New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-30
% r FL CT n T. {
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the limited States

' A PROCLAMATION by the President {
the United States.
r WHEREAS convention defining the right
, immunities and privileges Of consuls, b
1.tween the United States Of America and h
{ Majesty the King of the Belgians, was. COZ
| cluded and signed by their respective pleI
; ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day G
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 definin,
the rights, privileges and immunlties OF con
sular officers in the two countries, deem
expedient to conclude consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident of the United States of America
Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen of thu
United States, their minister resident neal
his Majesty the King of the Belgians; an6
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 10
every other power.
ARTICLE II.
Consular officers, on the presentation of
| their commissions in the forms established
in their respective countries, shall be fur
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
in the national guard, or in the regular
army, and from all taxation, federal. State,
or municipal. Ii, 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 a citizen of the
State by which he was appointed. and who
is not engaged in business, shall be COM
PEELED to appear as a 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 III court, and if unable to do so, his
testimony shall be requested in 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 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 10 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 III Belgium, in the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls-general. consuls. vice eonsuls,
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 NAV also
raise the flag OF their country on their offices
or dwelling houses, except in the capital of
the country, when there is legation there. |
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall |
be at all times inyiOlable. Tie local au- |
.horities shall not, under any pretext, |
10 +la,, IL, =,
Or seize the papers there deposited. In no |
ease shall those offices or dwellings be used |
as places OF asylum. When. however. a
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, |
,onsuls, vice-consuls, and consular
aries, whose official character NAV
rave 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,
md while thus acting they shall enjoy all
he rights, prerogatives and immunities
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
Consuls-general and consuls may with the
APPRECIATION of their respective govern
nents, appoint vice-consuls and consular
gents III the cities. ports and places within
heir consular jurisdiction. These officers
nay be citizens of the United States. of
Belgium. or other foreigners. They shall be
furnished with a commission by the consul
who appoints them and under whose orders
hey are to act. They shall enjoy the privi-
eges stipulated for consular officers in this
convention, subject to the exceptions
peeitied III Articles III and w.
ARTICLE TX.
Consuls-general. consuls vice-consuls, and
consular agents, may complain to the au-
horltles 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 cOnven-
ions between the United States and Belgium
II tor the purpose OF protecting the rights
nd interests Of their cOuntrymen. If tie
Omplaint should not be satisfactorily re-
he absence OF a diplomatic agent OF their
ountry. may apply directly TO the govern
nent OF the country where they reside ,
ARTICLE Y.
Consuls-general. consuls, vice-consuls, and
onsular agents may take at their Offices. at
he residence OF the parties. at their private
or on board ship. the dep0sitions
t the captains and crews OF vessels Of their
WI country, of passengers on board of
hem, and OF any other citizen Of their M
ion: They may also receive at their offices.
ontormably to the laws and regulations Of
selr country. all contracts between the Cit
,ens Of their country and the citizens or
Their inhabitants Of the country where they
esille. and even all contracts between the
utter, provided they relate to property stu
ted or to business to be transacted in the
erlltorv OF the nation to which said con-
uiar office may belong. Copies Of such pa
ers and official documents OF every kind