Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-11-10
From the N. Y, Journal of Commerce.
Danish sound Tolls. ,.-

Russia There has never existed since the Congress
of Vienna, more suspicious moment than the pres
ent for establishing upon firm basis international
relations with the peninsula of the Baltic and destroy
ing forever abuses which would have long since
ceased but for the ambitious hopes of the Gar one
day TO possess that kingdom. Since the latter hall
of the last century. mighty powers have protested
and threatened against the barbarous tax by which
Denmark closes the Baltic to free trade and in every
instance the diplomacy OF Russia has thrown Its
weight into the scale, and prevented the abolition
Such was the result of the endeavors of Frederick
the Great of Prussia, of the negotiations at Vienna
in 1914, of the English ministry at the instance OF
Sir Robert Peel, Mr. HUT, and the petitioners from
Hull in l84l. of our Secretary of Stale, Mr. Upshur
in l843. and has been since then OF the dlf1erent
succeeding cabinets at Washington. We had sup
posed until very lately that Secretary Marcy was eX-
erting the whole influence and authority of his posi-
tion to accomplish the abolition of the Sound Tolls
by which we much more oppressed than
any other people; but regret to learn that such Is
not the case and that the excuse OF Denmark, that
the present agtated state of Europe precludes the
possibility of negotiating until the Baltic shall cease
to be theatre of war, has been accepted We
should have judged, on the contrary, that no time
could be better chosen for insisting upon our claims
than while the influence of the prolectOrae OF Rus
STA in favor Of Denmark is destroyed and the baleful
restrictive policy of the Gar is suspended Peace
once declared. the strife will longer be with Den
mark alone, but with Denmark and Russia united
After the negotiations with En- Gland in 1851, which
y
convention in favor of Denmark, the Gar conferred
a Russian decoration, set in diamonds, upon the Dan
ish ambassador in England. for the skill he had
shown in battling the policy OF the court OF ST. James
The Black sea has long been open to flags of all
nations, No corsars have for nearly century i'm
posed involuntary contributions upon peaceful ships
| in the Mediterranean Denmark, one of the small
est powers in Europe is the only kingdom which
{ has been enabled, by the puslanimity, connvance,
or dictaton OF the greater powers 10 stop vessels
upon the highway of nations during the nineteenth
century, and it is high time that such relic of mid
dleage piracy Should be annihilated. 1t wond be
just as reasonable that Great Britain should lay tax
upon vessels passing the straits of Gbraltar-that
we should close up the Gulf of Mexco-or that
France should prohibit through the channel
10 the North sea.
/ Every avenue to the Baltic is fortified The can.
the fortress of Kronenburg control the sound,
even nterruptng vessels passing close to the Swe
dish coast and bound Swedish port if they at
tempt to eVade the heavy impost upon tonnage not
Danish. Kronenburg is only harmless Tor armed
fleets. Admiral Opdam, of Holland in 1858. Parker
and Nelson In 1901, and presume Napier this
: year. have dislained to make contribution TO the
Danish Treasury The great belt is fortified by the
fortress of Norburg, and the little belt by that OF
Frederick. As Denmark posses Lauenburg, she has
heretofore successfully opposed the free navigation
of the Elbe; merchandise by the Hamburg Berlin,
and Lubeck railroads pays her tribute and goods
by the Schieswig and Holslen canal are subject 10
the same toll as those passing through the natural
causeways to the Baltic.
The Hansea.ic League is the only power which has
ever successfully withstood payment of tolls Den
mark upon vessel passing through the sound 1t is
well known that the orig gin of this tax in dim anti
guilty, consisted in levying contribution OF salt and
wine, together with very small amount Of deck
money. Even this trhing tribute disputed by
the League. In 1863 and 1865, Waldemar I'll, Of
Il Denmark, compelled 10 sign treaty freeing
forever" vessels of the League from the payment
OF toll. Upon different subsequent violations of this
treaty, new victories compelled Eenmark renewals
of the agreement in l443. l477, and 1924, and
in the most solemn manner, finally, in 1860. Be-
tween these several combinations of the rights of The
Hanseatc League, inftingements of the treaty were
made by Denmark. but were always resisted by the
pioneers OF commerce of the ages between the four
tenth and sixteenth century--and but for the rival
ry of the Netherlands which org nated distinction
bet privileged and unprivilegcd nations and en-
abled Denmark to establish minimum of toll, which
II favor compared with the maximum the en-
trance TO the Baltic would be free the present hour
Up to the year 1914, Prussia was the nation which
II most of all suffered by the tax upon vessels bounC
tor ports upon her northwestern coast and great
er proof Of the state of suhservency to Russia o.
that government can be found than that the voice o.
: her representatives at the Congress OF Vienna was
the weakest agains' this tyrannca abuse of any Eu
e ropean power and that since that time, she ha,
never dared energecaly to procure its abolition
e he foundation OF a commercial treaty between Den
I mark and Prussia was it is true, laid, in 1914, b,
EngilSh influence Dut me treaty itself, which VA
l. signed in 1878, is of the most miserable instan
ces of diplomatic ignorance, weakness and SLAYER,
| on record 1t abandons 10 Denmark even create
privileges than that nation had before enjoyed, AM
T. accepts from it '' condescensnn'' certain right
II conceded to Prussia at Camin and CoIberg in tn
r seventeenth century. This treaty concluded 70
n twenty years, until 1888, and it was in consequence
of the reacherous delays of Denmark after the ter
&c minato2 of that period. that the attention of tn
British public was drawn to the subject. Every en-
deavor made by Sir Robert Peel 10 procure a re
sort to active measures; but the subtle mana emen
o of the respective Danish and Russian ministers final
ly procured by the reduction Of duty certain ar
tcles of British manufacture, the convention of tn
23d August, ls41, by which, under the appearance
OF making concessions, Denmark gained instead q
losing AT the end of ten years this last convention
however, was to expire and, therefore, upon tn
Odd August, 1851, the different nations of the Wort
became free to take such measures. make such trea
ties and force such concessions national law an
y common sense should require.
ms Is the state OF things at the present hour; an
we cannon but hope that in the revision of the Oar
lsh right OF succession, not only care will be take
to prevent reverslon to Russia of the Danish crown
H. hut that eye will also be had the rights of ne
! tions; which Denmark, assisted by Russia. has hitl
u erto successfully invaded. The Sound Tolls const
n tute large portion OF the revenues of Denmark
10 and there is no contrivance of diplomacy to whic
she VIII not resort 10 retain them but they are ur
- just and oppressive, and must he abolished. If OF
government instead of dreaming about Cuba an
Canada IN conneXIon with our manifest DESTINY
would energetically and deIerminedy do it's part
this matter, II would BE- performing an act of iustic
- and merit the gratitude of the commercial world
POPULAR SMILES Some ingenious rhymer h,
~ placed the following sayings in poetic ORDER the Of
t posltes in juxtaposition:
A.