The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-20

Ticion that internal assassination battery has
been prepared-and so on, through whole catsr
logue of suspicious which desp able themselves,
ard which lead to annoyances Of every possible de-
gree Of irritation. Indeed the spy and police sys-
tenn of Ferdinand is more outrageou, than that Of
the Emperor OF Ausria--though that is bad enough,
as the fact that the seals of the American State
Department are not respected by the post Office au-
thorties, proves Consular let broken open.
as we have re ,ently stated, without either COM
junction remorse; and there seems to be no
intention to cease thi, style political rgaudism,
for the protests Of the accredited agents IF the
United States fall upon the tables of tyrannical
council, like snow flakes upon water
The question seems to be. then, what are we to
deem fair play" en- the part Of Austria, or Of the
Neapoltan government, or any other of the smaller
despotisms of Europe! The American passport has,
in large letters, over the eagle which symbolizes
the power of the United States, the word pRorEc
TON. Does it mean anything, or nothing! Is it a
piece of humbug! or is it ,nerey specimen of lot.
terirg by an American engraver! That the word
was put there originally for something, We do not
doubt. What, then, does it mean! Perhaps it
will be weil for the government installed at Wash
ton by the popular voice. to inquire into the sub.
ject, and, If possible, TO define the meaning, If not
for the satisfaction of citizens, at least for the
instruction of foreign powers, generally. 1t la,
been stated that the United States does not Civ,
adequate protection to its eitizens-that our 60
verrment is not SO jealousy scrupulous as Great
Britain with respect to the rights of citizens, and
that an American citizen is not respected in some
countries as one protected by his government
in fact that in of difficulty in aforeign coun
try " am an Englshman" is more potent and
safe than 81 am American" Ii this is the ease
it is quite time for reform; and it will be well tor
the Government at Washington TO ''put things TO
rights" with Austria, and with the king iom of
Naples, by way ofsaving further trouble, and for
the further purpose of instru,.ing government,
abroad that the United States ia entitled to rs much
respect, and will exact as much, rs any o,he.
country.
1t is net in the power Of the United States--it is
not the policy OF our goyernmentto interfere with
the governments of Europe, even when they become
barbarous, bloody and relentless in TIL, execution
Of their ctizsn rs, or i'll submitting them to in
descrhabe tortures; but il is mantle ly its duty to
take care that no American citizen who is entitled
to protection shall be deprived Of that right BY the
exercise of tyranny by any power whatsoever We
recently stated the facts connected with the deen-
ton CT American in Of The Italian States,
whittier he had gone on visit, merely. lie Was
permitted by the Austrian government to enter;
but when be applied for his PASSPORT, with PRorgc.
TIoN at the top OF it, he was told that he had no
permission TO leave; and there he re mains,
prisoner. Shame Shame