Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-12-07
From the Baltimore American
The Sound Dues Question.

Sound Dues, and the crisis which an adherence t
that position will in few months bring about, if the
difficulty be not in the meantime adjusted is attract
i ing much attention from the Governments and pub
llclSts of Europe. Two evidences of this attention
were included in the advices by the Canada. One
being the well accredited rumor that Russia had ac
copied the position of mediator between the United
States and Denmark and the other the discussion Of
the subject by the Constitutional, the semi-ofcia
journal OF The French government. The willingness
/, OF Russia TO become a mediator between Denmark
and this country may be attributed to very obvious
causes the policy of which is easily discernibe. By
assuming that position she would increase the at.
! tachment of Denmark to her cause, and throw al
least one obstacle in the way of the formation of
general Scandinavian league against herself, the
promotion of which is said to be the object of Gen
Canrobert's visit to the Courts of Northern Europe
Russia would also in such character appear to as
sumo those close and friendly relations with this
country which it is her oh ect to make Western Eu-
rope beive she sustains and the supposed existence
OF which is the overhowing drop in the London
Times cup of bitterness. Foreseeing the advantages
to be achieved by assuming the position of mediator,
Russia has not exhibited less of provision and tact in
choosing the basis upon which she proposes settle
men of the difficulty. If we may believe rumor she
recommends Denmark to cede to us the island of St.
Thomas for the of five million of dollars, and
total exemption of American ships and cargoes from
future payment of Sound Dues. Diplomatic astute-
ness is supremey evident in the conception Of this
plan. 1t in reality imposes no hardship upon Den
mark, for her present necessities would make five
millions of dollars full equivalent for her West In.
dia possessions it is calculated 10 fall in with the
passion for territorial aggrandizement supposed to
influence our people, and, above all, and here the
Russian talent in diplomacy is fully displayed, it
would afford a settlement of the matter in way
most distastefu to England and France, and yet
against which they could not find any good ground
for protest The right of Denmark to sell and of the
United States to buy being unquestonable. Den
mark however, out of consideration for her Western
allies, is said to have declined The proposition
| The attention which the Paris Constitutional gives
the subject supposed to be instgated by the French
Government and its views received as in some
respects developing the position taken by the French
Cabinet. The Constitutional is of opinion that the
crisis provoked by the refusal of the United States
pay the Dues after the first of April next cannot be
otherwise put an end 10 than by general Congress
of all the nations interested in the NATTER and that
to dream OF regulating this affair without consulting
England, which occupies The first rank in the COM
merclal world and France, which is placed at the
head of the political world would be to evade and
not to solve the difficulty. That, although Denmark
cannot have thought of taking dicision which would
be resolutey opposed by any OF the powers large
ly interested in the commerce of the Baltic, it ap.
pears from what has transpred of its resolutions that
nothing more is contemplated for the present than
temporary and partial solution But if it be true
that enmark has addressed itself solely to the pow
ers bordering on the Batc-Russia, Prussia, Sweden
| Mecklenberg and Lubeck-and that she expects by
their assistance alone to terminate her difference with
the United States, this question will the Constitutional
thinks, become more embroiled than ever. Accord
ing to the information received by this Journal the
Danish Government has sought TO make the payment
OF the Sound dues more paatabIe by Offering to re-
move an inconvenience much complained of, namely
the payment of them the entry of the straits where
the anchorage is perous, and to the custom
house TO the inner ports. The Constitutional then
advocates the capitalization scheme the one most
calculated to arrange the present difficulty to uni
versal satisfaction
The plan would be, in our opinion, 10 capitalize
and purchase the rights of the Sound The abuses
and difficulties which now abound would disappear
The justice advanced by Denmark of the claim which
custom and possession from time immemorial have
conferred on her would be admitted. whilst tax
which oppresses commerce would cease tc exist"
1t corcludes
France has comparatively but a secondary inter.
est in the question Its imporations to the Baltic
have never been very considerable. France, there
tore, can the better take part in the coming diplomatic
struggle with that calm good feeling which she has
i always entertained towards Denmark leserving to
herself to protect the interests of that power should
it enter into the minds of any one TO attack them"
The Paris Pays, also njoying the reputation of
representing, to some extent, the opinions of the
French Government, takes substantially the same
views as the Constitutional, but is more violent in it's
deDunclatlons OF this country, exhibiting the same
time the total ignorance that usually belongs to Eu-
ropean comments on American affairs '' In the
question OF the Sound" says the Pays, {" in many
others. the United States seek only opportunity OF
mlngling themselves definitely in the affairs of Eu.
rope, and of giving rise to conflict which they seem
10 pursue with strange persistence. We strongly sus
pect them of wishing to secure possession at any
price. per fdS ct nefdS, of island in The Baltic al
they have several times wished to acquire o1e in the
e Mediterranean" Our policy told, directed
for many years towards the adventurous invasion O
{ the new world turns toward the old continent
and, having conquered the virgin forests and prar
les OF America, it defes antique civilization
: and the nations of Europe. We are not, however
as dangerous would like to appear powe
J. which has 10 support lis pretenons only t1co slips
the ttne (the Pays pretends TO have borrowed thi
statement from official document) is not in con
dltlon 10 JeopardZe the safety of other nations an
Cur demonstration will be according to the provert
much ado Tbout nothing" The question must
Viewed as essentially European because it involve
the position and future welfare of European Stat,
the navigation of inland sea of Europe the inte
ests OF most OF the great nations of the old continent
4 and for these reasons the Pays, whilst hoping fo
= an amcabe settlement of the question, declares ths
it belongs 10 the States Europe to decide it and
= ward OF the perlls with which our excessive amb
n n ton may menace the repose and equilibrium Of th
's Old World
al Matters a Washnston--The Organization of Il
9 House.
H. WASHINGTON, Nov 29.--An intense excitement
~ regard 10 the organization of the House of Represer
III tatIves exists here. Politicians of every stripe
T. many ofhce-seekers here. Upwards OF one hun
dred members have arrived.
The democrats have given up all hope Of eectn
s any of the officers MIR. Forney will be the democra
u Ic candidate for clerk, and Mr. Richardson the cal
az didate for speaker. Gen. Culom. of Tennessee,
Us considered 20 stand the best chance for the cleksh
We 1t understood that the democrats have resolved
," vote first and last for their nominees efus
n all coalition with other parties. The Americans al
,ySn nd fhp Anor