Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-09
THE PASSPORT SYSTEM ON THE
FRONTIER.
The Opinions of the Toronto GIOBe.--
Exoisement I'm Canada seward De-
nOunced. r..
EFrsm the Toronto Glote.i

The Detroit papers had given us reason
to hope that Mr. Stewards recent passport
order would be strictly enforced. But Sat
urday's proceedings told different tale
At Detroit and at the Suspension Bridge
every mar, woman, and child passing into
the States from Canada, through passen-
gers, as residents of the province, we're
stopped and their passports demanded.
Many were unproVided with the needful
document, and were turned back. If this
system is continued there can be no doubt
that the passenger traffic of the Grand
Trunk and Great Western will receive a
serious blow, and Canadian invest
ments become more unpopular than
ever with British capitalists. The cost
OF the passport system to individuals
is no inconsiderable item. 1t is believed
that Mr.. Cameron is now issuing twenty
passports per day, for which he is allowed
to charge $3.50 each. Under the new reg
ulstion these passports must be revised by
the consular aSent here, Mr.. Kimbsll, who
charges 81 for his trouble, go that the man
who wants to make trip to Buffalo must
pay 50, so in addition to his railway fare
In addition, there must be daily delays,
causing considerable expense and inter-
ruption to business. We may note here,
that American citizens residing in Canada
are required to take passport when they
design to pay visit to the United States,
The document can only be issued by full
consul one sof whom is stationed at Clifton.
Consular agents are not authorized to issue
passports, but they will grant certificates of
identity. An American resident of To-
ronto will therefore be required, if he de-
sires to cross the bridge, to take certificates
from Mr.. KImball, the consular agent here
and exchange it for passport at Clifton.
When Mr.. Thurston, who is full consul,
returns to Toronto, he will issue passports.
We cannot help regarding the introduc-
tion of the passport system as q piece of
stupidity on the part of the Washington
Government Mr.. Seward will not be
able to prevent raiders crossing the from
tier by any such means The passport sys-
tenn has beeniabendoned in Europe even by
Austria and France, it having been found
utterly imperative to prevent the transit
of political conspirators Its introduc-
ton on our frontier is utterly useless; and
we hope that our government will take
immediate steps to represent the matter to
the government at Washington, and have
it abolished If Mr.. Seward will not be
reasonable on the subject, it will be ne
cessaly for our government to take other
steps. We find a score of ways of max
ing the Americans feel the advantage of
treating US fairly. We hope that no such
warfare may arise, but that Mr. Seward
will see the propriety of abolishing nego-
tiations which are a serious injury TO our
people, while they are of no benefit to
their neighbOrs Our government are do
ing all that lies in their power to prevent
rails from our shores, and there is no doubt
that they viii. be successful. At all events
the passport system will not help them;
and we have full right to demand, that
while we are doing our duty in the pre-
mise, no burdensome penalties shall bs
laid upon us.