The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-15
The Danish Sound Dues.

ia
Tie PIC situation Of Denmark Is the sabect OF the
article in the Costituhona. Our contemporary obser
yati0ns twoodin the case, relating to the general
position OF that country in consequence of the conduct
of the Chambers in authorizing the government to sup
press the constitution; and in the othef, particu-
ary discussing Tie probable consequences Of the notice
given by the government Of the United States OF its in
ention not TO renew The treaty which has for
years existed between them and Denmark relative 20 the
payment OF the Sound dues. The first portion or he
ce OF 700 general character to reqnie ans pIrticu
lar notice, but the observations Of our on
the second subject Of sufficient interest To cali for
tract. 1he Constitutional. after narIatng the circum
stance Of the denuncaon of the treaty by the United
States says.--
The American ,abne far from asking for diminulicn
OF the dues ike other States brings the question to close
by declaring that they viii not pay any tbag moto. what
viii this prctenson lead io It appears difficult to believe
that tie nted States should succeed in thus uating
tor thew account, matter which interests the
camille navy OF the whole world Gould the United states
be freed from tho sound dues, while The other mime
nations continued TO lay thtm, he tade ~ he Boiic
fod scoa Il dosod 10 all bm N RESETS Of he Caioa ,chch
rorM har, adcGilooc heir competitors
Tie question OF the sound dues evidently only be
settled by common agrcemen, aud by aor' Of general
congress OF all nations.
The Cons'tgiieaner then proceeds to examine what will
be the probable effects Of the United States persistng
in their detcinnat on not to come to some arrangement
II says:--
Vi The United states Persist in refusing the Payment Of
the duties, and in declining al negotiation then, her
denmark viii lei their vessels pass, in which
otLer vessel OF any nation whatever win consent 10 pay
the toll and Denmark viii oso tic brightest Jewel OF her
and the most considerable part ST her tcyeaae
Which would be equivalent the loss % halt her terrific
rs ~ ne DyH,k c,iilx ,fH so lie sl' d m taici
Safes haf passage Gud II mt he focts lcta
shik Msm In that there will be We
need not pause 10 explain all thee consequences of
such event, especially In the present state Of
Emofe. HeTe such contingency 10 BE- realised I rold
be hardly possible for European diplomacy 10, q ,sgae
ddirty oad NH sttciea fgracrce, IN dispute Ia rhi,
all commercial nations hdct sc,onS interest In p0i1 OF
ff,ucle, dpiomdfisis toutd Numerically dcate d7aiaa he
fro ion ot Tie tn,d State. The latter say that the
duties levied by denmark American vesecls In the
Sound exclusively iesnt from treaty by which the nj
ted states had consented to this tax, but that this
treaty having xpred Denmark has right TO connue
10 levy it, Ienmafk however, maintain. that her right
is universal; that The treaty concluded with the Unite
States like those concluded with other powers only egi
lated the exercise Of this right that the government
has enjoyed II from time mmemoriai, and that,
The Origin Of the right in question open to doubt
il exists by prescription. This line oil argument ha
weight and Il would have still more, had not Den
marx for so long time taken undue advantage Of her
position by cxorbiinntly increasing the Sound dues,
and arbitrarily modify ing them, often 10
considerable inconvenience In commercial arrangement
is thus that this power has prepared storm aad
dercd every hostile TO tax which, hld l, been
tsbishod with moderation ana subject 20 less
change would undoubtedly have continued to he paid
without opposition.