Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-31
VlRGINIAN.
friday MORNING. AUGUST 81. 1855.
United States and Denmark.


United States and Denmark.
Our government having formally notified the
government If Denmark Of its determination TO
pat an end to the treaty by which American ses
sells are bound to pay duties in passing through
the Sound, the question arises. what will be the
effects Of this step. 1t is evident that one Of
two things must happen; Either American
commerce must be wholly excluded from the
Baltic.or-a United States feet must force the en-
trance Of the Sound, and batter down the for
tresses that command it. Any merchant vessel
that shosd attempt to pass the Strait. without
paying the dues exacted of t,woud of course OK
pose itself 10 certain destruction. unless convoy
Ell aud protected by vessels Of war We have ~
positive information II the alternative which
our government proposes 10 ombraoe-Ehether II
intends TO acquesee in the annihilaiion of our
trade with the Baltic.or means 10 employ force to
lay open the passage 70 that Sea. 1t is most
probable however that the administration medi-
tates hostile measures.
The Paris Journal des Debats gives historical
summary Of this question. from which it appears
that during the administration of Mr. Tyler, the
attempt to force the entrance Of the Sound, was
seriously contemplated and would have been
nqde. but far the untimely and tragieal death Of
Mr.. Upshur. The Journal says,
The predecessor of Mr. Calhoun, the mpetu.
eas Mr.. UPsHuR, had adopted quite different
uiode-one which the United States seemed dis
posed to follow next spring Merchant vessels
were 10 be conveyed by vessels OF war and force
the enteranee of the Baltic. without paying the
Sound impostby Drawing the cannon OF kronbnrg
and Ct Lsinore which threaten the uneomplying
flag. Che eight merchant yessels--two destiu
ed foT Sterling. five for II. Petersburg, aud one
Stockholm--as well a. the five vessels of war,
carrying two hundred aud fifty eight guns, and
destined to convoy them under the command of
Commodore STEWART, were already prepared to
weigh anchor, when the sudden death If Mr..
Upshur by the explosion of a cannon which was
undergoing trial hindered the execution Of HE
plan.
Mr. Calhoun, Mr.. Upshur's successor adopted
more pacific policy aud renewed negotiations
the subject But Mr. Marcy seems disposed
10 follow in Mr.. Upshurs footsteps, and to resort
to the ultima ratio. The following is his des-
patch to Mr.. Bedinger. our Minister ut Copenba-
gen, bearing date the Sth November. 1853:
DEPARTMENT or STATE.
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER. Z, 1883
SIR; Your despatch of the 18th ultimo was
received on the 9Th instant and am directed by
the President to inform you, in reply to your
question respecting an equivaentto Denmark for
the abolition of Sound dues that he declines
authorizing you TO offer to that Power any com
pensation for the removal of that as a favor which
demanded a right.
81 am. sir, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
wv. l.. MARCY
MIR. BEDINGER, of course, obeyed his instructions
Id
having exhausted all his arguments to prove the
impossibility of making the concession demanded
by Mr.. Bedinger, asked of him detailed memoir,
and promised to answer il with the briefest delay;
but the answer waited for whole months. in
spite of the reiterated solicitations of the Amer-
can Minister, until March, 1854 when he was told
that as soon as circumstances would permit"
Denmark would enter into general negotiations
with all the States interested in the question.
Thus the matter stands at present.