The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-30
Mr.. Btdingr 10 Mr.. Marcy
Extract

Extract
mo. 2. LEGATION or the UNITED STATES,
Copenhagen, December 3, 1853.
Sin have the honor to inform you that your reply to
my first despatch has been received.
In suggesting the idea that some equivalent might be Of
fered TO Denmark, inducement TO her 10 remit the
Sound dues instgated by the supposition that 1t
might possibly be policy 10 do as this government al
though might possibly be inclined to remit the dues
far vessels concerned would probably hesitate
to do without the offer OF some oasbs equivalent for
fear that all other nations should ut demand like
remission and thus materially cripple her revenue But II
when the example of the United States should be cited
Denmark could point TO the equivalent though that
should be Of an unimportan character might
precedent to justify like demand from Others.
However of course shall obey the instructions given
upon this point
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been suffering with
attack of the govt for several weeks past and in conse
quence was not able procure interview with him
upon the subject of the dues until the LIST inst On that
day spoke to him the subject stated briefly, the
principal objections to the continuance of that burden
upon commerce, and respectfully informed him that il
absolutely necessary that the matter should at once
be pressed TO a conclusion, NC, &c.
He replied at length, that il matter Of very
great Importance that the right to levy the dues had
been exercised by Denmark since slime mmemoral that
all other nations had cty assentcd to her right to levy
them that trade in the Baltic much less than that
OF other nations and consequently had the less cause
of complaints that Denmark could not exempt nation
from the payment Of the tolls without exempng all Others
which would cause runous reduction in the revenue Of
the State &C.
combatted to the best of my ability the positions
which he had TAKEN and which had fully anticipated
and he then said if would address him in writing upon
the subject he would lay the before his Maestys
government in council and inform me OF the determine
ton to which they should come in regard to it. But I'M
derstood him to say distinctly that in his opinion
Denmark would voluntarily consent to remit the
tolls The next day addressed note to him. in which
quoted the principal objections TO the imposition OF the
dueas set forth in my instructions and asked that the
subject might be brought to the notice of the Danish gov
ernment with request the part Of the United States to
have the tolls RENTED in future
Twill IN his ceopp asif sba1l
be received together with copy Of the note itself
have the honor to be, your obedient servant
HENRY BEDINGER
Hon w. L. MARCY,
Secretary of State
Mr. Bednger TO Mr. Marcy
[Exuactl
LEGATION UNITED STATES
Copenhagen, February rs, 1854
Sin have the honor TO inform you that have
ceived your communication of the I'd instant informing
that my dispatches, Nos and 3 had been received
and enclosing the resolution of the House of Representa-
tves of the 3Oh of December 1853, upon the subject of
the Sound dues
A few DAYS before received this communication had
called again upon the Minister Of Foreign Affairs to in
qure whether he had received the note had addressed
him upon the subject and when might hope to receive
his reply He apoogized for having been compelled SO
long delay his answer and begged 10 attribute it
any disposition upon his part to reard the action
upon the application Of the United States but simply TO
the fact of the great increase Of business in his department
in consequence of the pending crisis in European politics
and the condition of his health which had been
but feeble. He stated however that he then pre-
pairing statement in reply my note which would
brace the whole subject Of the Sound Dues together
with certain facts statistics &c, which he deemed import
ant and certain propositions also which IL designed
TO make government upon the subject that should
receive this statement he could possibly
plee it, and that copy of the would likewise he trans
mitted TO government through the Danish charge
daffares in the United States.
I do know whether ought to express any further
opinion upon this subject until after shall have received
the statement referred to- But cannot help thinking that
there intention upon the part Of this government
abandon that unustfable of until induced
do by TO be regarded than dplo-
matte conversations and verbal objections for If
recy informed Denmark is present upheld by Russia
in the imposition of those burdens upon the
other nations From such information have been able
gather upon the subject il appears that Russia while
exacons sanctions them nevertheless, by requiring her
paid nethu lending very eeetua assistance 10 the
more tells that he has prepared very full Of
the amount of these tolls paid to Denmark within the last
two three years the amount paid by different nations
the burdens imposed upon the several most important
ucles Of commerce &c, with copy Of which he viii fur
nish me in short time and viii also forward copy TO
your department
have the honor TO be &C,
HENRY BEDINGER
Hon. ". l. NANCY, Secretary Of State.