On the record
If the manner of payment of the Sound dues differ from that of the tribute formerly conceded to the Barbary States, still their exaction by Denmark has no better foundation in right.
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gutenberg.orgFranklin Pierce: “If the manner of payment of the Sound dues differ from that of the tribute formerly conceded to the Barbary States…”
Editor's note · Context
Franklin Pierce argues that Denmark's Sound dues are unjust, similar to historical tributes paid to the Barbary States.
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But no clause of the Constitution is found on which to rest the claim of the United States to exercise jurisdiction over the soil of a State except that conferred by the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution.
Our Government exists under a written compact between sovereign States, uniting for specific objects and with specific grants to their general agent.
They do not admit that the sovereigns of one continent or of a particular community of states can legislate for all others.
If, then, in the progress of its administration there have been departures from the terms and intent of the compact, it is and will ever be proper to refer back to the fixed standard which our fathers left us and to make a stern effort to…
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