Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-03

lhroin INC LONDON fost government organ) Sept IL
Tho American Passport system and
It's Effects ON Emigration-Mr. Sew.
ards DiscOurtesy 10 Lord Lyons,
etc. s-ta
We arc not aware that civil war affords on
excuse for Internal discourtesy. The Cabinet
at Washington may have excellent reason for
the introduction of passport system. The oc.
cupation of spies on board the Atlantic steam
ships would be both useless and expensive IL the
individual who had been favored with the at.
tentiops Of the Federal detective could, upon
Landing, quietly 90 about his business, just as In
those days when New York was the great en-
porinm OF European immigration. There is
something so odious in the name of spies, that
We do Mr. Seward the justice o. believing that
even he would be unwilling, except In cases of
extreme necessity, I, arrest any individual,
whether 1ative American or foreigner, upon
such testimony. The absence of passport
will now become a criminal offense. The man
who may have talked loudly or foolishy about
secession, unless armed with a certificate Of
loyalty, from United Stites minister or con-
sui, must either return to the port from which
he started or go to some Federal for ress as
state prisoner. But, acco ding to Mr.. Stewards
edct, no American is to leave his country with
out the permission of the Secretary of State.
The object no doubt 10 to preuent synpattizers in
the Norh from conueyng information or oiher as.
si'tanes to tts insurgents. II 'hs Amsrioans are
conhnt TO endure this sysem Of OPP, ession, EngRsh-
men can only cypress their dsonish1eHt and re.
gret.
But Mr.. Seward, by stroke Of the pen, has
completely destroyed the one source to which
the United States owe, what remains of their
strength and greatness. During this century,
many millions of oreigners--English, Irish,
Germans and Swedes--have settled in the
United States. After q short period of resi-
dence, they generally became naturalized, and
lost every vestige of their original nationality
and allegiance. Mr.. Seward cannot endure the
delay OF obtaining an alien act, but he adoDts
the easier and more efficacious mode of declar-
ing that no foreigner shall land In the United
States who has not "passport from bis own
government, c0untersigned by United States
Minister or Consul" Must the poor Irishman
who has saved money to join his relatives and
friends In Illinois or Michigan proceed to Dub.
lin first to get passport from "his own govern
ment"-either Lord Carlisle or Sir Robert Peel
and then pay fee for the counter signature
OF United States Consult Does Mr.. Seward
intend so far to recognize the "Know Nothing
policy" as to place prohibitory duty in the
shape Of passport system on the importation
of the very men, many of whom, in all proba-
billty, would as readily join the Federal army as
earn days wages at less hazardous and excit-
ing labor7 Unless American Consuls have the
gift of ascertaining BY inspiration the political
sympathies Of an intending emigrant, the whole
process must prove an absurd but offensive
farce The result, OF course, cannot be doubt.
ed. That stream Of emigration tohieh 80 unac
eountdbiy has proceeded from GTsqt Britain 10
North America i0ill bs diverted 10 C .nada Neau
Brunsloiek and Nop1 Scotia. We,haH no longer
her If too hundred ttou.ond British suffice .
Iand n9 in a year at NV York and only feu
taonsinds ut Qusbte The numbers will be re
versed, and the strength, population and pros
perity of Canada will receive augmentation in
the same proportion.
When no sound of war shall be heard either
in North or South, it will be impossible for any
American government to recall the policy OF
exclusion which Mr.. Seward has inaugurated
Emigration, like many other things, as often
depends on popular caprice as upon any peculiar
advantages which one country may be supposed
to possess over another The present condition
of affairs in the United States certainly offers
no very great temptation to British emigrants.
Land may be cheap aud productive; but Eng.
llshnen, should they 60 there, will find not only
heavy taxation, but an utter subversion Of ordi-
nary law and personal liberty. The merits OF
Canada will become better known and better
appreciated. ana England will retain in her allie
glance thousands of subjects who Otherwise
might have resorted to a foreign and never very
friendly country. The Cabinet at Washington
no doubt has right to say that the time has
arrived when some cheek ought to be put upon
immigration. The presence of large foreign
element armed with political power may bo in
convenient, especially at O time of civil war;
but If this be Mr.. Seward's object, the subter.
fuge Of passport system, vexatious and har-
RAISING to the poor foreigner, is only proof Of
that rashness and imprudence which Mr.. Sew.
ard mistakes for deelaion and vigor. The no.
tice necessarily affects every European State,
but yet we learn from Lord Lyons's letter to
Earl Russell, published in last nights Gdzete,
that "tts notice has been issHed ,eithom any pre-.
oious communication on the part of the Secretary
Of State toith me, or, so far az knoo. ,cith any
Of my colleagues, nor has t as yet bssa officially
communicated to ms." This 10 most unc.pA Ind
disTsspsctfuI act, and we infer that IL is to be
attributed TO the extremely hostile views which
Mr.. Seward has always entertained toward
Eugland--feelings which are not likely to be
Modified by the freedom of speech which pre-
walls In this country, and which may have some
influence even In the Northern States, unless
Mr.. Seward should follow up his passport sys-
tenn by prohibiting the Importation of English
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