Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-22

Whlch ne DID accordingly. Thereupon Mr..
Atchison, of Missouri, renewed the amendment,
ana the yeas and nays being called, it was
negatived-yeas II, nays 26-Mr. Douglas
voting YEAl
APPENDIX.
An adopted citizen of German origin, and
of high intelligence, furnished Mr.. Smith
with the following expose of the evils result
ing from tonnage duties in Germany, which
throws a great deal of light on the question
discussed in the foregoing speech
NOTES IN RELATION TO THE NAVIGATION OF
THE RIVERS OF GERNANY.-The navigation
upon all rivers of Germany has been subject
to series of vexatious tolls and heavy du-
deslor centuries. The barons of old planted
their watch towers Of oppression upon every
prominent point along the uaVigable rivers
of Germany, and watched the vessels laden
with goods; and at every turn of the stream
the owners of such crafts were taxed and
robbed at the pleasure of those baronial high
waymen.
In the course Of time greater powers have
annihilated the barons, their castles have fal-
len to ruins, but the conquerors of these lit
tie thieves continued their troublesome taxes
to the beginning of the present century. It
was in the year 1915, when the Congress Of
Vienna declared the navigation of all the
German rivers free, but this ordinance, as
beneficial and important as it might have
been to the development of the commerce and
navigation Of Germany, has not been car
ried out at all on some great rivers, and it
took fifteen years Of negotiation between
the various powers of Germany and other
powers and Eve hundred and sixty-three pro-
tooals drawn upon the subject to make the
Rhine free. It was in the year 1881, when
the navigation of the Rhine was proclaimed;
so when the vessels from the uppermost part
of that river could run down to the lowest
portion of Germany, without being annoyed
by custom-house officers and tax-gatherers.
As soon as the tolls were abolished, and
the steamboats, began to plough the silvery
surface of that noble river, the commerce in
creased in most astonishing manner, and
the conveyance OF passengers augmented
with every year, in 1927, for an example,
- :. =7eSSaaAsl esass - alsaA-g
the Rhine In the Prusslan territory amounted
to upwards Of $4,000; whereas in 1850, the
number was computed to be 300,0O0t
The overthrow of these barriers has freed
navigation and commerce, and the day will
not be far distant when the political barriers
will be carried by the onward progress of
time
The Rhine, the pride Of Germany on the
shores of which live the most enlightened
and bravest descendants Of the Teutonic
races-that great valley viii form in time one
nation
We could cite Bavaria and Austria both
countries are traversed by the great artery,
the Danube, which connects the heart Of
Germany with the Black sea-a powerful
stream yet comparatively little navigated,
because Bavaria and Austria, as well as the
Turkish provinces, at the mouth of the river,
obstruct by oppressive tolls and exaetions
regulating every enterprise.
A vessel start ng from Mem, in Wurtem
berg, soon reaches the Bavarian boundary
line; there it is taxed with all kinds of tolls.
When it has freed the limits of Bavaria, and
enters Austria the vessel is again measured,
examined, and taxed accordingly; the boat
men are obliged to return to their respective
countries, and the vessel must be sold, or the
goods transhipped, before it is allowed to
continue on its way. Having passed Hun
gary, at last come the PashaS of the Turkish
provinces, and prey upon the small profits of
the unhappy merchants and ship-oWners.
The Elba, from its source, through the va
rious countries belonging to Germany, down
to Hamburg, is not less obstructed from innu-
merable tolls; and on its shores, as every
where in Germany, hundreds of ruins may
be seen, proclaiming to the world how unjust
the people have been treated, and how op-
pressiyely taxed.
Another g-eat impediment to the progress
of navigation and commerce Of Europe-in
fact, Of the whole worlds the. Sound-dues
of Denmark, obliging every vessel to pay a
heavy duty, which passes the Sound, from
either the Baltic or the North seas. Against |
this unjust sound due, against this impediment J
Of navigation upon the great highway Of the /
world, our merchants and ship-owners pro- /
tested, and made many Just complaint, and /
whilst our Government is endeavoring to re-
move these obstacles, some Of our own legis-
lators Of this great and free country wish to |
establish tolls upon our extensive internal
lines Of navigation, and try to inhict upon
free nation those curses which trammelled
the commerce and navigation of Europe for
and kept the people in serfdom.