The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-20

A WORD UpoN PASSPORTS. American
gentleman on reaching the shores of Europe Is
ut once struck with the novelty of the "rd-
nance requiring license TO travel. Born
among tree people-enjoying the sweet fruits
OF liberty, his sensilivenesS is touched, and his
pride wounded, when he needs purchase war
rant of his responsibility to gain access into the
country. Accustomed 10 go whlthersoever he
chooseth--caming freedom of movement by
virtue of his own noble instncts--unfestrained
except by the laws Of self respect, permission
to pass implies denial of the right, which is
| calling to his proud and noble nature.
The orisina! idea of passport IN England
WAS based upon the inability Of subject tc
/ leave the kingdom wiLhoutthe authority Of tht
sovereign. The principle waSiliustrated in the
| l7th century, when Charles l., prevented the
leaders of the presbyterian party, including
Oliver Cromwell, from leaving the country
Surviving the revolution, the duke of Marlbo
rough himself found some trouble in receiving
passport from the hands of queen Anne. The
mpracticabiIity of the system however then, tt
say nothing OF the assumptions OF error upor
which it rests, was not SO fully disclosed as a
the present time For in the days Of Boiling
broke or SEanhope, as in the small States--suct
as the cantons Of Switzerland Or certain mem
bers of the Germanic confederaton--a guar
anree of character, a testimonial OF poslCoI
could be given with some assurance OF security
But how can government at this enlightened
prosperous day pretend to discriminate betweel
the claims of applicants, when all deserve s.
well?
:. This old custom, however, Of deriving
travellers testimonials from his own govern
ment has passed away, and the jealousy lie
with the people, whom he desired to visit
England has seen the FOLLY long since of sue
a system and has abolished it, only so far 4
regards her good faith with other powers
France and other kingdoms still insist upon III
impracticable, foolish ordinance, albeit pass
port from the English secretary of state carrie
with it no weight as to character and Is not re
gardrd as an introduction or a recommendauo
to the good offices Of the foreign authorities.
Then in a word all passports are worthless
They are not certificates Of character--they ar
,, not letters of introduclion-they are given
all alike, who can forge any respectable man
siunature 10 An application--they defeat tn
very Object for which they were designed-the
nut the honest and dishonest in the same livery
the latter always getting the advantage--the
are the relics of an early civilization and a
unjust tyranny and unworthy the lnteleenc
of chivalrous France and the German State!
All this talk is simply an encomium upon til
beauty of our own form Of government whe
conrasted with that of other nations and son
!, of praise TO the blessings of liberty which it
our good fortune to enjoy. columbus Sci
: The book of Revelations says. the fearful
the unbelitving and the abominable and mul
1 dprers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and a
3 liars. shall have their parts in the lake Whic
k burneth with FIRE and birthstone: which is tn
If second death. such being the fact, sinner
S should endoavoY to reform