New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-19
OFFICIAL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION by the President OF
tho TYu;<o1 Sfo<os

/
A PROCLAMATION by the President o.
| the United States.
WHEREAS convention defining the rights
immunities and privileges of cOnsuls, be
tween the United States of America and his
Majesty the King Of the Belgians, was con
cluded and signed by their respective plen
ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day OF
December, eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being III the
English and French languages, is word fol
word as follows:
| The President Of the United States OF
America and his Majesty the King Of the
| Belgians, recognizing the utility of defining
the rights, privileges and immunities of con
sular officers in the two countries, deem it
! expedient to conclude a consular convention
| Accordingly they have named: The Pres
| ident of the United States of America,
Henry Shelton Sanford, a citizen Of the
| United States, their minister resident near
his Majesty the King of the Belgians and
his Majesty the King of the Belgians, the
Sieur Jules Wander Stichelen grand cross OF
the Order of the Dutch Lion, ETC., his min
lister of foreign affairs; who, after having
communicated to each other their full
powers, found to be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
cles:
ARTICLE I.
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the 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 high
contracting parties without also applying to
every other power.
ARTICLE III.
their commissions in the forms established
in their respective countries, shall be fur
nished with the necessary exequatur 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 in the case Of offenses
which the local legislation qualities as
crimes, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary billetings, from service in the militia or
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 in business, shall be conf
PEELED to appear as q witness before the
courts Of the country where he may reside.
When the testimony Of such consular officer
=, LII l.. L. l.
appear in court, and if unable to do so, his
testimony shall be requested in writing, or
be taken orally, at his dwelling or office.
It shall be the duty of said consular off
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay which can be avoided.
In all criminal cases, contemplated by 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,
Dr. consular agency" of the United States,
,r of Belgium, etc. And they may also
raise the flag OF their country on their offices
)r dwelling houses, except in the capital of
the country, when there is legation there
ARTICLE VI
The consular offices and dwellings shall
De at all times inviolable. The local au-
horities shall not, under any pretext,
invade them. In no case shall they examine
n seize the papers there deposited. In no
'ase shall those offices or dwellings be used |
is places of asylum. When, however,
consular officer is engaged in other business,
he papers relating to the consulate shall be |
lept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event of the death, incapa- |
ity, or absence of consuls-general, |
gents, their chancellers or secre- |
aries, whose official character may |
ave previously been made known to the |
Department of State at Washington, or to |
he minister for foreign affairs in Belgium, |
nay temporarily exercise their functions, |
nd while thus acting they shall enjoy all |
he rights, prerOgatives and immunities
ranted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
COnsuls-general and cOnsuls may, with the |
pprObatiOn of their respective govern
tents, appoint vice-consuls and consular
gents in the cities, ports and places within
heir consular Jurisdiction. These officers
lay be citizens of the United States, of
'elgium, or other foreigners. They shall be
FINISHED with a commission by the consul
Tho appoints them and under whose orders
hey are to act. They shall enjoy the priyi-
,ges stipulated for consular officers in this
DnventiOn, subject to the exceptions
pecitied in Articles III and ".
ARTICLE IN.
COnsuls-general, cOnsuls, vice-cOnsuls, and
Dflsular agents, may complain to the all-
lOrities OF the respective countries, whether
,deral or local, judicial or local, judicial or
within their consular district, of
ny infractiOn of the treaties and conven-
Ons between the United States and Belgium
+ for the purpose OF protecting the rights
nd interests OF. their cOuntrymen. Ii the
,mplaint should not he satisfactorily re-
ressed, the consular officers aforesaid, in
Re absence of a diplomatic agent of their
)untry, may apply directly to the govern
lent OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
COnsuls- general, cons,lls, vice-consuls, and
'nsular agents may take at their offices, at
he residence of the parties, at their private |
.sidence, or on board ship, the dispositions
the captains and crews of vessels Of their |
WI country, of passengers on board of
lem, and of any other citizen of their ma
on. They may also receive at their offices,
to the laws and regulations of
leir country, all contracts between the cit
ems of their country and the citizens or
her inhab itants of the country where they
side, and even all contracts between the
tier, provided they relate to property stu
ed or to business to be transacted in the |
rritory of the nation to which said CON
liar Office may belong. Copies of such pa
rs and official documents of every kind.
neither in the original, copies Or translation