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and uncertainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting the sovereignty and government of the territory on the northwest coast of America lying westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should be finally terminated by an amicable compromise of the rights mutually asserted by the two Parties over the said Territory, have respectfully named plenipotentiaries to treat and agree concerning the terms of such settlement, that is to say: the President of the United States of America, has, on his part, furnished with Full Powers, James Buchanan, Secretary of State of the United States, and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, has, on her part, appointed the Right Honorable Richard Pakenham, a Member of Her Majesty's Most honorable Privy Council, and Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain terminates, the line of boundary between the territories of the United States and those of Her Britannic Majesty shall be continued westward along the said forty-ninth parallel of north latitude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island; and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel, and of Fuca's Straits to the Pacific Ocean; Provided, however, that the navigation of the whole of the said channel and Straits, south of the forty ninth parallel of north latitude, remain free and open to both parties.

ARTICLE II.

From the point at which the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude shall be found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia River, the navigation of the said branch shall be free and open to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to all British subjects trading with the same, to the point where the said branch meets the main stream of the Columbia, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with free access into and through the said River or Rivers, it being understood that all the usual portages along the line thus described shall in like manner be free and open. In navigating the said River or Rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be treated on the same footing as citizens of the United States, it being however always understood that nothing in this article shall be construed as preventing, or intended to prevent, the Government of the United States from making any regulations respecting the navigation of the said river or rivers, not inconsistent with the present treaty.

ARTICLE III.

In the future appropriation of the territory, south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, as provided in the first article of this treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property lawfully acquired within the said territory, shall be respected.

ARTICLE IV.

The farms, lands, and other property of every description belonging to the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the north side of the Columbia River, shall be confirmed to the said company. In case however the situation of those farms and lands should be considered by the United States to be of public and political importance, and the United States' Government should signify a desire to obtain possession of the whole, or of any part thereof, the property so required shall be transferred to the said Government, at a proper valuation, to be agreed upon between the parties."

ARTICLE V.

The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by Her Britannic Majesty; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London, at the expiration of six months from the date hereof, or sooner if possible.

In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.

Done at Washington the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

[SEAL.] JAMES BUCHANAN
[SEAL.] RICHARD PAKENHAM.

Declaration approving and adopting the maps prepared by the Joint Commission of the Northwest Boundary for surveying and marking the Boundary between the British possessions and the United States along the 49th Parallel of North Latitude, under the first article of the Treaty of 15th June, 1846.

The Undersigned Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State of the United States, and Edward Thornton, Esquire, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, duly authorized by their respective Governments, having met together:

The set of maps, seven in number, which have been prepared by the Commissioners appointed by the two Powers to survey and mark out the Boundary between their respective Territories under the first Article of the Treaty concluded between them at Washington on the 15th of June 1846, having been produced:

And it appearing that they do correctly indicate the said Boundary, from the point where the Boundary laid down in Treaties and Conventions prior to June 15th, 1846, terminates Westward on the 49th Parallel of North Latitude to the Eastern shore of the Gulf of Georgia, which Boundary has been defined by the Commissioners by marks upon the ground:

The Undersigned, without prejudice to the rights of their respective Governments as to the settlement and the determination of the remainder of the said Boundary, hereby declare that the said maps certified and authenticated under the signatures of Archibald Campbell, Esquire, the Commissioner of the United States, and of Colonel John Summerfield Hawkins, Her Britannic Majesty's Commissioner, and of which duplicate copies similarly certified and authenticated are in the possession of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty have been duly examined and considered, and, as well as the marks by which the Boundary to the Eastern shore of the Gulf of Georgia has been defined upon the ground, are approved, agreed to, and adopted by both Governments.

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same and have affixed thereto their respective seals.

Done at Washington the Twenty fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy.

HAMILTON FISH
[SEAL.]
EDW. THORNTON
[SEAL]

a See Treaty of July 1. 1863, p. 336.

1850.

CONVENTION AS TO SHIP-CANAL CONNECTING ATLANTIC AND
PACIFIC OCEANS.

(CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY.)

Concluded April 19, 1850; ratification advised by the Senate May 22, 1850; ratified by the President May 23, 1850; ratifications exchanged July 4, 1850; proclaimed July 5, 1850. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 440.)

This convention is superseded by the convention concluded November 18, 1901. (Page 380.)

1850.

PROTOCOL OF A CONFERENCE HELD AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE, DECEMBER 9, 1850, CEDING HORSE-SHOE REEF TO THE UNITED STATES. Abbott Lawrence, Esquire, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Negotiators. court of Her Britannic Majesty, and Viscount Palmerston, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having met together at the foreign office:

Mr. Lawrence stated that he was instructed by his Government to call the attention of the British Government to the dangers to which the important commerce of the great Lakes of the Interior of America, and more particularly that concentrating at the town of Buffalo near the entrance of the Niagara River from Lake Erie, and that passing through the Welland Canal, is exposed from the want of a lighthouse near the outlet of Lake Erie. Mr. Lawrence stated that the current of the Niagara River is at that spot very strong, and increases in rapidity as the river approaches the falls; and as that part of the river is necessarily used for the purpose of a harbor, the Congress of the United States, in order to guard against the danger arising from the rapidity of the current, and from other local causes, made an appropriation for the construction of a lighthouse at the outlet of the lake. But on a local survey being made, it was found that the most eligible site for the erection of the lighthouse was a reef known by the name of the "Horseshoe Reef," which is within the dominions of Her Britannic Majesty; and Mr. Lawrence was therefore instructed by the Government of the United States to ask whether the Government of Her Britannic Majesty will cede to the United States the Horse-shoe Reef, or such part thereof as may be necessary for the purpose of erecting a lighthouse; and if not, whether the British Government will itself erect and maintain a lighthouse on the said Reef.

