Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-01-17

government and tha of Denmark is, not
how much burden shall be borne by our
commerce 70 the Baltic, but whether it shall
be subjected to any burden at all The
proposed tribunal, it will be perceived by
the restriction upon its jurisdiction, is cx-
pressly prccluded from delibcrating and
deciding upon the only serious question at
issue betwecn the United States and Den
mark.
This Is not, however, the only difficulty
which prevents the President from consen-
ting to be represented in the convention
In claiming an exemption of our ships and
their cargoes from taxation By Denmark at
the straits Of the Baltic. the President IS
indicating great national principle, of
extensive and various application. If yicl-
ded in one instance, il Will be difficult TO
maintain it III others. If exactions upon
our trade at the entrance into the Baltic
were acquiesced in by the United States.
similar exactions might, on the same prin-
ciple, be demanded at the straits of Gibral-
tar and Messin, at the Dardanellcs, and on
all great navigablc rivers whose upper
branches and tributaries are occupied BY
different independent powers
he President cannot admit the compe-
tency of such tribunal AZ that proposed
by Denmark-;,s he would do if this gov
ernment were represented therein-to deal
with a principle ofsuch vast Importance to
the whole commercial world.
There is another ground of objection to
joining i'll the proposed convention quite as
controlling as either of the rc3oing The
government of the United States will never
consent TO the pretension that the New
World is to be appropriated to adjust tho
political balance of the Old. 1t is clearly
stated in the proposition which Denmark
has submitted to the United States that the
convention is to act upon the question rel
ative TO the Sound dues in connexion with
the system of the European balance of pow
:
Is to be sub crdinated to the latter Of the
utility or wisdom of the political theory of
the balance of power in Its application to
the European family of nations, it is not
proposed to express an opinion, but enough
OF Its operations has been seen TO impress
upon this government fixed determination
to avoid being brought within its vortex.
1t has long been the cherished policy of
this government 10 avoid such completely
aad the Pre-iicnt will not Weld in any case
to the slightest relaxation of it,
The following quotation from the Danish
document submitting the proposition to this
government will show conclusivclv tn. in
tended connection and commxture of the
two subjects:
Besides this condition, there is still an
other which the Danish government con
siders essential. namely: that the affair in
question, (the Sound dues be not consid-
cred as one of commerce or money, but rs
political one. This would be in accord
ance with the history of the Sound dues.
and with tie part which thcy,have perform
ed in the politics of the north of Europe
Otherwise, the negotiations would be de-
prived of tha, scope and character which
are requisite TO prevent lis being ietiercd
by questions of Il secondary nature, which
may be pertinent to an arrangement merely
commercial and fiscal, but not TO one des-
tined to serve rs Il complement To treaties
ofpcace and compromise by which the svs-
tenn OF the political balance has been ad-
justed.''
In passing upon the political question
presented by this extract, this govcrnment
cannot be induced to take any part: nor
Will 1t submit TO have its international RIGHTS
restricted or modified in subseryience to
the political theory with which the ouos-
ton as to the Sound dues is intcrmixcd in
the Danish propositions
In the paper submitted by Denmark to
the consideration of this government tbercis
an allusioa to '.thc sacrifices" she has made
for facilitating the navigation of forei,,u
vessels through the Baltic straits. ANY
expenditure that she has mode for the safe
ty and facility of this navigation NAV con
stltute an equitable claim upon foreign pow
ers Tor remuneration 10 the extent tbov
have participated in this advantage. The
collections hitherto made have much moro
than compensated for these outlaws. While
the United States would not copsont r.
purchase right which they consider indu-
bitable-the free use of the Baltic sound
they would not hesitate to share Iher,u,
IN compromising Denmark for any fair
claim for expenses she may incur in Inn
proving and rendering safe the NAVIGATION
OF the Sound. There is undoubledlv NJ.
cessity To keep up at a considerable exne,.o
lighthouses, buoys, DC. for the secur;,,
of this navigation. For such exnens.s :,
future, disconnected from claim for s,r
rendering "a pretended ri,yb, - -, =,