Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-30

to be ureseuted in the noted case Of the long con
tiuued closing of the lower Sc!eidt, where IL s'S
tbrourh the territory Of the former Dutch republic ~
IN. sra acas. the vessels Of the then Spanish anu
afterwards Austrian Netherlands, tnow Belgun'l Oh
the upper waters. And when Joseph Ii. OF Ausira'
becoming the master of the before Spanish Ne'her,
lands attempted to open this passage, tue 'esSei
sent Ly his order was fired upon aGd stopped oy the
Dutch fort on the Sche!dt-aud the Austrian power
had to submit to be thus ihwared by much weaker
uation whose right was sustained by he approval Vi
Europe and the faith Of treaties For this restriction
absurd rs it was in commercial aspect ~as ''nnn
stipulation oil the treaty of Westphalia, agreed upon
for political considerations, by all the powers tha'
coucurred i'm making and maintaining that memora'
ble treaty. This exceptional departure from the
acknowledged general law of nations was neltner
designed MS violation or abrogatlon OF That Jaw, NOT
denial Of ts obligation in this case by HOLLAND
alone. As such, it would have had no force, ana no
power would have dared to attempt the course. but
was an agreement made by all the great powers OF
Europe demanded by one part and acceded 70 Dy tns
other, necessary to protect Holland, ana ID ao.'
land the protestant interest Of Europe ny prevent
ing the continual and easy ngress Of the lnlnlcai sna
dreaded power possessing the upper waters. Besioes
there were other important considerations lhs was
not the only passage though the most convenient lof
the trade of the Spanish Netherlands ana iuI'uet,
the Dutch claimed that the navigation OF the lower
Scheldt was an artificial passage opened formerly by
their own industry. Thus, the Schelot reu la,neu
closed for some l50 years, until the French hepuoc,
after becoming possessor of Belgium i0rceu anu sop
open the passage. But this act was deemed cause
Of war. and WAS so counted IN the war WnncI IgoI
followed between France and Great Britain and hol-
land. But even this long respected restrctioli hSI
since been removed, and the lower ocneial' DO OH
other rivers in Europe held by dlferent powers W.
der both the law ofnaons, and the treaty VI en""
is of free navigation.
For centuries past as now, Denmark has collected
the Sound Dues" or tax levied on all Vessels gu
tering the Baltic sea--and Hanover in like manner
evies the "Stade Dues" on all vessels entering tue
Elbe. But wrongful aud extortonate as tneee
resisting ihem,) they originally uemanueu, apu
usid not because of ownership on the lower waters
but on tho ground Of supporting hgnt-nouSeee snu
beacons, and paying other expenses Tor facilitating
the safe passage Of vessels
PERHAPS unjust aud vexatous claims may nave
been set up to obstruct TO tax navigation ana sue
in many other cases, where might dehnea righ'' Du'
il il believed that, at this time, nowhere 10 'ue poo
session Of the outlet ofa river claimed, per
of right and exercised as sucn, 10 eAcuue y, w
the higher waters of the river. IL stating this pro-
position reference ia had to civilized nations and 10
recent times. and not to such exclusive policy Us was
adopted by Spain for her former American comm
ions (snd of which both the policy and the domin'on
have long been at an end and which would still be
enforced liz such cases eIisted III China and Japan.
Even the government Of Brazil narrow-ninded as II
IT, and both Jealous and fearful OF the entrance OF
orsiRners-and str0ng toO compared W aIi ue ucEh
boring domnions-does not pretend to oppose The
of the vessels and freghts Of Ecuador Bolivia
and Peru from passing from their own upper aud trl
butary waters down the Amazon to the ocean, IRE
turning, through thousands Of miles extent OF Brazilian
territory on both sides of the river. All that Brazil
mas claimed s that the countries on the upper waters
bel be The carriers OF their own trade through Bra
I'll, and that the route shall not be opened to oil TO-
eisuers who may desire it's use. to trade with the up
Der countries, or for any other purpose
At this time Russia is striving to keep possession
II the Isle of Serpents the mouth OF the Dan.
lbe and the other great powers andspartiee to the
ate treaty of Paris are anxious and determined 10
1clude Russis from the possession. Both parties nm.
erstaud that the possession OF this island il able to
naintain it,, will in time Of war, command the out.
It and control the navigation Of the Dapube.-
This, indeed, would only be available during
var But it would then be most fornida.
10 advantage to be- possessed by power 30
trong as Russia, and which has very little tor.
itory on or very near the Danube, and therefore
souid not suffer materially by closing its navigation:
Ibis case Is entirely different from that supposed Of
be Mississippi; and yet, with all the danger to the
ominions on the Danube, Of the Emperor Of Russia
occupying merely the mouth Of that river, even he
you'd not dare TO close obstruct the navigation,
kept in war, and to his enemy in arms. SrSEx.