CHINA, 1858.
Contracting parties. The United States of America and the Ta Tsing Empire, desiring to maintain firm, lasting, and sincere friendship, have resolved to renew, in a manner clear and positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace, amity, and commerce, the rules which shall in future be mutually observed in the intercourse of their respective countries; for which most desirable object the President of the United States and the August Sovereign of the Ta Tsing Empire have named for their Plenipotentiaries, to wit:
Negotiators. The President of the United States of America, William B. Reed, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China; and His Majesty the Emperor of China, Kweliang, a Member of the Privy Council and Superintendent of the Board of Punishments, and Hwashana, President of the Board of Civil Office, and Major General of the Bordered Blue Banner division of the Chinese Banner-men, both of them being Imperial Commissioners and Plenipotentiaries:
And the said Ministers, in virtue of the respective full powers they have received from their Governments, have agreed upon the following articles:
ARTICLE I.
Peace and friendship. There shall be, as there have always been, peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Ta Tsing Empire, and between their people, respectively. They shall not insult or oppress each other for any trifling cause, so as to produce an estrangement between them; and if any other nation should act unjustly or oppressively, the United States will exert their good offices, on being informed of the case, to bring about an amicable arrangement of the question, thus showing their friendly feelings.
ARTICLE II.
Custody of original treaty. In order to perpetuate friendship, on the exchange of ratifications by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, and by His Majesty the Emperor of China, this treaty shall be kept and sacredly guarded in this way, viz: The original treaty, as ratified by the President of the United States, shall be deposited at Pekin, the capital of His Majesty the Emperor of China, in charge of the Privy council; and, as ratified by His Majesty the Emperor of China, shall be deposited at Washington, the capital of the United States, in charge of the Secretary of State.
ARTICLE III.
Publication of treaty. In order that the people of the two countries may know and obey the provisions of this treaty, the United States of America agree, immediately on the exchange of ratifications, to proclaim the same, and to publish it by proclamation in the gazettes where the laws of the United States of America are published by authority; and His Majesty the Emperor of China, on the exchange of ratifications, agrees immediately to direct the publication of the same at the capital and by the governors of all the provinces.
