Speech of William H. Seward on the Claims of American Merchants

3 passports, and with certificates containing the particulars of the cargo, so as to relieve the rigors of search. Secondly. The Treaty of Jllldance, concluded on the same day, February 6, 1778. In this treaty, the parties recited the execution of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, declared that they had considered the means- of strengthening-their engagements, particularly in case Great Britain,, in resentment against those engagements, should break the peace wittP France, either by direct hostilities or by hindering her cotnmerce and navigation, contrary to the rights of nations and the peace subsisting , between those countries; and that therefore they had agreed,. that [Art. 1] if war should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the existing war between the United Statesand England, that then his Majesty and the United States would make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good offices,. their counsel, and their forces, as was becoming to good and faithful allies. [Art. 2.] That the essential and direct end of their defensive alliance was to maintain effectually the Liberty, Sovereignty,, and Independence, absolute and unlimited, of the United States of America, as well in matters of government as of commerce. [Arts. 3 and 4.] ThaU each party should make every effort to attain that end; and that they should, in every possible way, act in concert, and with promptness and* good faith. [Arts. 5, 6, and 7.] That France renounced, in favor of the United States, conquests that might be made by the allied armies, except- the British Islands in or near the Gulf of Mexico. [Arts. 8 and 9.] That- neither party should conclude a truce or peace without the other’s con-- sent; and that neither party should demand any compensation from the other. [Art. 11.] The two parties guarantied mutually, from, the date of' the treaty forever against all other Powers, to wit—the United States to his Most Christian Majesty the then existing possessions of the Crown ol France in America, as well as those it might acquire by the treaty of peace. And his Most Christian Majesty, on his own part, guarantied to the United States their Liberty, Sovereignty, and Independence, absolute and unlimited, and also their possessions, and the additions or conquests that the Confederation might obtain during the war, conformably to the 5th and 6th. articles. [Art. 12.] In order to fix more precisely the application of the preceding article, the contracting parties declared that, in case of a rupture between France and England, the reciprocal guaranty declared in that article should have its full force and effect the moment such rupture should: break out; and if such rupture should not take place, the mutual obligations of the said guaranty should not commence until the moment of the- cessation of the war then existing between the United States and England: should have ascertained their possessions. Thirdly. The Treaty called the Consular Convention, concluded on the 14th of November, 1788, containing the following articles : “ Art. 8. The Consuls or Vice Consuls shall exercise police over all the vessels- of their respective nations ; and shall have, on board the said vessels, all power and jurisdiction in civil matters, in all the disputes which may there arise. They shall have an entire inspection over the said vessels, their crews, and the changes and substitutions therein to be made; for which purpose they may go on board the said, vessels whenever they may judge it necessary.” “ Art. 12. All differences and suits between the subjects of the Most Christian, King in the United States, or between the citizens of the United States within the. dominions of the Most Christian King, and particularly all disputes relative to the wages and terms of engagement of the crews of their respective vessels, and all the differences, of whatever nature they be, which may arise between the privates of the said crews, or between captains of different vessels of their nations, shall be

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