The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-11

captures by Danish privateers during the war
between Denmark and England. These losses
had occurred by American vessels having sail
ed under British convoy with British licenses,
to avoid obligations which otherwise they must
have observed, and having been captured and
condemned as good prizes in Danish courts.
The course pursued by Denmark in consenting
to this payment, was viewed in friendly
light, and was considered rather as a conces-
sion to cement the friendship of the two ma
tons. General Jackson, in his message to
Congress in 1888, said that Denmark, by pay
ing the amount of that treaty, had afforded a
pledge for the maintenance of that friendly
intercourse becoming the relations that the
two nations bear to each other"
In 1871 Daniel Webster, then Secretary of
State under President Tyler's administration,
made report on the Sound dues, which ac-
companied Tyler's message to Congress on the
1st of June, in which he says =
The right Of Denmark to levy the Sound dues assert
ed the ground of ancient usage coming down the
period when that Power had Possession OF
the belt and sound. | have thought proper to
bring this subject before you at this time and go
these general statements in relation to it, which might
ments at the department to the end, that il you
should think it expedent Instructions may be given
the representative of the United States at Denmark
enter into friendly negotiations with that government
with view of securing to the commerce of the United
States full participation in any reduction of these dues
the benefits resulting from any arrangement
pec,ing Them which may be granted to the of
other States.
This recommendation led to negotiations
with Denmark, which ended in Denmark far
Their reducing the dues on American vessels
and cargoes. Mr.. Webster, at the close Of
these negotiations, treating the question as
settled, wrote to the Danish Charge at Wash
ington, officially, that he could not
Hesitate to with him in the opinion that the
settlement Of this whole question is we'll calculated to
strengthen and perpetuate the bonds Of amy and good
will between the two countries.
This was sort of indirect recognition by
the United States, through the proper officer,
of the right of Denmark to the Sound Dues
and was graceful concession by Denmark Of
more than she was required to concede by the
treaty of 1926.
In November, ls43, Mr. Upshur, Secretary of
the Navy stirred up the subject again, and
used strong language in recommending that
the Baltic trade should be rid from the oppres-
sion. His report, however, was never acted
upon, and therefore did not change the ar
rangement or weaken the force OF Mr. Webster's
recognition. But this report of Mr. Upshur
was seized upon in Europe, by parties in
terested in. the abolition of the Sound dues,
and was made handle of for so many misrep-
reservations, especially in the Prussian pa
pers, of hostile feelings and even of threatened
war, between Denmark and the United
States, that the Prussian minister at Copen.
hagen made a formal disavowal to the Danish
government Of any countenance by his gov
eminent of the course of the German papers.
In October, 1913, during the war between
Denmark and Schleswig- Holstein, our repre-
sentative, Mr.. Flenniken, addressed a note TO
the Danish government proposing a new
treaty. But Denmark was then engaged in a
war which required all her energies, and the
subject was not pressed, and nothing came OF
it. Denmark, however, during this war block
AIDED the ports Of Hamburg and Bremen for
having aided her enemies, but as an act of
courtesy to the United States permitted the
steamships Washington and Hermann to run
with freight to and from Bremen, concession
of more advantage then to New York mer-
chants than the amount of Sound dues paid
by the United States for many years.
No other diplomatic measures of consc-
quence have taken place between the two
governments until the present administration
instructed Mr.. Barringer, L. S. Minister at Co
penbagen, to give notice to Denmark that the
treaty of 1926 will be considered as expired
in one year after the notice is given, according
to its terms To this Denmark has answered.
That the consequence will be that vessels of the
United States in The passage through the Sound and the
Belt will he put the footing of non-favored nations
The question comes TO an issue on the nth
day of April next. The first American vessel
that then goes TO the Sound on a Baltic voy-
age, will ascertain for us whether Denmark
will submit or not We do not see how Den
mark can yield without losing all right to the
Sound dues from all other nations who have
treaties placing them on the footing of the most
favored nations or without striking her flag
at once to the United States. This we cannot
expect, and it is more than we in justice can
demand. If Denmark is weak, it is the more
our duty to be magnanimous. Denmark is
now understood to be willing to capitalize the
tolls, or, in other words, to abandon them on
payment of certain sum to be contributed in
due quota by all the nations Interested.
conference has been called at Copenhagen at
the close of the month, to take the subject in
to consideration. We hope that some such
compromise will be effected.
GEORGIA PoIITIcs-MEssAGE OF THE New
GOVERNOR BoLp STAND on rrfE KANSAS QuEs-
rIoN.--0ur Georgia exchanges contain the long
and interesting message OF the new democra-
tic Governor, Johnson, to the Legislature, from
which we make the following significant ex-
tracts. The Governor says -
The compromise measures Of 1850 established the
principle that the people Of the Territories should deter
mine the question of slavery for themselves aud that
hereafter such Territories should he admitted States
into the ion, with without slavery. they should
decide The last Congress passed. act to organize Ter
ritoria governments for Kansas and Nebraska in which
this principle practically applied and by the repeal