23. 1822 Convention between His Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, and the United States of America, for carrying into effect His Imperial Majesty's Award on the First Article of the Treaty of Ghent. Signed at St. Petersburgh His is Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the President of the United States of America, having agreed, in pursuance of the fifth Article of the Convention concluded at London on the 20th day of Octobre 1818, to refer the Differences which had arisen between the two Governments upon the true construction and meaning of the first Article of the Treaty of Peace and Amity concluded at Ghent on the 24th day of December 1814, to the friendly Arbitration of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, mutually engaging to consider His decision as final and conclusive; and His said Imperial Majesty having, after due consideration, given His decision upon these Differences in the following terms, to wit? "That the United States of America are entitled ,,to claim from Great Britain a just Indemnification ,,for all private Property which the British Forces ,,may have carried away; and, as the question relates ,,to Slaves more especially, for all the Slaves that ,,the British Forces may have carried away from the ,,places and territories of which the Treaty stipulates ,,the restitution, in quitting these same places and ,,territories." he nd 23. Convention entre la Grande - Bre- 1822 12 Juillet 30 Juin 1822. (D'après la copie officielle présentée au parlament Au nom de la Très Sainte et indivisible Trinité. Sa Majesté le Roi du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et de l'Irlande, et le Président des EtatsUnis d'Amérique, ayant décidé d'un commun accord, ! en conséquence de l'article cinq de la convention conclue à Londres le 20 Octobre 1818, que les différends qui se sont élevés entre les deux Gouvernemens sur la construction et le vrai sens du premier article du traité de paix et d'amitié conclu à Gand le 24 Décembre 1814, seroient déférés à l'arbitrage amical de Sa Majesté l'Empereur de toutes les Russies; s'étant en outre engagés réciproquement à régarder Sa décision comme finale et définitive; et Sa Majesté Impériale, après mûre consideration, ayant émis cette décision dans les termes suivans: "Que les Etats-Unis d'Amérique sont en droit ,,de réclamer de la Grande-Bretagne une juste indemnité pour toutes les propriétés particulières que „les forces britanniques auroient emportées, et, comine il s'agit plus spécialement d'esclaves, pour tous les Mesclaves que les forces britanniques auroient eminéhés des lieux et territoires dont le traité stipule la restitution, en quittant ces mêmes lieux et territoires." 1822 "That the United States are entitled to consider ,,as having been so carried away, all such Slaves as ,,may have been transferred from the above-mentio,,ned territories, to British Vessels within the waters ,,of the said territories, and who, for this reason, ,,nay not have been restored." "But that if there should be any American Sla,,ves who were carried away from territories of which ,,the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent has not ,,stipulated the restitution to the United States, the ,,United States are not entitled to claim an Indemni,,fication for the said Slaves." Now for the purpose of carrying into effect this Award of His Imperial Majesty as Arbitrator, His Good Offices have been farther invoked to assist in framing such Convention or Articles of Agreement between His Britannick Majesty and the United States of America, as shall provide the mode of ascertaining and determining the value of Slaves and of other privale Property, which may have been carried away in contravention of the Treaty of Ghent, and for, which Indemnification is to be made to the Citizens of the United States, in virtue of His Imperial Majesty's said Award, and shall secure compensation to the sufferers for their losses so ascertained and determined. And His Imperial Majesty has consented to lend His Mediation for the above purpose, and has constituted and appointed Charles Robert Count Nesselrode, His Imperial Majesty's Privy Councillor, Member of the Council of State, Secretary of State directing the Imperial Department of Foreign Affairs, Chamberlain, Knight of the Order of Saint Alexander Newsky, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Wladimir of the First Class; Knight of that of the White Eagle of Poland, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, of the Black and of the Red Eagle of