The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-21 00:00:00

THE SOUND DUES.

Mr. Marcy, the Foreign Minister of the United
States, has addressed the following despatch to the
Danish Government :
Department of State, Washington, Nov. 3.
Sir,—l proceed to communicate the President's reply
to the proposition of the Danish Government to the
United States to join in a convention with other Powers
interested in the "Sound Dues," at Copenhagen, for the
purpose of deliberating on that subject.
The friendly relations between Denmark and the
United States have never been interrupted. The Presi-
dent cherishes an evident disposition to sustain and
strengthen them, and he would extremely regret that
his determination to assert what he believes to be a just
right in an unexceptionable manner should be regarded
as an indication of disrespect for Denmark, or a want of
a proper appreciation of her friendship. The exactions
of foreign commerce at the entrance into the Baltic have
been a productive source of revenue to Denmark, and it
is very natural that she should struggle to retain it. If
these exactions were founded in right the United States
would be the last Power to interfere with her enjoy-
ment of them.

It is not proposed to discuss the question of right in
this communication ; that has already been done, and
the United States have adopted the conclusion that they
are under no obligation arising from international law,
treaty, or stipulation to yield t• this claim. Denmark,
on the contrary, has adopted a different and an opposite
conclusion.

It is readily conceded that both nations are anxious to
arrive at a satisfactory solution of this vexed question.
The subject interests several other Powers—indeed, all
maritime nations—and Denmark has invited them to
be represented in a convention, to assemble this
month at Copenhagen, to consider a proposition
to be offered by her to capatalise this revenue and
to apportion among commercial Powers the sum to
be paid for this renunciation of the present mode of
collecting it. The United States have been respectfully,
invited to send a representative to the proposed conven-
tion.

Without at all questioning the fair intention of Den-
mark in proposing this measure, the President feels con-
strained, by a sense of duty, to decline the acceptance
of this invitation. The convention is to assume as the
basis of its proceeding the very right on the part of
Denmark which the United States deny. It is assem-
bled without any power to pass upon the right of Den-
mark to levy a contribution upon commerce, but only
authorised to adjust the sum to be paid by each nation
in lieu of the collections theretofore assessed upon their
respective vessels and cargoes. The United States,
however, contest their liability to pay any contribution
whatever. The main question at issue between this
Government and that of Denmark is not how much bur-
den shall be borne by our commerce to the Baltic, but
whether it shall be subjected to any burden at all.
The proposed tribunal, it will be perceived, by the
restriction upon its jurisdiction, is expressly precluded
from deliberating and deciding upon the only serious
question at issue between the United States and Den-
mark.

This is not, however, the only difficulty which pre-
♦tnts the President from consenting tole represented in
the convention. In claiming an exemption of our ships
and tbeir cargoes from taxation by Denmark at the
Straits of the Baltic the President is vindicating a great
national principle of extensive and various application.
If yielded in one instance it will be difficult to maintain
it in others. It exactions upon our trade at the entrance
into the Baltic were acquiesced in by the United States,
similar exactions might, on the same principle, be de-
manded at the Straits of Gibraltar and Messina, and the
Dardanelles, and on all great navigable rivers whose
upper branches and tributaries are occupied by different
independent Powers.
The President cannot admit the competency of such a
tribunal as that proposed by Denmark—as he would do
if this Government were represented therein—to deal
with a principle of such vast importance to the whole
commercial world.

There is another ground of objection to joining in the
proposed convention quite'as controlling as either of the
foregoing. The Government of the United States will
never consent to the pretension that the New World is
to be appropriated to adjust the political balance of the
Old. It is clearly stated in the proposition which Den-
mark has submitted to the United States that the cos-
vention is to act upon the question relative to the Sound
dues in connexion with the system of the European ba-
lance of power. It is more than intimated that the for-
mer is to be subordinated to the latter. Of the utility
or wisdom of the political theory of the balance of power
in its application to the European family of nations it is
not proposed to express an opinion ; but enough of its
operations has been seen to impress upon this Govern.
ment a fixed determinationto avoid being brought within
its vortex. It has long been the cherished policy of this
Government to avoid such a complicity ; and the Presi-
dent will not yield in any case to the slightest relaxation
of it.