The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-12
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, MAY "a, l841

SIR There are two subjects connected with the TO-
reign commerce of the United States to which the Sc
cTeay Of State considers to be his duty to call the
attention of the President at the earliest opportunity
The first is, the collection of Sound dues, the tax
payable Esinore laid by the Danish Government up
on the cargoes of vessels passing through the Sound
into and out from the Baltic sea.
The right Of Denmark to levy these dues is asserted
the ground Of ancient usage coming down from the
period when that Power had possession of both shores
Of the Belt and Sound. However questionable the
right uncertain its origin it has been recognised by
European Governments, in several treaties with Dem
mark some Of them entered into at early period
the fourteenth century; and inasmuch our treaty
with that Power contains clause putting US on the
same footing in this respect other the most favored
nations il has been acquiesced in or rather has not
been denied by US.
The treaty OF I645, between Denmark and Hol-
land, to which tariff of the principal articles then
known in commerce, with rule of measurement and
fixed rate Of duty, was appended, together with the
subsequent between the same parties in l7Ol,
amendatory and explanatory Of the former, has been
generally considered the basis of all subsequent rea
ties and among them Of own, concluded in 1926,
and limited to continue ten years from lis date, and
further until theen Of year. after notice BY either
party Of m intention g tsrnate Il and which s s,ill
Tresties have also hen coseludsd with Denmark,
by Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia,
Prussia, and Brazil BY which, with or two sxcep-
tions in their favor they placed the footing
4 There has recently been general movement, on
the part of the Northern Powers of Europe, with
gard TO the subject of these Sound dues, and which
seems 10 afford this Government favorable oppor-
tuniiy in conjunction with them o exerting tselfto
obtain some such alteration modification OF existing
regulations shall conduce TO the freedom and extern
sion Of our commerce. at least towards relieving il
from some Of the burdens now imposed which, owing
to the nature Of trade, operate in many instances
very unequally and unjusty on lin comparison with
that of other nations.
The ancient tariff Of l645, by which the payment of
these dues regulated has never been revised and
by means Of the various changes which have taken
place in commerce since that period and of the aItera
ton in price in many articles therein included, chiefly
in conseq Of the settlement of America and the
introduction of her products into general commerce. it
has become quite inappicable.
Il is presumed to have been the intention ofhe fra
mers Of that tariff to fix duty of about perccntum
ad yaIorem upon the articles therein enumerated, but
the change in value of many ofthose commodities and
the absence Of any corresponding change in the duty
has in many instances increased the al vaorem from
one per centum to three four, and even seven; and
this generally, upon those articles which form the
chief exports of the United States, of South America
and the West India Islands; such the articles CT
cotton rice, raw sugar, tobacco, rum Campeachy WOOD
&c. Sa
On all articles not enumerated in this ancient tariff
is stipulated by the treaty of l70 that the priy
leyed nations" those who have treaties with Dem
mark shall pay an ad yalorem Of one per cent; but
known only TO the Danish Government, or at leas:
unknown to u.s. this duty appears uncertain and huc-
tuating and its estimate is very much left to the arb
trary discretion Of the cusiom-house officers at Es-
nore
Il has been by some of the public writers in Dem
mark contended that goods of privileged nations car
red in the vessels Of unpvileged nations should not
be entitled the limitation of per centum al va
lorem but should be taxed one and quarter per CEN
tum The amour, levied on the goods Of unprvileged
nations and also, that this limitation should be con-
fined to the direct trade that vessels coming from
or bound to the ports of nation not In treaty with
Denmark should pay on their cargoes the additional
quarter per cent.
These questions, although the former is not Of SO
much consequence 10 u.s. who are our own carriers,
are STILL in connection with each other, of sufficient
Importance render decision upon Them and final
understanding, extremely desirable.
These Sound dues are, moreover, in addition to the
port charges Of ight-money pass-money, &c, which
are quite equal TO the rates charged at other places
and the payment Of which, together with the Sound
dues often to vessels considerable delay at Es
more.
The port charges which are usual among all nations
10 whose ports vessels resort, unobectonabe, cx
cep that in this case, they mere consequences
ofthe imposition of the Sound dues, following, neces
sarily upon the compulsory delay at Elsnore of yes
sells bound up and down the Sound with cargoes, with
intention of making any importation into any Polt
of Denmark and having no other occasion tor delay
at Esinore than that which arises from the neces-
sity of paying the Sound Dues anu IN 30 DONG, IN
voluntarily subecng them elves to these other de-
mands.
These part duties would appear to have reason
in them, because of the equivalent; while, in fact
they are made requisite with the exception, perhaps
of the expense Of lights by the delay necessary for the
payment Of the Sodnd dues.
The amount of our commerce with Denmark, direct, |
il inconsiderable compared with that of our transac
tons with Russia Sweden, and the ports Of Prussia,
and the Germanic Association the Bat: but the |
int hiatt
and the consequent port charges by our vessels alone
is estimated at something over hundred thousand
dollars.
The greater proportion ofthis amount is paid by the