The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-16
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1851.

Our miscellaneous column Of Saturday last con-
tanned the following item:
"ETadspea9sncs Beige announces that before long the
fofmaty Of passports between France and Belgium VIII
be abolished"
This Is but step in a direction towards which
all the nations Of Europe have for some time past
been tending. In England, as is well known, the
passport system has never been in operation. Be
tween France and England, It's abolition on the
part Of the Emperor was announced some time
ago, and at all events ii has become mere form
If even in FORM it continues still in operation. In
Spain it has by degrees been relaxed, in proportion
rs the free institutions Of the Peninsula have ac-
qured soidity and permanence; and even with the
despotic governments il has been gradually shorn
otis more odious Inconvenience. Strange to say
III anything now be strange-ihe tide of arbitra-
~ restriction in this, as in other things which is
ebbne from the countries of the old world, is set
tne in full flood upon our shores. We had sup
Dosad that the passport system, in any shape,
vou1d probably be the last Of European institu-
4ous to visit u.s. as it certainly is one of the most
offensive and irritating abroad 1t has naturally
followed, however, in the train OF standing army
and an omnipotent executive, and we should not
wonder to see II fully inaugurated at any moment,
now that 1t is begun.
In the multitude Of announcements of more
STARTLING. because a more Immediately and univer-
sally oppressive character, many of our readers
nrobablv overlooked the intelligence, communica-
ted some weeks ago to the public, that all pass
ports thereafter to be issued by foreign ministers
or consuls were required to be transmitted to the
Secretary Of State for his endorsement.
communication to that effect was made to
the diplomatic representatives Of foreign ma
tons at Washington, and although exception, as
we learn, was reserved by the diplomatic body,
circulars were transmitted to the various con-
suIs throughout the country to act in conformity
for the present Passports accordingly have been
cent 10 Washington, for some time past, re
ouired and have been returned with the risa of
Mr. SEWARD and Gen. ScoTT, whenever the party
was regarded as sufficiently "loya' 10 he permit
led 10 60 abroad. OF course the requirement in
question would he futile, in the absence of a regu-
iation prohibiting the departure of every person
from the country who shall not have complied
with it-so that for The first time in our history,
travellers are compelled to ask leave, before they
csn 90 on their journeys.
II is needless to say that all this is simply lille
gal and arbitrary, and in the most bareiaced
way The act of Congress, in regard to passports,
merely authorizes the Secretary of State to issue
them, and there is no restriction on the right TO
demand them, or the obligation to grant them,
except that the party applying shall he citizen
of the United States. The Leutenant-Gene
raj has no more to DO with them than the
Pope. OF course there is no legal obligation on
any citizen TO take passpor, before leaving
for foreign travel. If be chooses to do SO,
it is for his own convenience and protection,
and TO meet the requirements, not Of our laws,
but of the police systems abroad. Many persons,
in going TO foreign countries, content themselves
with passports from the consulS of those countries
at the ports Of departure and all foreign citizens
or subjects lock to their respective consuls eX-
clusively Over the passports granted by the
representatives Of foreign nations, our laws give
neither the Secretary Of State nor the Commander
in-Chief OF the army any marc jurisdiction than
over the territory, ITSELF of those nations. All
claim OF the fuuconaries in question to supervise
or regulate such passports Is sheer usurpaton.
None Of our treaties reserve such right and none
of our statutes assume to confer it. If the pass
ports are granted TO our own citizens going
abroad, the exercise of such right is an unlawful
and oppressive espionage and restraint. If to for
eigners, il is violation of the freedom of egress,
secured by treaty, and an entertainment upon the
independence OF their ministers and consuls in
their relation to their own people. On all sides,
and in every point of view, the whole scheme is an
jnsoeut and petty aggression upon private and pub
lie right. 1t were teufold more manly and respeca-
BILE, at once, 10 say, that no one shall leave the
country, or come into it, be he citizen or for
eigner, unless Mr.. LINCOLN pleases-for that is the
sum and substance of the business, aud it would be
but decenily candid to state the proposition fairly.
If it is proposed TO give us the system Of Naples,
let us have it "pure and simple" without any
disguises. We should suppose there ought to be
no difficulty in this, in view Of the President 5
Message and the action Of Congress upon it. To
suggest the existence of the Constitution and laws
being now Treason and t'reoellion' - it is hard
to imagine why there should be any scruple about
acknowledging their sub7erson in one way more
than another. Nobody in the United States
would be likely to say anything against it, except
n stray ''secessOnist' here and there, and he
might be immediately disposed Of by 'lettTc de
''cachG," as Dangerous person." Foreign ma
tons, however, might take some interest in seeing
how freedom wakes freer under the new develop
ment of republican institutions, and surely they
are entitled to the benefit Of our glorious example
The hdbcas ctrpas suspended; martial law in prac-
teal operation; civil iuuctionaries onsted and
military appointees in their places; a standing
army organized; the President clothed with power
TO do what he pteases; and passports requiring an
executive risa-surcy the benighted subjects of
desponc France and aristocratic England might
learn, from these, the blessings of republican nsti-
tutions and the happiness of belonging TO ''the
"lreest and most enlightened nation under the
Hsunn