Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-13
The Danish Tribute.

hA"n'"ei upon thls sapJec1, we extract the fol
lowing. We think it may be depended unor =.
representing the view taken of the affair hy ~.
thinking portion of the manufacturing csss.,
of that country:
In the older treaties, the amount of drt;o,
leviabe upon the various commodities then con
shutting the commerce with those regions WOO
carefully defined, but the expansion If oon,
merce In modern times has rendered the task of
equitable assessment more difficult and fur.
nished opportunities for the preparation of
great deal of injustice and annoyance. E,.
ercising in this matter, according to its own
belief, one of the inalieuable rights of tbo
crown, the Danish Government has not alvar,
shown disposition to consult the interest and
convenience of foreign merchants. This con.
duct has brought the right itself into serious
dispute. Our own Government has ALWAYS
looked upon it with jealousy, but the United
States, pertinaciousy pushing its own interests
while our eyes are up and down the world on
behalf of other nations, boldly steps into the
front of the fray, and refuses to recognize il
any longer The existing treaty by which tina
United States Government bound itself to res.
pect the Sound dues is about to expire and il
is pretty well understood that after its expira.
ton the American merchant will insist upon
free passage into the Baltic.
The latest document on the subject is dis.
patch from Mr.. Seheele, the Danish minister,
in which Denmark hints resistance to such
claim. Left to fight its own battle with its
redoubtable antagonist. Denmark would be
compelled to yield the point, in which case it
would be obliged to make similar concession
in favor of all other States, and thus to abandon
<I,n d. IA
a commodity to dispose of in the shape of an
alliance with the Western Powers against
Russia, which may be turned to profitable &C.
count in the present emergency; and it is said
that overtures have been made to France and
England, promising us new northern ally on
condition that we will join in opposing the
demands Of the United States. Here, then, we
are gravely brought to the edge of another
quarrel We are aware that the very idea Of
a contest with the United States in such
cause is mad enough, but till we have ascer-
tanned the limits which actually exist to the
caprice and madness of orr rulers, we cannot
assure ourselves that all apprehension on this
score is misplaced. Arguing from past freaks
of the same nature. it is at all events, not i'm.
possible that Lord Pamerston will ere long
write some dispatch, in the Don Paciico strain,
10 the authorities at Washington. BY some
process our patriotism may soon
have the cause of Denmark laid upon iH
and form Of prayer. composed for
special use in all chapels and churches for the
divine blessing upon war in defence of the
Danish Sound dues. 1t is therefore not too
soon to warn the public of shoals ahead Shall
we or shall we not embark upon sucks crusade!
Now is the time to make up our minds, SO as
10 be prepared with prompt negative when
he proper moment arrives.
The entire cessation of the Sound Dues would,
10 doubt be Il serious drawback upon the Dan
sh revenue, but this consideration does not
make those charges defensible on the ground Of
guilty. The Sound is, practically, the only
way into the Baltic, the only way by which the
of the world can reach the shores Of
sweden, Mecklemburg, PRUSSIA, and the prin-
ipal Russian ports If Denmark has a right to
make any charges upon mercantile shipping
'assing through the Sound, over and above
What may be required to keep lighthouses and
larbors intended for the common benefit Of
mariners in a state of repairs, she has also
light to exclude it altogether. But pretensions
f so monstrous kind would be secuted the
moment they were advanced. They suited well
nough the ages when the tribes along the coast
f the Baltic were almost unknown to the rest
f the world, but they are simply ridiculous now
hat Denmark is far inferior in commercial i'm.
'ortance and in political power to several Of
he Baltic States. Will Russia and Prussis
cquiesce in the justice Of claims which, il en-
creed, would shut them out from the COM
nerce of the world, and if they were wingto
orego their right. would the other maritime
lowers be willing to perform similar act Of
bnegation? But if Denmark can make no
retension to exclude commercial vessels alto
ether from the passage of the Sound, she can
ot rightfully charge them for passage. Tho
found Dues stand OF fall with the right of ex'
fusion; if the latter is indefensible, the former
re equally so. Whatever it may be proper to
ay for maritime convenience along her coasts
I'LL be paid cheerfully, but the day has gone
y when petty state could arrogate the sove-
eighty Of the ocean, and levy tribute Of the
'aters, winds and tides which nature has made
rec to all The United States may not have
hosen the best time for urging their claim, but
is one which is founded in justice, and which
esreves the moral support of every mercantile
he New York Journal of Commerce closes
scent article upon this subject with the follow
,g suggestions:
HHRo ebC iAOot scIlOuS QucotOH e~
rise, in case the court of Copenhagen persists
! the tone Of the note of NJ. Sheele, is what
leasures are to be taken to coerce Denmark 70
bandon her present policy. If American YES
els attempt to pass the Sound without paying
ues, they will simply be fired at and sunk, and
hen war must ensue. An officer OF our navy
ecently remarked. that with our contemptiby
mall and inadequate naval force, we should b.
nable to cope successfully with even suchs
over as Denmark The whole of our navy
ent to Copenhagen would not be able to compel
er to succumb, and would be obliged to retire
'om before the fortress of Kronenburg, far
,ore ingloriously than the Baltic fleets of the
lilies have sailed away from Cronstadt. We
m seize the Danish islands in the Gulf Oh
Iexico, but it is more than probable that Dem
ark would be glad to get rid of them. We
IN also lay an embargo on Danish vessels, anu
weep her commerce from the ocean; but even
lis would appear but petty vengeance in tau
yes Of the civilized world, and might still lsH
} effect the object We have in view. lns
aestions, therefore. what is to be done anu
ow is it to be done? are Of no small lmp0I
ance, and call for deep consideration -
'ashington, which we hope will be gives"
lem during the coming winter
ny A man named Andrew Smith, hfps
bout seven miles from Toledo, Ohio, killed ~.
life few days since, by cutting her neaa w. ~