The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-08
Napoleon. View Passport syst<m.


LORD fALMEhs' .oE's EXPsBENCE OF oRsfSf AND
, -, - ALLsOP.
~ tne NOV sc Of Commons on the 23d OF March,
q, MI. NJ lines rose, pursuant to notice, to call
me atten zion of the House TO The vexatons to which
p'lSh subjects were exposed by the late alteration
!, re passport system in France, and to move ior
ne following papers,
Copies O. ence between her Majesys govern
mont and that Emperor Of the FRENCH o1 the late
alterations in the passport system, and Of the seVsfM
regulators res uectng passports issued by tue Fofsga
Office since lsi5 with the fees charged on her delivery
To Rnglslmen the system of passports was almost
unintelhgibe. Owing to political circumstances,
with which they had nothing 10 do, had long pre-
vailed on the Continent of Eur >pe and was strongest
in those countries which savored of an Orienta
character. Russia, for instance, vas the country
most hampered with the system NJ the present mo-
ment. There were, however, ether countries IN
which it existed with great rigor and caused innch
inconvenience to strangers. In Austria IL had been
considerably relaxed and the moment foreigner
passed the roterhc might go to every part o. Una,
country without once showing his passport III had
been the habit foreign countries o1and persons VINO
were obnoxious to them, or whom they wished 10
get rid Of on our shores During great many years
the French police had sent 10 England persons wnpm
they considered were suspicious characters or Gan
gerOus 10 France. and had thus thrown most uni1ry
upon rs the guardianship and control OF those peo-
pie; but this an eNi! arising from the freedom ne
had mentioned, and he did not see how we could
possibly remove IL. Ever since Slj the passport
system between England and France had been con-
Quoted on the Part of France WIN great Hheralty.
Ii was no secret that the Emperor of the French
held the opinion that the passport system vas not
useful systm and that it ought nj least to he ahO-
lished as between this county aud France TbiS
opinion was to he found in q work which he had
published, and he made no concealment of it in his
communications with pryste ind yid als; nor was 1t
any secret that he issued commission for the pcf-
pose of nquiring how far it possible to abolish
the passport system in France Why the object OF
that commission had failed it was not difficult To
conjecture. The system OF passports employed an
.laW nf nars. in nm
French Consus in different parts Of the world re-
ceived fee upon every passport which they Issued.
Consequently all these parties greatly in'erest-
ed in the maintenance OF the system. Therefore no
blame could he imputed TO the Emperor FOR net
bringing the inquiry to successful CONCLUSION. Up
to the recent alteration, however there did exist
free communication between the two countries,
which though not established by law, was negerthc-
less consolidated by custom. The communication
between the coasts of France and England was 4
tirely free. Great crowds of English went TO bou-
logne and other ports There was no obstacle what
ever to the free INSTRUMENTATION between the TWO
countries But all this had been altered. Let them
read the instructions issued the 18th Of februa-
~ 1858. The honorable gentleman read the regaia-
tons in question, by which he said TIE wn''e com
munication between England and France had been
almost put a stop to- He was anxious to know
what was the real meaning of those decara-
tions-what were the communications be
tween the two governments which pre-
coded and followed those regulations. He
thought the House had right 10 demand that
there should be laid upon its table the conmun'ca-
tons between the Wrench and English governments
which led To this chaDge-that they should be in
formoG of the "reminiscences of the English govern
ment against the change, and the manner In which
that change mad been brought about IL was al
most painful TO consider what it could be tat ope'
rated upon the mind Of the Emperor Of the French,
and which I'D to this change He could not Cor one
moment allow himself 10 believe that 80 intelligent
a government as that Of France would admit nat
such restrictions those devised under the present
IN. spul in u
The personal security of the Emperor OF France, or
in any other way 20 the advantage of that country.
lie rather attributed al this 70 the inconsiriate
zeal Of b0dDates, who actnated by the very beat
motives did the most foolish actions No doubt The
restrictions placed upon the communication between
France and England since that WEIGHED, miserable
and wicked att npt upon the lie oil The EHieI It on
the French were most vcXatious and most lud-roi'.
one ladu he ucds informed, had beca Kept treni}-
four hours q, BauiogRe az consequence Of some
tooth pO5cdcr found az her dressing case, triag
bv the sage oGciais bfra suspected as fGil'Ht.-
ing po,rdeT. The Emperor ct the French had 10
doubt a right (like any other uler) 80 make
what regulations were deemed necdul regard
ing the admission Of foreigners, hut he ,Nr
Nin,s) had q right 20 AK Why, ana for wat
reason were restrictions aud obstacles placed
which were calculated 10 prevent ire intcrccm-
munication aud good feeling between the poo
pie OF the two States. The prohibition by me
French government against any foreigner entering
France from England without n passport from the
ambassador of his ovn country liberated t.u land
from all difficulty In the matter. The question now
arose, " hat was a passport! IL was an easy uN'ct
10 define. IL was the description OF an indy i-al
As an Enrlishman aud. as such, entitled g. prDicc-
tion abroad. II could never be made ceriil lie oi
the respectability OF the man travelling. Il Hld
nOs be refused 10 liberated convict. There were
only three cases in which the Foreign ca-c culld
fuse a man passport the first his icing ?!icn,
the second that he under the correction ci the
law and the third lis contemplation ot bankruptcy
But why continue g. the Foreign Once toe power %
granting passports when no other country did Ng
H. appeared to him that u md led d rr Ut l1e1t
yenience and abuse, aud II would be- we'll th1' p
the future u should be attached To the Home pA'".
Mr.. WALTER seconded the motion. Iue pr'.t1t
moment wag OppOrtune for n lkng an appeal - The
French government. Lord Malnesbury Was Ken
Of n Minister remarkable for the gift ot writing
"corcatory" dispatches, and ~ this he lul already
given proof cOncihatOfy desIiatch frfa t'c i,1c
hand upon the new passport system may - ca lily
enicaciOGs. ticket Of leave 20 travel ia |cspce
was the best definition which could be given OF
French passport Nc. Walter sugge ted a SIMPLE
mode Of answering al the purposes OF the pas '1ti r.
card similar 20 The season ticket Of the CIV I'll y 4
lace containing the name Of the bearer and his sig.
nature. aud on The back the government stamp.
This ought % be amply sufficient.
Ny. SfNUvE EITzGt RAID remarked that. "a re-
rar5cd the passport system itself il matter of
internal regulation. with which other countries nl1
nothing 20 DO. II was not iab- TO inpnte blame To
| the Frnch government Tor the regulations which
| had been adopted. for that government had ex
pressed IL willingness % accept passports from
/ England under such conditions a. the English gov
| eminent MIGHT think ht 20 adopt Inconvenience
| had arisen from the existing regulations, and the
present government had un1er it, serious cOnsderi
ton the means 81 amclioratiDg the condition. IN 50
far a. the change was compatible with the l1entti-
cation Of persons. One arrangement would likely
b. the establishment Of passport offices at Folk
stone Southampton. Liverpool, and other maritime
ports 90 as to prevent the necessity of apph,a
coming 90 London.
Tie CHANCELLOR OF THE ExCuEQCsR would
also consider the practicabiIiIy of reducing the
fees.
Mr. BENIANtN SMITH suggested that the magis.
trtcs of all large towns should have the power Of
granting passports
Mr. Nm doubted the expediency Of England lend
ing herself 30 carry out the restrictive policy OF
| France.
| Lord PAt,iERsroN- far as the late government
ale cOucer ed have no objection 20 the production
| Of the papers moved for by my honorable friend.
| Inf | ul.h In anrppef addition TO the mOtlOn 7.