The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-14
The Sound Dues Question.

II would probably be very difficult to suggest legal
The claim must be referred to those ages when men took
because they had the power and paid because they could
not resist One can understand, where strait be-
tween two banks both the property Of govern
ment that there may be right OF sovereignty extending
from land to land over the inerjacent water and giving
to that portion Of the the Incidents OF private property
But Denmark Is not the owner OF the opposite side OF the
sound as Turkey Is OF the opposite side OF the osphorus
and the Dardaneles and are, therefore, con
strained to refer the claim OF Denmark TO levy fixed duty
al ships above and smaller all below, 40 TONS
and an cd poloea duty OF one per cent all goods
ried such ships, to the venerable title as was
asserted by the Earl warenne who when asked for the
title ceeds OF his land, drew his sword, saying thaWil
liam l. bad not conquered Engan for himself This title
has many advantages in simplicity and the entire super
session Of all tedious forms and techncaties: but
the came by which 1t was acquired We know,
upon high authority that strong mans tenure OF his
house practically limited to the time when a stronger
than he cometh, and that Is exactly what likely
to happen with regard to the Danish Sound dues
The nations h Europe have s 50 Gasn %, reoosnaS
years, that IL is too late for them - raise
the cry Of ,egaly or to 60 back TO the origin Of
and soemnly acknowledged. But Uncle Sam IS very
little troubled with any super tous reverence for pre-
scrpon and possibly co lsders that rs transatlantic
Power be msy dispense with consderati which weigh
heavily on the older nations OF Europe At any rate, the
United states have given DE, Denmark notice sh, from and
contribute anything In the shape OF Sound dues
the Danish Exchequer This places the matter in very
serious light because, although the amount Of revenue
derived from the tax on American ships and cargoes Is
yet very considerable Is quite clear that should
nation succeed in emsncpating herself from the
claim IL would be extremely ditnsu to levy il or any
other and thus the decision OF the dispute with America
may possibly decide the fate Of the whole impost
altogether.
Under the pressure OF these circumstances Denmark
has made overtures to the other States OF Europe for
capitalization OF the dues-n other words, for sale OF
them different nat:ons the basis OF number
OF years purchase This overture understood have
been refused By Great Britain and instead Of i propo
arrival and departure TO avoid the delay aud
ton Of toll levied alter the fashion OF turnpike gate
by stopping the ship In md.carccr There Is prece
dent for such proceeding In the OF the Russia
Company, which, under grant from Philip and Mary
leyies duty on al goods exported TO and i'm.
does obviae very considerable Inconvenience for the
delay and concomtant expenses are a heavier tax on
punt OF Sound dues collected from British slips Is
mated at fTo o00 year. while the expenses and demur
YEAR Grievous and yexaous are the deays indicted on
the trade especially considering the caprcous weather
In that high latitude the intricate nature OF the chanue
aud the penalty TO which single days delay expose
the unucky mariner. The roadstead OF Esiuore very
unsafe 10 spring and autumn and from the delay
accidents are frequent. Anchors slipped. cables
snapped, ships run ashore and sometimes lost with all
on board. Changes Of wind ocn occur a, the critical
moment, and the channel Offers no room for the usual
means OF making foul wind into fair one. Thus days.
weeks and even months are lost Nor i this all Tue
captain must go ashore to get his clearance and while he
away the sailors are apt TO barter the tackle apparel
stores and even the cargo OF the ship, with bumboat
men, who drive nefarious traffic IN intoxicating liquors
All these tbirgs form, must be confessed, heavy
aud unfair impost upon commerce mpo5t not the less
because Is colored with the prttence that the
money l. used 10 maintain buoys and beacons
The great defect Of the proposed plan Of settling the
alter H. ttat white II relieves shipping from the heavy
expense OF stopping In the middle Of q voyage pay q
a foreign State for which consideration worth
mentioning Is given, oms most material element
the certain and enormous increase OF the dues
fr'hing Is more certain than that in few
y,ars, should the present Emperor OF Russia oniy
IN slight degree redeem the antcipaons that have
been formed Of him, we nay look forward TO seeing
our Baltic trade aud consequently psymen, OF the
Sound dues doubled. Every year that may wait
only increases the amount OF the annuity shall have
pay " resolve 10 leave the payment the
footing OF duty on ships and an oil U1orer duty
goods. the purchase money shall have 10 pay
we buy up the tar altogether. We assume that, while
other nations continue to pay England will avail
ton 10 whom she Is bound by many friendly feelings
by the memory Of so much harsh treatment undcserved
by Denmark and inflicted by England under the spur OF
what she believed stern necessity on nation 10 whom
the loss Of this would be serious blow aud
whose independent existence is Of the utmost conse
quence to the policy Of England.
somehow or other, then, Denmark must ba compen.
stated for the loss OF these dues but would suggest
that this compensation should close the matter q, once
and for ever and not like the plan of paying the ports
Of clearance discharge leave the amount 10 grow III
the increase Of trade till might well happen foreign
nations might have the honor OF defraving the whole
penses Of government and defence the little Kingdom
OF Denmark which Is endowed with no corresponding
power OF self augmentation. How this IL be done ex
cert by pay round 70 be quit OF the tax aose
ther, canno, imagine; and confess we see in such
scheme FAR moe providence and wisdom than in plac.
ing the mpos less nvidous footing by doing away
with the stoppage IN trdnsu, and leaving 4 10 grow 10