The daily union., 1854-10-26
from the N. Y. Journal OF Commerce.
DANISH SOUND TOLLS.

TO the Danish succession will form element In any future
negotiations for peace with Russia There has exist.
ed since the Congress OF Vienna, auspicious mo-
ment than the present for establishing upon firm basis
international relations with the peninsula of the Baltic
and destroying forever abuses which would have long
ceased but for the ambitious hopes OF the Car one
day possess that kingdom Since the latter half lie
last century mighty have protested and threatened
against the barbarous tax by which Denmark closes the
Baltic free trade and i'll every instance the diplomacy Of
Russia has thrown its weight into the scale and preyent
ed the abolition Such the result of the endeayors Of
Frederick the Great of Prussia Of the negotiations at Vie
in 1914 of the English ministry at the instance of Sir
Robert Peel Mr. fIutt and the petitioners from Hull in
ls4l, of Secretary Of State Mr.. Upshur in lSA3 and
has been since then Of the different succeeding cabinets
Washington. We had supposed until very lately that
Secretary Marcy exertng the whole influence and
hority of his position accomplish the abolition of the
Sound Tolls, by which much oppressed
than any other people but regret 10 learn that such Is
the and that the Of Denmark that tine present
agated state of Europe recudes the possibility of nego
ating until the Baltic shall to be theatre of war
has been accepted We should have judged, the
ary that time could be better chosen for insisting
upon claims than while the influence Of the proec
orate OF Russia in favor of Denmark is destroyed and the
baelu restrictive policy of the Gar suspended Peace
declared the strife will no longer be with Denmark
alone but with Denmark and Russia united After The
negotiations with England in ls4l, which terminated
/
of Denmark the Gar conferred Russian decoration
set in diamonds upon the Danish ambassador in England
for the skill he had shown in battling the policy of the
court of St James.
The Black has long been open 10 flags Of all nations
No corairs have for nearly century imposed involuntary
contributions upon peaceful ships in the Mediterranean
Denmark of the smallest powers in Europe is the only
kingdom which has been enabled, by the pusilanmiy
conniyance dication of the greater powers stop
sells upon the highway of nations during the nineteenth
century and it is high time that snch relic of middle
age piracy should be annihatcd. 1t would be just as
reasonable that Great Britain should lay upon yes
sells passing the straits of Gbraltarthat should close
the Gulf of Mexicoor that France should prohibit ac
cess through the channel TO the North sea.
Every avenue to the Baltic is fortified The cannons Of
the fortress Of Kronenburg control the sound even inter
rupng vessels passing close to the Swedish
bound TO Swedish port they attempt evae the heavy
impos upon tonnage not Danish Kronenburg is only
harmless for armed fleets Admiral Opdam, Of Holland, in
l65S Parker and Nelson in 1901 and presume Napier
this year. have dsdaned to make contribution the Dam
sh treasury The great belt is fortified by the fortress
Norburg and the little belt by that of Frederca As
possesses Lauenbug she has heretofore
fully opposed the free navigation of the Ebe merchandise
by the Hamburg, Berlin and Lubbock railroads pays her
tribute and goods by the schleswig and Holstoip
canal subject to the toll those passing through
the natural causeways to the Baltic
The Hanseic League is the only power which has ever
successfully witstood payment of tolls Denmark upon
vessels passing through the sound /, well known that
the origin of this tax in dim antiquity consisted levying
contribution Of salt and wine, together with very small
amount Of deck money Even this trifng tribute was dis
puted by the League In 1863 and 1885, Waldemar ILL., Of
Denmark was compelled to sign treaty freeing "toreper
vessels OF the League from the payment of toll Upon d
erent subsequent violations Of is treaty, victories
compelled Denmark TO renewals of the agreement in
l443 l477 and 1924 and i'll the most solemn manner
w Between these conf, mi of
rights of the Hanseatic League nrngements of the treaty
made by Denmark but always resisted by the
pioneers of Of the ages between the fourteenth
aud sixteenth centuryand but for the rivalry of the
Netherlands which originated distinction between priv
eged aud unpriveged nations and enabled Denmark
| establish minimum of toll which was a favor compared
with the maximum the entrance to the Baltic would be
free at the present hour.
Up to the year 1914 Prussia the nation which
Of all suffered by the tax upon vessels bound for ports upon
her northwestern coast and greater proof Of the
Of spheryency TO Russia Of that be found
than that the voice of her representatives at the Congress
of Vienna the weakest against this yrannica abuse Of
any European power and that since that time she has
dared cnerge,cally TO procure its abolition The
foundation OF commercial treaty between Denmark and
Prussia was is true, laid in 1914 by English influence
but the treaty itself which signed in lsls is of
the most miserable instances Of diplomatic ignorance weak
ness and slavery record 1t abandons Denmark
greater Yilege than that nation had before euioyel aaa
accepts from i aoondescchsionn certain rights CON
ceded 10 Prussia at Can and Dobeg in the seventeenth
century This treaty concluded for twenty years
til 1885, and 1t in consequence of the reacherous de-
Laws Of Denmark after the termination of that period that
the attention OF the British public drawn the sub
eci Every endeavor made by Sir Robert Peel pro-
resort to active measures but the subtle manage
Of the respective Danish and Russian ministers final
" procured by the reduction of duty articles Of
British manufacture the convention of the Esd August
lSAl by which under the appearance OF making eoncos-
sionS, Denmark gained instead of losing At the end OF
ten years this last convention however expire and
therefore, upon The Esd August 1851 the different nations
Of the world became free take such measures make such
treaties aud such concessions national law and
common sense should require df1FE
This is the of things the present hour and wo
oa nno bat hope in REVISION ai tne lansh right Of
successol no only viii be taken prescnt evcr
sion 10 Russia the Danish crown. but that eye will
also be had the rights of nations which Denmark assist
cd by Russia has hitherto successfully invaded The
Sound Tolls constitute large portion of the revenues Of
Denmark and there is contrvance of diplomacy to
which she will retain them but they are M
lust and oppressive must be abolished II govern
ment instead of dreaming about Cuba and Canada in con
nexon with our manifest destiny would energeticaly
aud deermnedly DO its part in this matter it woald be
performing of justice and merit the gratitude OF the
commercial world
for iFe unos
ST JoSEPHS
O., ,,,o Of Union