The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-04

oider TO be Understood. IL Goes not aecessary
eher to submit this late hour. the various bases
capitalization among which choice might be made
10 particular exaninaion Toe Danish government,
although naturally bo1nd to contribute rs share TO
Capitalization does not wish to In anticipation of the
opinions which may be ret aoat be promulgated in
the 81 negotiation 10 which he delegates Of
being simply to find expeient equally aecepta,ls
TO ALL provided that this OBJECT be accomplished IL gives
preference to any particular mode Of prooeediog
line Of the bases OF capitazs which the Danish CIV
rmen would find mostly suited 70 the nature OF the
revenues which would bave to he capitalized aad the
adoption or which would render in his option, the
share to be contributed by each RESPECTIVE power tue
most proper to the rata Of the duties levied
upon their ravigation and their cormerce.
The duties Of the Sound and Of the Belts partly eve1
upon vessels and partly The latter duti-s
psncI ally included liehthonse duties, clearance dn
ties, &c. II formerly int ndsd TO adopt as an ex
elusive basis OF capitalization the nationality OF vessels
passing through tie straits; bat Is eviea. that this
plan would be thing but just seeing tn. the number
oil vessels bel nging 70 certain naii)n and passing
through the aod Relts does in way represent
the qn tn which this nation actually Contributes to he
dues, whch are principally levied upon merchandise
This quota would he in conformity TO the true state
OF thrgs II to adept basis the quantity at
mercoapdse which has passed through the Sound and
TIE Belts. In adopting this basis 1t might be agraei
urop ms ap,e, that the respective States, Denmark
included shoad rbute in proportion TO the qnsat
ty of goods exported THAR ports imported
The Baltic psssg Trough straits exported by tue
wsy OF the Baltic be imported into their ports
end vice and ~ combining this basis with that OF
TO he paid TO Denmark might be calculated, relate,
to the real Sound dues after the transit of goods aztec
the Greet mportaons expos anons OF eacs SAFE in
having pc the straits Of the Sound aud
of the Belts and with regarl to lighthouse and other
duties after ne flag We night perhaps get little nearer
the Gs' and equitable solution of problem the full set
ten cut Of which must always present the greatest diff
Gu ties.
The tables accompany ing this represent one the
amuDt Of duties collee ed at the Sound and Belts upon
vessels OF each respective state In he years 1851 1882
1883 the other tie amount duties collected pom
n hat
sea Gu' ing The same year.
In placing these at the disposal of the Cabi
nets the DANISH government ventures TO express hopa
that they viii be treated with all the discretion wh3h
the delicate nature of the affair in quesn demands.
MIR. MARCY TO Mr.. BEDINGER.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON Nov. 8, 1855
S-I proceed to mmunicate the Presidents reply to
the proposition of tue Danish government to the Uusei
States, to join in convention with other Pc inte
rested in the Sound dues at Copenhagen, for pu
pose Of CELEBRATING on that subject.
The friencly relations bet Denmark and the United
States have been interrupted The President cher
ishes ardent disposition to sustain AMI strengthen
IT, TO what he believes to be just rgh in
exceptonabe should be regarded An indication
o. disespect for Denmark OF proper apprssia
ton OF ner friendship The exac'ions on foreign
at the entrance into the Ba ii; have been produc
tive source of revenue to Denmark aud it Is very natural
that she should s nggie to retain IT, II these exae
founded In right the United would be the last
power to interfere with her enjoymen; of them.
1t ia not proposed to discuss the question of right ia
this tbs has already DONE and the
United States have adopted the conclusion that they
under no obligation arising from international treaty
stipula ion to yield to this claim Denmark the
trary, hiss adopted different ana opposite conclusion
l, is Ieaciy conc. ded that both anxious
rive at satisfactory solution of this vexed ques The
subject inter several other powet-indeed all mari
time naops-and Denmark has invited them to be repre-
sened in conven ion to assemble this month at Copen
hsgen to consider proposition to be ole red by her
caI aize this revenue and to apportion
eal p wers The sum to be paid tor this renuncistoa Of
The present mode Of collecting It, The United States
%
proposed convention.