Cession of

Reef" to the

Viscount Palmerston stated to Mr. Lawrence in reply, that Her Majesty's Government concurs in opinion with the Government "Horse-shoe of the United States, that the proposed lighthouse would United States by be of great advantage to all vessels navigating the Lakes; Great Britain and that Her Majesty's Government is prepared to advise of a lighthouse Her Majesty to cede to the United States such portion of the Horse-shoe Reef as may be found requisite for the intended lighthouse, provided the Government of the United States will engage to erect such lighthouse, and to maintain a light therein; and provided no fortification be erected on the said Reef.

for the erection

thereon,

Mr. Lawrence and Viscount Palmerston, on the part of their respective Governments, accordingly agreed that the British Crown should make this cession, and that the United States should accept it, on the above-mentioned conditions.

ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
PALMERSTON.

On the receipt of this Mr. Webster, January 17, 1851, instructed Mr. Lawrence to "address a note to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, acquainting him that the arrangement referred to is approved by this Government." MS. Department of State. Mr. Lawrence did so on the 10th of the following February. The acts of Congress making appropriations for the erection of the light-house will be found in 9 St. at L., 380 and 627, and 10 St. at L., 343. It was erected in the year 1856.

1853.

CLAIMS CONVENTION."

Concluded February 8, 1853; ratification advised by the Senate March 15, 1853; ratified by the President March 17, 1853; ratifications exchanged July 26, 1853; proclaimed August 20, 1853. (Treaties and Conventions, 1869, p. 445.)

The commission authorized by this convention of seven articles met at London September 15, 1853, and adjourned January 15, 1855. The claims considered by the commission were all those arising since December 24, 1814, and remaining unsettled. The awards in favor of American claimants amounted to $329,734.16, and to British claimants $277,102.88.

1854.

RECIPROCITY TREATY AS TO FISHERIES, DUTIES, AND NAVIGATION, BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

Concluded June 5, 1854; ratification advised by the Senate August 2, 1854; ratified by the President August 9, 1854; ratifications exchanged September 9, 1854; proclaimed September 11, 1854. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 448.)

This treaty, consisting of seven articles, granted mutual liberty of sea fisheries on the northeastern coast of the United States and the British North American provinces; it provided for the reciprocal free admission of certain articles, the produce of the British colonies or of the United States, and the right to navigate S. Lawrence River and the canals connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic and Lake Michigan. It was terminated by notice from the United States March 17, 1866. The commission authorized by Article I to designate the places reserved from the common right of fishing met in August, 1855, and ceased to exist by the termination of the treaty. Nearly all the work had been accomplished when the commission dissolved.

@See Convention of July 17, 1854, p. 329.

Federal case: Pine Lumber, 4 Blatch., 182.

1854.

CLAIMS CONVENTION.

Concluded July 17, 1854; ratification advised by the Senate July 21, 1854; ratified by the President July 24, 1854; ratifications exchanged August 18, 1854; proclaimed September 11, 1854. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 453.)

By this convention the existence of the claims commission under the Convention of 1853 (p. 328) was extended four months.

1862.

TREATY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE." Concluded April 7, 1862; ratification advised by the Senate April 24, 1862; ratified by the President April 25, 1862; ratifications exchanged May 20, 1862; proclaimed June 7, 1862. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 454.)

ARTICLES.

1. Search of suspected slavers by war
vessels.

II. Authority and procedure.
III. Indemnity for losses.
IV. Mixed courts established.

V. Reparation for wrongful seizures.
VI. Evidences of slave trading.

VII. No compensation to vessels with
slave equipments.

VIII. Disposal of vessels condemned.
IX. Punishment of owners, crew, etc.
X. Release of negroes.

XI. Instructions and regulations.
XII. Ratification; duration.

The United States of America, and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being desirous to render more effectual the means hitherto adopted for the suppression of the Slave Trade carried on upon the coast of Africa, have deemed it expedient to conclude a Treaty for that purpose, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

The President of the United States of America, William H. Seward, Secretary of State;

And Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, The Right Honorable Richard Bickerton Pemell Lord Lyons, a Peer of Her United Kingdom, a Knight Grand Cross of Her Most Honorable Order of the Bath, and Her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective fullpowers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

The two High Contracting Parties mutually consent that those ships of their respective navies which shall be provided with special Instruction for that purpose, as hereinafter mentioned, may visit such merchant vessels of the two nations as may, upon reasonable grounds, be

See Article VIII, p. 333; Convention of 1870, p. 338, and General Act of July 2, 1890, p.

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