Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-04
roR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
WILLIAM L.. JACKSON.
Election takes place on Thursday, May 9th, 1883
THE S'TADE DUES.

m M 9Th April, Mr.. Ricardo called the attention
Of the HouA of Commons to the necessity of SEINE
stsci-n, actbn by the British Government, for the
abolition of this tax imposed on the commerce Of the
world by Tub Kingdom OF Hanover. The statements
ELECTED iuHhe course of the debate which ensued, al.
DEMONSTRATING in historical comprehensiveness, are
sufficient to awaken the minds of COMMERCIAL na'ioHs
to the burdensome nature of the tax aud the irJas'
tics which has perpetuated it by means ana III spite
of contradictory treaty Obligations. we extract
from Mr.. Ricardo's speech the following summary
These duties are collected for the double purpose
of raising revenue for tho Hauoverian Government
and discriminating uniavorasiy to the trade OF ham
burg. Some twenty miles below that city Is eltua'ed
the town Of Spai.. which contains a small Hanove-
risn fortress. Here all vessels, exceptthose OF HAN
over, are obliged 20 stop and show their papers. On
arriving at Hamburg, the cargo OF each ship, before
i, can be discharged, must pay to a Hsnoverisu collec'
tor an ad vaLoreDr tax varying from one fourth to three
eishths per cent. Thus the navigation ofthe Elbe lie I'M
p.ded, aud the Hamburg trade is burdened for the be-
NETT of the Hanoverisn treasury aud to the detrlmert
ofthe commerce Of all nations trading on Inc RIVER
The loss occssioned by stoppage and the necessity Tor
a set of papers different from those required in any
other trade are, of themselves, sufficient to require q
reform; but the exaroitant amount OF the tax Col.
Looted constitutes an item of grievance equally i'm
por,apt. British commerce. with Hamburg pays y
tax varying from 65 TO lS per cent. on the amount
of freight realized. The whole amount Ut tho eI
psnse Of maintaining The navigation of the river is
paid-not by Hanover, who collects the tex, but by
Hamburg, to whose de,riment i; is imposed.
The historical sketch afforded by Mr.. Ricardo is
Tha .ltao.;nn al tho StaIa Auus datca
back 10 1898. In Ills, these dues were sold by Den.
mark to George 1. as Elector Of Hanover, for a sum
of ESQ, OOO. This sum was paid out of the taxes Of
the people of England. Moreover, England was
involved in a war with Sweden, upon the termination
of which, q further sum OF 1000, 900 rI dollars was
paid TO obtain peaceable possession OF the disputed
territories, including the power OF levying the Stade
dues. For these reasons. the duties on English car
Coca were RENTED in the time of George III. They
were reimposed in the time of George Ill. This led
10 protests on the part Of English merchants; but the
rsimposition was submitted 10, because II occurred at
q period when it was believed that the Congress Of
Vienna would soon settle all matters relating to the
n~avigable rivers Of Germany. The treaty of Vienna
provided for the freedom OF navigation of all the
German rivers, and prohibited all charges which
wore not equally imposed on vessels of all countries.
Notwithstanding this, the Hanoverian Government
retained the collection of the Stade dues, on the pre-.
text that this was a sea, and not a river duty. This
was the origin Of much discomfort in England; but no
ehoctual step was taken, until 1874, when a treaty
was agreed to. fixing the duties at the rates above
mentioned. which rates have since been generally
extended to cargoes of all nations.
Mr.. Ricardo asserted the necessity Of giving the
required notice for the termination Of the treaty,
which woa!d leave tho question TO be decided OIL ia
general merits, apart from the legal recognition Of
tbs tar BY the British Government.
After come debate, it was agreed to refer the con
sideration Of the matter to a special committee.
We trust that our cousins across the water will fair
ly break the Joe, by liberating British commercs from
:his imposition. So soon as this step is taken, OF
couree the Government OF Hanover will be Obliged
10 place our own country on q footing with the most
..vored nation. At all events. it cannct be doubted
ina, our government will be prompt TO seize every
opportunity for the abrogatiou of u system Of inpo.
sition equally unjustitiabls with that OF the Danish
Sound dues, and which clsims the additional demeri,
of discrimination against the trade OF a sistcr repub
liz