Without at all questioning the fair intention Of Dem
mark in proposrg this easure, the President feels
itaipe by sense OF duty to decline the acceptance OF
this invai 1be convention is sbe basis
Of its proceedings the very right the part Of Denma
which the United States deny. 1t is assembled without
any power to pass upon the right OF Denmark to levy
contribution upon foreign commerce, but only authorized
b, adjust the share to be paid ny each ma in lieu
the Guile: ions heretofore assessed taer respective
vessels ana csIgoes The United states however, contest
their hal ility ia ray any contribution whatever Tn
main question at Issue between this and that
OF lermaIk is, not how much burden shall be bS
20 the Baltic but whether it shall b. sub
tcted TO any burden at all The prop ,sed tribunal il
will be perceived by the restriction upon its jurisdiction
expressly precluded from celebrating and deciding
the only se,ious question at issue between tn
tnl'eo states md denmark
Ibis is however, the only difficulty which proven
the President ON COM enting TO be represented in the
conven ion In claiming exception Of ships ana
heir cargoes from taxation by Denmark at the sris
nincine Of EXTENSIVE and vs., ions ,npI,c,+tan II ;6
in one instance, IT will be difficult to maintain
others. exactions upon our trade at the entrance int
tie Baltic scqnesceo in by the United States SINH
lar exaciops might, the principle be demanded
at the straits Of Gibraltar and Nessina the Dard
nelles and all great ravigab'e rivers whose uppsr
baDches and tributaries are tied by different nds
pendent Powers.
The President cannot admit The competency Of such
trbur III that proposed by Denmak-as he woull d,
II nment represented tberein-to deal WITH
principle Of such vast importance % the whole COM
mercial world.
There is another ground OF objection to joining in the
proposed convention quite controlling either Of the
foregoing. The government Of the United States will
to the pretenson that the New World is u
be appropriated to adjust the political balance Of the U
1t clearly tsec in the proposition whic1 Denmark his
submitted TO the united States thai the convention is TO
xion nth the Of the European balance Of
1t 'hsn inmated that TIE former is to be sub,rdi
mated TO the latter OF the utility wisdom Of the poll
tica theory Of tho balance OF power in its application to
the EuroI family of nations it is not proposed 70
press an opinion but enough OF rs operations has been
impress upon this government fixed determine
ton avoid being brought within its vortex IL has long
been the cherished policy Of this government to AVOID
Yield in any case to the slightest relaxation oft.
following quotation from the Danish document sub
mttrg the proposition to this government will shoy the
intended connection snd commxure Of the two subjecs
Besdes this condition there is still another which the
Danish government considers essential namely: that the
sair in question 1.-THE Sourd dues be not considered
Of commerce or money but Us Political one. This
would be in accordance with the history Of the Sound dues
and wi b the part which they have performed Ia the
politics OF the North Of Europe. Otherwise the negoti
zion be deprived of that scope and character which
lts penS
a seconda,y nature, which may be pertinent
rargenen, merely commercial and fiscal but not to
destined TO serve as to OF pca:s and
compr misses by which the system Of the political balance
has been nc usted."
In passing upon the political question presented by this
extract this government be induced TO take any
part will it submit to have its international rights
restricted modified in snbsevence to the political
theory with which the question to the Sound dues Is
inter mixed in the Danish proposition.
In the paper submitted BY Denmark to the considera
ton Of this government there an allusion to the
crices she made for facilitating the navigation of
foreign vessels through the Baltic straits. Any
ptnditure she has made for the safety and facility
Of this navigation may constitute equitable
claim upon foreign powers for remuneration to
the extent they have participated in this advan-
tsge. The collections hitherto made have much
than compensated for hese outlays. While the United
States would not consent to purchase right which they
consider indubitable the free Of the Baltic sound
they would not hesitate to share ioeraly in copens
ing Denmark for any fair claim for expenses she may in
cur in improving ard rendering safe the pavea of
the Sound There is undoubtedly necessity to keep up
OF COM iderable expense light houses, buoys a., for
the eecurity OF this navigation. For such