Prussia, of the Legion of Honour of France, of Charles the Third of Spain, of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit of Naples, of the Annunciation of Sardinia, of the Polar Star of Sweden, of the Elephant of Denmark, of the Golden Eagle of Wurtemberg, of Fidelity of Baden, of Saint Constantine of Parma, and of Guelph of Hanover; and John Count Capodistrias, His Imperial Majesty's Privy Councillor and Que les Etats-Unis sont en droit de régarder 1822 comme emmenés, tous ceux de ces esclaves, qui, „des territoires indiqués ci-dessus, auroient été -transportés à bord de vaisseaux britanniques inouil„lés dans les eaux des dits territoires, et qui, par „ce motif, n'auroient pas été restitués." Mais que s'il y a des esclaves américains emménés de territoires dont l'article premier du traité de Gand n'a pas stipulé la restitution aux Etats-Unis, les Etats-Unis ne sont pas en droit de réclamer ,,une indemnité pour les dits esclaves." Comme il s'agit à présent de mettre cette sentence. arbitrale à exécution, les bons Offices de Sa Majesté Impériale ont été encore invoqués, afin qu'une convention arrétée entre Sa Majesté Britannique et les Etats-Unis, stipulât les articles d'un accord, propre à établir, d'une part le mode à suivre pour fixer et déterminer la valeur des esclaves ou autres propriétés privées qui auroient été emménés en contravention au traité de Gand, et pour lesquels les Citoyens des Etats-Unis auroient droit de réclamer une indemnité,. en vertu de la décision ci-dessus mentionnée de Sa Majesté Impériale; de l'autre, à assurer un dédommnagement aux individus qui ont supporté les pertes qu'il s'agit de vérifier et d'évaluer. Sa Majesté Impériale a consenti à prêter Sa méditation pour le dit objet, et a fondé et nommé le Sieur Charles Robert Comte de Nesselrode, Son Conseiller Privé, Membre du Conseil d'Etat, Sécrétaire d'Etat dirigeant le Ministère Impérial des Affaires Etrangères, Chainbellan actuel, Chevalier de l'Ordre de St. Alexandre. Newsky, Grand - Croix de l'Ordre de St. Wladimir de la première classe, Chevalier de celui de l'Aigle, Blanc de Pologne, Grand-Croix de l'Ordre de St. Etienne de Hongrie, de l'Aigle Noir et de l'Aigle Rouge de Prusse, de la Légion d'Honneur de France, de Charles III. d'Espagne, de St. Ferdinand et du Mérite de Naples, de l'Annonciade de Sardaigne, de l'Etoile Polaire de Suède, de l'Eléphant de Dannemare, de l'Aigle d'Or de Wurtemberg, de la Fidelité de Bade, de St. Constantin de Parme, et des Guelfes de Hanovre; Et le Sieur Jean Comte de Capodistrias, Son Conseiller Privé et Sécrétaire d'Etat, 1822:Secretary of State, Knight of the Order of Saint Alexander Newsky, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Wladimir of the First Class, Knight of that of the White Eagle of Poland, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, of the Black and of the Red Eagle of Prussia, of the Legion of Honour of France, of Charles the Third of Spain, of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit of Naples, of Saint Maurice and of Saint Lazarus of Sardinia, of the Elephant of Denmark, of Fidelity and of the Lion of Zahringen of Baden, Burgher of the Canton of Vaud, and also of the Canton and of the Republic of Geneva; as His Plenipotentiaries to treat, adjust, and conclude such Articles of Agreement as may tend to the attainment of the above - nentioned end, with the Plenipotentiaries of His Britannick Majesty and of the United Sta tes, that is to say: On the part of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Sir Charles Bagot, one of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Granid Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperot of all - the Russias And, on the part of the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, Henry Midleton, a Citizen of the said United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias: And the said Plenipotentiaries, after a reciprocal Communication of their respective Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles. 1 ART. 1. For the purpose of ascertaining and determining the Amount of Indemnification which may be due to citizens of the United States under the De cision of His Imperial Majesty, two Commissioners and two Arbitrators shall be appointed in the manner following, that is to say: One Commissioner and one Arbitrator shall be appointed by His Britannick Majesty, and one Commissioner and one Arbitrator shall be nominated and appointed by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and the two Commissioners and two Arbitrators thus appointed, |