The Passport bill.
Among the numerous measures brought forward since the inauguration of the
Permanent Government, that creating a General Passport Office, by no means the one of least importance, has so far failed to receive the final action of Congress.
This delay may be owing to the existence of martial law in the Department of Henrico.
But if so, we apprehend there is some error in the supposition that the
local functions of a
Provost Marshal can be extended over the
Confederacy.
Then, how can persons, living beyond the limits of the "ten miles," obtain passports to remove their slaves and other property to remote places of security?--of others, passing to distant points of the country, beyond the limit of the
Provost Marshal's riadiction?
Captain Godwin arrogates no more right to grant them, outside of his military limits, an any other
Captain in the service; and
General Winder certainly asserts to authority beyond the limits of his military department.
General passports ought, we think, to ma from the combined civil and military authority of the
Government, and to this and Congressional action is necessary.
The powers of the agent should be clearly defined and recognized in all parts of the
Confederacy.
Hitherto the management of this essential service has been very defective, and deafly developments indicate that the loose policy pursued has given rise to a series of disasters.
It is but an act of justice, however, to say that passport graded by our friend,
Col. Jones, ever inflicted injury on the
Southern cause; for he invariably protested against issuing them to parties, other than Government agents, going beyond the limits of Confederate jurisdiction, and for his opposition to the fatal policy indicated, we believe he incurred the enmity of some who differed with him in opinion, but the sequel proves him to have been in the right.
It is not yet too late to remedy the neglects of the past and to provide for security in the future, and we trust that Congress will no longer delay action a measure of such vital importance.
