his min
lister of foreign affairs; who, after havin:
communicated to each other their full
powers, found to be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti
eles:
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from tho other. consuls
general. consels. vice-cOnsuls, and consular
agents, in all its ports, cities and places, ex
cept those where it may not be convenient
to recognize such officers. This reservation
however, shall not apply to one of the higl
contracting parties without also applying t.
every other power.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, on the presentation OF
their commissions in the forms established
in their respective countries. shall be fur
nlShed with the necessary eXcquatur free
of charge, and on the exhibition Of this in
strument. they shall be permitted to enjoy
the rights. prerogatives, and immunities
granted by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, citizens of the State by
which they are appointed, shall be exempt
from arrest except i'll the case OF Otfenses
which the focal legislation qualities as
crimes, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary biletings, from service i'll the militia or
in the national guard. or in the regular
army, and from all taxation, federal, State,
or municipal. If, however, they are citi-
zens of the State where they reside, or own
property, or engage in business there they
shall be liable to the same charges OF all
kinds as other citizens of the country, who
are merchants or owners OF property.
ARTICLE ".
No consular officer who is citizen of the
State by which he was appointed, and who
is not engaged III business, shall be COM
PEELED to appear as IA witness before the
courts of the country where he may reside
When the testimony of such consular officer
is needed, he shall be invited in writing to
appear in court, and if unable to do 50. his
testimony shall be requested ~ writing. or
be taken orally, at his dwelling or office.
1t shall be the duty of said consular Off
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay which can be avoided.
In all criminal GASES contaminated nv the
sixth article of the amendments TO the con-
stitution of the United States. whereby the
right Is secured to persons charged with
crimes to obtain witnesses in their favor.
the appearance in court of said consular
officer shall be demanded. with all possible
regard to the consular dignity and to the
duties of his office. A similar treatment
shall also be extended to United States con
suls in Belgium, in the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice consuls.
and consular agents may place over the
outer door of their offices, or their dwelling
houses, the arms OF their nation. with this
consulate, or vice-consulate,
or consular agency" of the United States.
or Of Belgium, etc. And they may also
raise the flag OF their country on their offices
or dwelling houses, except in the capital OF
the country, when there is a legation there
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings, shall
be at all times inviolable. The local au-
thOrities shall not, under any pretext.
invade them. In no case shall they examine
Or seize the papers there deposited. In no
case shall those offices or dwellings be used
as places Of asylum. When. however,
consular officer is engaged in other business,
the papers relating to the consulate shall be
kept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event of the death. incapa-
,ity. or absence of consuls-seneral,
,onsuls, vice-consuls. and Consular
agents, their chancellers or secre-
taries, whose official character may
have previously been made known to the
Department of State at Washington. or to
the minister for foreign affairs in Belgium,
nay temporarily exercise their functions.
md while thus acting they shall enjoy all
The rights, prerogatives and immunities
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
Consuls-general and cons,Ils NAV. with the
APPRECIATION of their respective govern
Eents, appoint vice-consuls and consular
agents i'll the cities, ports and places within
heir consular jurisdiction. These officers
nay be citizens of the United States, of
DciDltt VI otUtI lOItl1EtIS. new snail DE
furnished with commission by the consul
who appoints them and under whose orders
hey are to act. They shall enjoy the priyi-
eyes stipulated for consular officers in this
subject to the exceptions
specified In Articles Iii and w.
ARTICLE TX.
COnsuls-general,c Onsuls, vice -cOnsuls. and
consular agents, may complain to the au-
horities of the respective countries, whether
ederal or local. judicial or local, judicial or
executive, within their consular district. of
my infraction of the treaties and cOnyen-
ions between the United States and Belgium
u for the purpose of protecting the rights
and interests of their countrymen. Ii the
complaint should not be satisfactorily re-
iressed the consular officers aforesaid. in
he absence of q diplomatic agent Of their
country, may apply directly to the govern
nent OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
ConsulS- general. cOnsuls, vice-c Onsuls and
consular agents may take az their offices. at
he residence OF the parties, at their private
or on board ship, the dispositions
If the captains ard crews of vessels of their
,wn country, of passengers on board of
hem, and OF any other citizen of their ma
ion. They may also receive at their offices,
to the laws and regulations of
heir country. all contracts between the cit
zens of their country and the citizens or
'ther inhabitants OF the country where they
eside, and even all contracts between the |
after, provided they relate to property situ-
ted or to business to be transacted in the |
erritory of the nation to which said con-
ular office may belong. Copies of such pa
'ers and official documents of every kind,
whether in the original copies or translation |
July authenticated and legalized by the con
uls- general consuls, vice consuls. and CON
ular agents, and sealed with their official |
cal, shall be received as legal documents in
ourts of justice throughout the United |
tates and Belgium.
ARTICLE NJ.