Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United
States and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of BarbaryAbstract Authored by American diplomat Joel Barlow in 1796, the following treaty was sent to
the floor of the Senate, June 7, 1797, where it was read aloud in its entirety
and unanimously approved. John Adams, having seen the treaty, signed it and proudly
proclaimed it to the Nation. by Jussof Bashaw Mahomet, Bey, Mamet, Treasurer, Amet, Minister of Marine, Soliman Kaya, Galil, General of the Troops, Mahomet, Commander of the City, Amet, Chamberlain, Ally, Chief of the Divan, Mamet, Secretary, Hassan Bashaw, Dey, Joel Barlow There is a firm and perpetual peace and
friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and subjects of Tripoli,
of Barbary, made by the free consent of both parties, and guarantied by the most potent
Dey and Regency of Algiers. If any goods belonging to any nation with
which either of the parties is at war, shall be loaded on board of vessels belonging
to the other party, they shall pass free, and no attempt shall be made to take or
detain them. If any citizens , subjects, or effects,
belonging to either party, shall be found on board a prize vessel taken from an enemy
by the other party, such citizens or subjects shall be set at liberty, and the effects
restored to the owners. Proper passports are to be given to all
vessels of both parties, by which they are to be known. And considering the distance
between the two countries, eighteen months from the date of this treaty, shall be
allowed for procuring such passports. During this interval the other papers, belonging
to such vessels, shall be sufficient for their protection. A citizen or subject of either party having
bought a prize vessel, condemned by the other party, or by any other nation, the
certificates of condemnation and bill of sale shall be a sufficient passport for such
vessel for one year; this being a reasonable time for her to procure a proper
passport. Vessels of either party, putting into the
ports of the other, and having need of provisions or other supplies, they shall be
furnished at the market price. And if any such vessel shall so put in, from a disaster
at sea, and have occasion to repair, she shall be at liberty to land and re-embark her
cargo without paying any duties. But in case shall she be compelled to the land her
cargo. Should a vessel of either party be cast on the
shore of the other, all proper assistance shall be given to her and her people; no pillage
shall be allowed; the property shall remain at the disposition of the owners; and the crew
protectedand succored till they can be sent to their country. If a vessel of either party should be attacked
by an enemy, within gun-shot of the forts of the other, she shall be defended as much as
possible. If she be in port she shall not be seized on or attacked, when it is in the
power of the other party to protect her. And when she proceeds to sea, no enemy shall
be allowed to pursue her from the same port, within twenty-four hours after her
departure. The commerce between the United States and
Tripoli; the protection to be given to merchants, masters of vessels, and seamen; the
reciprocal right of the establishing Consuls in each country; and the privileges,
immunities, and jurisdiction, to be on the same footing with those of the most favored
nations respectively. The money and presents demanded by the Bey of
Tripoli, as a full and satisfactory consideration on his part, and on the part of his
subjects, for this treaty of perpetual peace and friendship, are acknowledged to have been
received by him previous to his signing the same, according to a receipt which is hereto
annexed, except such as part as is promised, on the part of the United States, to be
delivered and paid by them on the arrival of their Consul in Tripoli; of which part a note
is likewise hereto annexed. And no pretense of any periodical tribute of further payments
is ever to be made by either party. As the Government of the United States of
America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion—as it has in itself no
character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen—and, as the
said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation,
it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever
produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. In case of any dispute, arising from a violation
of any of the articles of this treaty, no appeal shall be made to arms; nor shall war be
declared on any pretext whatever. But if the Consul, residing at the place where the dispute
shall happen, shall not be able to settle the same, an amicable referrence shall be made to
the mutual friend of the parties, the Dey of Algiers; the parties hereby engaging to abide
by his decision. And he, by virtue of his signature to this treaty, engages for himself and
successors to declare the justice of the case, according to the true interpretation of the
treaty, and to use all the means in his power to enforce the observance of the same.
Signed and sealed at Tripoli of Barbary the 3d day of Junad in the year
of the Hegira 1211—corresponding with the 4th day of November, 1796, by
Jussof Bashaw Mahomet, Bey
Mamet, Treasurer
Amet, Minister of Marine
Soliman Kaya
Galil, General of the Troops
Mahomet, Commander of the City
Amet, Chamberlain
Ally, Chief of the Divan
Mamet, Secretary.
Signed and sealed at Algiers, the 4th day of Argill, 1211—corresponding with
the 3d day of January, 1797, by
Hassan Bashaw, Dey,
And by the agent Plenipotentiary of the United States of America,
Joel Barlow.
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