The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-12
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING THE PRESIDENTS MES
SAGE
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

/
| Washington, May "a, 1Si1.
| Sin There are two subjects connected with the TO-
reign commerce Of The United States to which the SEE
ceaTy of State considers II TO be his duty to call the
attention of the President al the earliest opportunity
The first is the collection of Sound dues, or the tax
payable Elsnore, laid by the Danish Government up
on the cargoes of vessels passing through the Sound
into and out from the Baltic
The right of Denmark levy these dues is asserted
on the ground of ancient usage coming down IRON the
period when that Power had possession of both shores
Of The Belt and Sound. However questionable the
right or uncertain its origin it has been recognised by
European Governments, IN several treaties with Den
mark of them entered into at early period as
| the fourteenth century; and inasmuch our treaty
with that Power contains clause putting on the
same footing in this respect other the most favored
nations it has been acquiesced in, or rather has not
been denied by us.
The treaty of l645, between Denmark and Hol-
land, to which tariff of the principal articles then
known in commerce, with rule of measurement and a
fixed rate of duty was appended, together with the
subsequent between the same parties IN l10l
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 ITS date, and
further until the end of year after notice by either
party Of an intention TO terminate it, and which is still
in force.
Treaties have also been concluded with Denmark,
by Great Britain, France Spain, Portugal, Russia,
Prussia and Brazil, by which, with two excep-
lions in their favor they are placed on the same footing
| as the United States
| There has recently been a general movement, on
the part of the Northern Powers of Europe, with re-
gard 10 the subject of these Sound dues, and which
seems afford TO this Government favorable oppor-
tunily in conjunction with them, foi exeriing itself TO
obtain some such alteration modification of existing
regulations shall conduce TO the freedom and extern
sion of our at least towards relieving II
from some of the burdens imposed, which, owing
TO the nature OF trade operate many instances,
| unaoualiv and unIuktly comparison with
that of other nations.
| The ancient tariff of l6i5 by which the payment of
these dues was regulated has been revised, and
| by means of the various changes which have taken
place in commerce that period and of the altera-
lion in price in many articles therein included chiefly
IN conseq of the settlement of America, and the
introduction Of her products into general commerce. II
| has become quite inappcable
1t is presumed have been the intention OF The IRA
mers OF that tariff fix duty OF about one per ccntum
ad vaIorem upon the articles therein enumerated but
the change i'll value Of many ofthose commodities and
the absence of any corresponding change IN tue duty
has in many instances increased the al vaiorem nom
one per cenium to three four, and even seven and
| this generally, upon those articles which form inc
chief exports of the United States of South America,
and the West India Islands; such the articles Ct
cotton rice, sugar, tobacco, rum Campeachy wood
| SC.
On all articles not enumerated in this ancient tarll
il is stipulated BY the treaty of 1901 that the Pnvl-
legged nations or those who have treaties with Den
mark, shall pay an AL valorem oil one per cent uu'
the value of these articles being fixed by some rules
known only TO the Danish Government, or at less'
unknown TO US this duty appears uncertain and Hue
tuang and its estimate is very much LEFT TO the arol-
trary discretion OF the cusomhouse officers at Elsi-
more.
II has been, by Of the public writers in Den
mara contended that goods Of privileged nations car
RED IN the vessels Of unpi,ileged nations should mol
be entitled to the limitation OF per ccntum al va
orem but should be taxed and quarter per cen,
tum the amount levied the goods OF unprvileged
nations and also, that this limitation should be con
fined to the direct trade, 50 that vessels coming from
or bound the porls Of nation not in treaty VIII
Denmark should pay their cargoes the additiona
quarter per cent.
These questions, although the former is not OF g
, much consequence to us, who our own carriers
are still in connexion with each other, Of suihcen