The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-13

We still continue to obtain occasional glimpses
of the progress making in England towards the
abrogation of that constant source Of commercial
irritation and annoyance, the Hanoverian STADE
dues Whatever may be the nature of the griev-
ance of which JOIN BULL complains, whether it be
one of great magnitude or of trifing importance,
it must be confessed that he approaches it slowly
and deliberates upon it gravely He still clings
pertinaciously TO Routine and Red tape, in all
cases and under all circumstances, and he appears
to be of the opinion, that conclusions can be
legitimately reached unless they have been first
subjected to the prescribed formulas. If it is |
sometimes good TO move with caution and Cir
cumspection, there are occasions when this eX
cessve solicitude to follow precedent operates in
juriously. As a pecuniary exaction, the STADE
tolls have never been seriously oppressive, but the
regulations adopted by the Hanoverian govern
ment to ensure faithful collection of the impost
are exceedingly vexatious and troublesome. 1t is
surprising, therefore, that commercial nations
should have consented for so long period to sub
nit to a toll which Hanover has no right whatever
t. exact and which, if the payment was refused
that government would hardly dare to take any
steps to enforce A select committee of the English
ilOuSe vi was ooiiO ola
ago for the express purpose of investigating the
origin of the STADE dues. The report of that Com
mittee has recently been published, and may be
said to cover the whole ground of controversy.
From the New York Times we gather, that Pro-
fessors WURM and ZACHARIE both of whom are
eminent German publcists, in their examination
before the Committee, gave an elaborate history
of the STADE dues, which went to show conclu-
slvey, that ''the government of Hanover has no
illegal claim to them, the grant of the Emperor
"CoNRAD H. to the Archbishop of Hamburg and
'Bremen only comforting the right to levy tolls in
"the market of STADE, for the purpose of rebuild
cling the Cathedral of Bremen, which had been
''destroyed by the Normans." This was eight
hundred years ago. AT what date the simple
market toll of l-l6 per cent. was converted into
river toll imposing duty of from to per cent.
on all leading articles of commerce, we are not in
formed. We only know that for long period
this species of black mail, for it is nothing BETTER
was collected by Denmark and Sweden, who
above century and half ago, transferred to
Hanover those rights which they themselves never
really possessed. The legality of this tax has frequent
ly been called in question, and its arbitrary shifting
land vexatious character as frequently exposed.
It's, therefore, recommended by the the Commit
fee, that "notice should be given to Hanover to
terminate the treaty of ls44"-a proceeding
which would be tantamount to refusal to submit
any longer to the payment of the Elbe toll. The
German papers also state, that, from the refusal
o. Hanover to reduce the duties imposed all
vessels navigating the Elbe the respective govern
ments OF Austria, Prussia and Saxonv have de-
termlned to have the question adiudcatcd by the
German Diet. Hanover is therefore beset on
all sides, and must eventually be forced to give
way. 80 far as respects the importation of
goods into Hamburg sea-ward. the STApE dues
nave ho' oeeh exacted since the year 1855; the
duties now levied being only based upon the
tonnage OF vessels, and not as formerly.
npon merchandise, also. The only Question
therefore wmchs still remains unadusted, is whether
Hanover has right to impose anv charoe what |
ever on vessels navigating the Lower Elbe
correspondent of the State Departmon+ az uonoh,ro.
states that the European Conoros, IS 1o1, aa
clined to discuss the STApE dnos CO.. a. 49,.
that the Lower Elbe was striotI,- -l''7On
arm of the sea, and the tolls collected at SrAnr or
Drunsn"usen, "e,e SEA Tolls, which were presumed
10 DC ie'ieu ior the purpose of defraying the ex-
penSeo vi hSh'-ho"eoS, ouoyS and pilotaoe and |
for maintaining generally the safe nav;rat;on of
the Ebe. 1t has been, therefore contendod ,lo+
as neither Hanover, who owns the terri,oru ~, a.
left bank of the Elbe, nor Depma,L 20 -
the right bank belongs ''have ever contr;h,,,o5 |
Zone dollar towards the improvement Of tho 49,:
'tgaton of the Lower Elbe; the whole cos. 49,,
'sburthen of all such improvements beno borno -
s'Hamburg, the claim of Hanover 10 low ~ ~ |
''upon vessels trading with Hamburg rests mon
sthe same foundation ms the Danish Sound a.
Cor the old Trpolitan tribute did formerly ona !,
equally illegal and unjust.p Such, also anpo,ra
to be the opinion of the English Parliamentary
Committee, to whom the consideration Of this
subject was recently referred. Such, too, we have
no doubt is the view that is taken of this question
by our own government. The chief objection,
however, is not to the tax ITSELF nor even to the
petty vexations to which mariners have been
subjected in its collection, but TO the more impor-
tant principle that underles the taxto the asser-
ton OF prerogative which if conceded to Hanover,
must be conceded to other Powers who may be
disposed to place restrictions upon commerce. 1t
applies with equal force to the navigation of the
Amazon and the Plata; to orr intercourse with |
Emma and Japan, and with the islands of the |
indian Archipelago, where the Dutch assert an /
exclusive claim to jurisdiction, which the GOVERN
ment of the UNITED STATES has peremntor;1v r.
fused to recognise