American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-05


tinue la full force. The convention con.
tains an Article which. although il does
not directly engage the United S,ates
to submit to the imposition of tolls ON
the vessels and aigoes Of Americans
passing into or from the Baltic sea. du.
ring the continuance Of the treaty. yet
may by possibility. be construed az i'm
plying such submission. The exac.ion
OF those tolls not being justified by any
principal ofinternational law. il became
the right and the duty of tho United
States to relieve themselves from the
implication of engagement on tho sub
Ject, so as TO be perfectly free to act in
the premises in such way us their pub.
lie interests and honor shall demand.
lremsin of the opinion that the Uni
ted States ought not submit to the pay.
ment of Tho Sound dues, not so much
because of their amount, which is Sec
ondary matter. but because it is in effect
the recognition ofthe right of Denmark
to treat one of the great maritime high
ways OF nations as close sea, and the
navigation of as a privilege for which
tribute may be imposed upon those who
have occasion to use it.
This government on former occa.
sion not unlike the present, signalized
Its determination TO maintain the free
dom of the seas, and of the great natu.
raj channels of navigation. The Barba-
ny States had for long time, coerced
the payment of tribute from all nations
whose ships freqnented the Meditera.
moan. To the last demand of such paw
ment made by them, the United States,
although suffering less by their depreda.
tons than any other nations, returned
the explicit answer, that we preferred
war to tribute, and thus opened tho way
to the relief of the commerce of the
world from an ignominious tax, so long
Submitted to by the more powerful ma
lions Of Europe.
If the manner of payment of the
Sound dues differ from that of the tri-
butte formerly conceded to the Ba,bary
States, still their exaclion by Denmark
has no better foundation in light. Each
was In Its origin, nothing but tax on
common natural right, extorted by
those, who were at that time able to OBJ
struct the free and secure enjoyment Of
it, but who no longer possess that pow
er.
Denmark while resisting our asser-
ton Ofthe freedom of the Baltic Sound
and Belts, has indicated readiness To
make some new arrangement on The
subject, and has invited the govern
ments interested, including the United
States, 10 be represented in conven.
ton TO assemble for the purpose of re-
ceiving and considering a proposition,
which she intends to submit for the cap.
| ilalization of the Sound dues. and the
distribution of the sum to he paid as
Communication among the governments,
according to the respective proportions
OF thelr maritime commerce to and from
the Baltic. have declined in behalf of
the Uuited States to accept this invita-
ton, for the most cogent reasons. One
| Is that Denmark does not offer to sub.
NIT to the convention the question other
right t" levy the Sound dues. A second
| IS, that it the convention were allowed
to take cognizance of that particular
| question, still II would not be CONNIE.
tent To deal with the great international
principle involved which affects TN o
right 10 other casos of navigation and
commercial freedom, as we'll as that Of
J access to the Baltic. Above all by the
express terms of the proposition it is
| contemplated that the consideration Of
the Sound dues shall be commiugled
with, and made subordinate To a mat
ter wholly extraneous, the balance of
power among the governments of Eu-
rope.
! VIZ
! While however, rejecting this propo-
si'ioD, aud insisting on the right Of free
transit into aud from the Baltic, | have
expressed to Denmark Willingness, on
the part ofthe United States, to share
! literally with other powers in compen-
saling her for any advantages, which
commerce shall hereafter derive from
expenditures made by her for the i'm.
provement and safety Of the navigation
of the Sound or Belts.
lay before you, herewith, sundry
documents on the subject, in which my
views are more fully disclosed. Should
! no satisfactory arrangements be soon
concluded shall again call your alten-
ton To the subject, with recommenda.
ton of such measures as may appear to
be required in order to assert and secure
the rights Of the United States. so far
as they are affected by the prelensions
! Of Denmark.
| FRANCE.
| announce with much qualification,
that, since tho adjournment of the la st
Congress, the question, then existing be-.
| tween this government and that of
France, respecting the French consul
at San Francisco, has been SATISFACTORY
ly determined, and that the relations of
the two governments continue TO be of
the mos, friendly nature.
! GREECE,
A question, also, which has been