Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-09-22
The Danish Sound Duoa.

Tho present situation of Denmark is the sub.
ject of an article in the Paris Constitutional. -
After narrating the circumstances of the renun-
citation of the treaty of the United Sta,es,t says
"The American Cabinet, far from asking for Il
dimination ofthe dues ike other States, brings
the question 10 n close by declaring that they
will not pay anything mere. What will this
prrtension lead tol 1t appears difficult to be-
leyo that the United States should succeed IN
thus regulating, for their own account, matter
which interests the mercantile navy Of the whole
world. Could tho United States be freed from
the sound dues while the other maritime nations
continued TO pay them. the trade OF the Baltic
would soon be closed to all but the vessels of the
Union, which would have nm immense advantage
over their competitors. The question of the
sound dues can only be settled by common
agreement and by sort of general Congress Of
all nations
The Constitutional then proceeds TO examine
what will be the probable effects Of the United
States pcrsisting in their determination not to
come 10 some arrangements. II says
"lf the United States persist in refusing the
payment of the duties and in declining all ncgo.
tialon,t then either Denmark will let their vessels
pass; in which CASE no other vessel of any nntion
whatever will consent To pay the toll, and Den.
mark will lose tho brightest Jewel Of her crown
aud the most considerable part of her revenue,
which would be equivalent 10 the loss of hall her
territory or tho Danish cruisers will stop the
vessel of the United States on their passage, and
il not the forts viii sn them. In that case
there will be war, We need net pause 10 cS.
plnin all the consequences al such nm event, es-
pcelally in the present state of Europe Were
such contingency 10 be realized. il would be
hardly possible for European diplomacy not to
intervene actively aud with sufficient influence,
in II dispute in which all commercial nations
hive serious interest In point Of principle,
diplomatists would inevitably declare against
the pretension Of the United States The lat
ter say that the duties levied by Denmark ON
American vessels in the SQUAD exclusively result
from treaty by which the /. $. Ind consented
TO this tax, but that now, this treaty having eXpr
ed, Denmark has no right 10 continue 10 levy II
Denmark, however. maintains that her right j.
universal; that the treaty concluded with the
United Staies, like those concluded with other
Powers, only regulated the exercise Of this right
that the Danish Government has enjoyed ii from
time lmmemora and that, even were the origin
oi the right IN question open to doubt 1t now cN
lists by prescription. This line of argument has
some weight; and it would have still more had
not Denmark for long time taken undue advan-
tage OF her position by oXorbinntly increasing
the sound dues, and arbitrarily modifying them,
often even SO as 10 cause considerable inconye-
nienee in commercial arrangements. 1t is thus
that this Power has prepared storm and render
ed every one hostile 10 II tax which had il been
established with more moderation and subject ia
less change, would undoubtedly have continued
to be paid without opposition"
These hints about Continental Interference will
probably break up this pleasant little Greytown
affair. with which the Administration was pre-
pairing to amuse aud distinguish itself-just rs
like limitations put an end to the speedy and
splendid chastisement of Cuba, which we were
led to look for some twelve months ago. We
hope the Brigadier will not "spoil." \ muss
will probably offer itself somewhere else shortl :
that will suit HIM