The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-08


lions for the service of another reason.
In pursuance Of authority conferred by
The Senate. on he 81 of March last, no.
tice WAS given To Denmark, on the ilIh
day of April, Of the intention Of this gov
eminent TO avail itself of the stipulation
of the subsisiing convention of friendship.
commerce and na,igation between that
Kingdom aud the United States. whereby
eirherperly might nf er len years, lermi-
nate the same AT the expiration Of one year
from tie date # notice for NJ purpose.
The considerations which led me 10 call
the attention. Of Congaess to that conven.
ton and induced the Senate to adopt the
resolution referred to, still continue in full
force. The convention contains an. article
which, although ii does not directly en-
gage the United States to submit TO he
imposilinn of tolls on the vessels and car.
goes of Americans passing into lhctrea y,
may by possibility be construed us i'm
plying such submission. The exaelion Of
,fbara ,ofi.-..e k.s!!. o. s.......e ~,
ciple Of International law. il becomes the
right and duty of the United States to re-
lieye themselves from the implication Of
engagements on the subject. so as TO be
perfectly free to act in the premises in
such way rs their public interests and
honor shall demand. I remain Of the
opinion that the Uuited States ought not
, to submit to the payment of the Sound
dues, not so much because oftheir amount,
which is a secondary ter,-but be-
~ IL in eff of an.
right Of Denmark to treat one Of the great
maritime highways of na'ions as a close
sea, and the navigation of it AS privilege
for which tribute may be imposed upon
those who have occasion TO use il. This
government on former occasion. not un-
like the present. signalized its determine
ton 10 maintain the freedom Of the seas
and Of the great national channels Of nav :
igation. The Barbary States had, for
long time, coerced The payment Of tribute
from all nations whose ships frequented
the Mediterranean. To the last demand
OF such payment made by them. the Uni.
ted States, although suiferingless by their
deprcdations than any other nation, return.
ed the explicit answer, that we preferred
war to tribute. and Thus opened the way
to the relief Of the commerce of the world
from ignomnious attacks so long submit
ted TO by the more powerful nations Of
Europe. II tho matter of the payment
of the Sound dues differs from that OF
the tribute formly conceded to the Barbary
States. still their exaction by Denmark has
no better foun,ation in right. Each was,
in its origin, nothing but q tax on a COM
mon national right, ~xtor,ed by those who
were at that time able TO obstruct the free
and secure enjoyment Of it, but who no
longer possess that pawer. Denmark,
while resisting our assertion Of the freedom
Of the Baltic. Sound and Belts, has ind-
rangements on the subject, and has invited
Tie governments Interested. including the
Uni,ed States, 10 be represented in a con-
vcnIi n 10 assemble for the purpose Of
receiving and considering the proposition
which she intends to submit. for the cap
i.alza'ion Of he Sound ducs. and the
distribution of the ,umro be paid as c.,m
mutation among the governments, secorl.
ing 10 ,he respective proportions OF their
IN RHINE CO mmerce 10 aud fiom he Il lic.
! ave d,clin,d. in Tel ,lf Of thc United
Stares to ncc,pt t is in,i'at'on. for tie
most CO. .ent reasons. One is. that Dem
mar does no, off,r to submit 10 tie con.
veprion the Question of htr light 10 h>y
the Sound dues. Secondly. that IL the
the convention were allowed TO take cog
niznce Of iha, particular question. sill IL
would not be competent 10 submit the
great in'ernalional principle involved,
which aftcls the right in other eases Of
navigation snd COMMERCIAL freedom ~ well
as that of acrts 10 the Baltic. Above
MI. by the express terms Of the propo-i.
ton. i is cont, mplaied that the considers.
lion of the Sound dues shall be commin- |
glcd with and made subordinate TO mat
Ter wholly xlrareous-ihc balance Of
power among the governments OF Europe. |
While. however rejecting hi proposition,
and insisting on the right of free transit |
into and from the Blliic. have expressed |
the United States to share equally with
others the COS, Of advantages Which COM
me, ce shall derive from expenditures made
by her Tor the improvement and safely Of
the navigation Of the Sound and Belts
lay before you. herewith. sundry docu-
ments on the subject. in which my virws
are more fully disclosed. Should no sat.
sfaciory arrangement be soon concluded.
| shall again call your attention TO the sub
iect, with recommendation Of such meas
ures as may appear to be required in or
ler TO assert and secure the rights Of the
United States SO far as they are affected
by the preiensions Of Denmark.
I announce with much qualification that,
since the adjournment of the last Congress.
the question existing between this govern
ncnt and that of France. respecting the
French Consul at San Francisco, has been
determined. and that the re.
aIions Of the Two governments con,inpc
o be Of the most friendly nature.
A question. also. which has been pend.
ng for several years between the King.
Iom Of Greece and the United States.
yroning out Of the seques'raiion by the
,ubic authorities Of that country Of prop
'rty belonging to the present American
Consul ai Athens. and which has been the
ubiect of very earnest discussion hereto