The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-23
BALTIMORE.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 90, 1861.

1t speaks sadly for the liberty of the citizen, IN
these latter days, to know that no person IN this
country, no matter whittier he may he gong, or
what his business may be- can embark at any port
OF the United States without first asking the grG-
cious permission of Mr.. Secretary SEWARD. More
over, if it so happen that an American is absent
abroad, and seeks to return home he can no
longer do So except by consent Of the United States
Minister accredited 10 the country in which he has
been sojournng, or of the resident Consul. The
official notice TO this effect has just been promul
gated, and reads thus:
''To all 7gloas IL neg concern:
Until further notice, person will! be allowed to go
abroad from any port of the United States without
passport from this Department countersiGned by the
Secretary of State. Nor will any person be allowed
land in the United States without passport from a
Minister Consul Of the United States if foreigner
from his own Government countersgned by such Minister
Consul.
This regulation however, is not to take effect in re
gard to coming from abroad until reasonable
time shall have elapsed for it to become known in the
country from which they may proceed"
The system Of passports has been in operation
on the Continent of Europe for many years; but it
has always been regarded az odous and oppres.
sive. 1t has long been the boast and pride of the
American people that they were free to go and 10
come without being subjected TO the rigid and
I
passport implies. The only passports, therefore,
which have hitherto been known to our citizens
are those that were required in making a tour of
the Continent Of Europe. They never dreamed of
taking out passport for England, or Canada, or
for any of the British Provinces in the East or
West Indies. Still less did it enter into their ina
gnaton to suppose that the ports of their coun-
try would be closed against them, unless they had
previously obtained, from United States Minister
or Consul abroad, printed permit to return. Our
journals but recently lauded the conduct of Napo-
leon III, in removing, as between England and
France, the serious restrictions and aunoyances
which the use of passports imposed. But what an
almost absolute sovereign has deemed it advisable
10 reiinqush, our own Government in connec-
ton with other relics Of arbitrary rule, has taken
upon itself to adopt. What are we to think OF
this new official regulation which obiges every
American citizen, who undertakes sea voyage to
apply to the State Department at Washington foI
leave TO do so; to undergo as he inevitably
must, a series of cross que;tionings as to the
object he has in view, and also with respect to his
political opinions If these prove to be satisfac-
tory he must next sit to one of the officials of the
Department for a description of his personals
age bis stature, the height or lowness of his fore
head, the color of his eyes, the shape of his
nose, OF his mouth, and chin, the color of his
hair and complexion, and the general appearance
OF his face. All these are to be noted down; not,
as of old, to meet the established regulations of
certain absolute or scmi-absolute foreign govern
ments, but Ito satisfy the jealous scrutiny OF
our own custom-housc officers at the port of en-
barkaiion for there, also, the traveller is hence
forward TO be subjected to an examination to see
that his personal points correspond to those de-
scrloed IN his passport. On his return from
abroad, he must submit to similar investigation
1t his passport in either case, as sometimes
happens, should not be entirely en- rfgIc be stands
fair chance of being spirited off to Fort La
Fayettc, or Fort Hamilton, Or some other military
Bastie, unless he at once satisfactorily esab-
lish his identity.
But, apart from this restraint upon, and
veXaGous interference with, the accustomed
liberty of American citizens, Mr.. SEWARD
has no legal right to adopt these restrictive
measures. The act of 1856 authorizes the
Secretary of State, and such diplomatic and
consular officers of the United States as represent
the Government abroad, to issue passports for the
personal protection of the citizen on the Continent
of Europe, and in accordance with continental
nsages. But there has been no law passed by
Congress, which gives to the State Department
the power to introduce the foreign system of pass
ports into this country, or which prevents any
person from quitting our shores or landing on
them without first obtaining the consent of Mr.
Secretary SEWARD, or Of some diplomatic or con-
aular agent. But why should we complain? Is
it not perfectly evident that our paternal govern
ment is rapidly accommodating AUD bringing into
operation all the machinery and appliances
of the old Austrian and French despotisms
We already have the 7ettre dc cache-the
Bastile-the military occupation-the suspen
sion of popular privileges-the secret spy-the
political inqusition-and the violation of the mails
To this long train of injuries and usurpatons is
now added passport system, applied to our own
shores, with its insoent perquisitions into private
affairs, and with all its opportunities to modest,
Cypress, or injure those whose opinions do not
happen TO accord with the views expressed, or the
measures instituted by the Federal authorities at
Washington.