Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-07


We refer 10 the passport system We are not aware
that its existence has any support OF lava The pro-
vision Of-lAW allowing it was repealed along with the
Martial Law Ac 0ao of our city contemporaries han
tlcs this subj, ct most happily in late issue. We give
it's views in full;
From the Richmond Examiner.
We have sugges ion to make to the portion of Con
gress which really desires TO replensh the army, and is
not merely intent upon demagogussm which sings OF
arms in public and speeuates in apple brandy privately
IL is easy TO make a number OF practical tests OF the
real disposition Of Congress TO increase and strengthen
the army, aud the suggestion we have now to make
offers a ready and conclusive one.
TIE suggestion is this; to abolish the passport sys-
tenn Such act would give to the field large horde
OF brawny military ders connected with this supernu-
merary bureau The oce Of passports has three Gets
of employees There the clerks, soribes and mes
senges Immediately connected with the office; then the
guards at the stations Of travel sqlad OF whom is TO
be found at every railroad platform the Confederacy
bullying passengerS and naly, the trim military gen
ilemen who travel from station to station, and baW IN
every railroad in the Confederacy CIV your g.
ports I" All these employees in the South would fur
nish several full divisions They are generally able
bodied always impots, aud, il their courage Is equal
to the nsolerce of their manners. would make very
positive ard courageous seldi,rs.
The present employment of these men ia OF earth
y benefit to the Conederacy. Indeed the entire pass
port system Is an unHbB nuisance; IL IS verse IMAM
useless; il OF endless annoy 10 honest
persons and instead OF being check spies and trail
TORS il is positive facility 70 them, for II makes the
only test Of the legitimacy of their travel the possession
of scrap Of brown papes which any villain may easily
get as any fool may easily forge The writer has ro-
Gently Travelled over several thousand miles in the Con-
fed racy through various gaunles Of tbs passport sys
tenn and he has yet seen one single instance OF
actual arrest by the agents of that system. Does any
one know OF singe important arrest made through the
az, ncy Of the passport officer 'Ye we all know that
spe, are constantly moving from point 10 point in the
Copfederacy and making their exit at pleasure. The
passl OFT actually facilitates theD for it is easily got is
taken "a Drad dee evidence IN their favor, Que
picion and precludes irQury.
If the authorities dssre to detect spes and traitors
il must be done through some other agency than the
PASSPORT Office which experience, in addition reason
has shown to be inefficient corrupt, and in fact, aux
larry 10 the escape of the friends snd emssaries Of the
enemy But it is not only these rccounts that the
Office should be abolished but especially because il en-
ploys a very considerable number of men wi Should
be IN active military service Many OF thss men are
skukinR on detailed service; they belong properly to
the army aud are eager enough TO wear tie uniform
and present the insignia of soldiers railroad cars
AID it is hgd time that they we're pu where they be-
oag.
L. ficult TO estimate the number Of actually
kept from the field By this system. You have but TO
estimate the nuHbr at each Office and Depot, ind on
each tain of cars who are employed uader it, and null
tply that humber by the number Of o;es, depots and
trains in the Ccnfdsracy One of our exchanges states
that it is informed tina. the number is somewhere be-
tween fifty and sixty thousand, bu. like it, regard
the estimate as too hgl. But apart from the number
OF men tlken from the army, it entails great expense
on the Government Many of these men, are in
formed are getting three dollars day while their com.
rades in the field get but eleven month. We do not
see how they can I've on less while employed but
the whole might be saved. The system hG5 proved
a complete failure il intended to catch spies, and has
accomplished little in arresting deserters We suggest
as substitute for the present system, that the com
mandan at each station be required to attend with
assistants at the leaving and returning Of each train
aud, with an flee convenient require each passenger
to pass his inspection and exhibit furloughs exsmp-
ton papers if desired This would put the public to
but little inconvenience and would be equally efficient
With the present system in arrestng ell who should
pass.