Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-30

his letters for several years, and public report,
which had produced AN impression on his mind
favorable to the Doctor Tie gentlemen who
lived nearer to him were better able 10 Judge
ofhis qualifications than he (Mr. IT, could
But, never, ON this or any other occasion,
would he repeal a law to get rid of any In
dividual whatever, unless it was in an extreme
Case
Mr. Burton here stated, that it would per-
haps save the gentleman some trouble tn say,
that the President had fully examined the case
of the late occurrence in the Vaccine Agency
and, being satisfied Of inismanagement on his
part had dismissed the Agent. The only ques-
ton, theref fore, now was, as to the abstract pO-
Icy ofthe law proposed to be repealed.
MIR. TAYLOR said he had not before been
apprized of the fact of the agent being dismis-
sed. With regard to the policy of the law,
he said there surely might be found in the
United States, some individual in whom the
necessary confidence might be reposcd, to
discharge the duties Of Vaccine Agent. 1t did
appear 10 him to be derogatory To the character
of the medical proiession to suppose, because
Congress could not apply municipal regula-
tions to punish the individual for misconduct,
tiicy, therefore, could MT properly exercise
the power al Establishing an Agency for Vac
cination. This subject had been often before
Congress since the year 1915, when the law
first passed, and much had been said of it !;
but, as no considerations had heretofore pro-
cured its repeal, he hoped it would not now
nc repealed without due deIberation, sc.
Mr.. EDWARDS of N. G.. was in favor of the
hill What would be the effect of the Institu-
lion, il permitted to exist hereafter, he could
only be enabled to judge from what had been
its effect heretofore. Ii the Institution was il
necessary one, there would he no objection 10
IFS continuance. But Mr.. T.. said, his own idea
;Ivas, that il could not be necessary. The adj
vantages of the vaccine matter, he thought,
could be disseminated by individuals in differ
tnt parts of the country, without the eXpence
which had heretofore attended the procuring
it from the agency. Why, then, give to an
Agent the privilege of tracking? Mr.. L. con
sdcred it safe principle, If not an axiom in
politics, to make no depository of any public
trust, unless you can enforce the performance
and fulfilmcnt oft. This Congress could not
do in The case of this agency. He hoped the
law would he repealed, and that hereafter no
person would be permitted to he called the
National Agent tor Vaccinations by which he
could obtain AN exclusive circulation of mat
ter through the country, To the destruction of
that competition which is the life of trade and
OF professions.
Mr.. BURTuN made some further remarks.
All legislation, he said, went upon this pruci-;
pie: that, by possibility, agents may ke dis;
honest, and 1t is therefore necessary to have
some security against their being So. This
security the government of the United States
could not take of the Vaccine Agent. III was
because this government cannot, and the state
governments can, properly regulate this mat
ter, that he wished this law To lie repealed.
Mr.. CoNDIcr said, he apprehendrd the
house were about to act hastily, in repeating a,
law which has bcewin operation since The year
v1,l,i =, f.l dali
Iteration. La Europe, such is the confidence
in vaccination, persecution of small pox,
that the governments compel their subjects,
under severe penalties, 10 BIZ vacclnated.-
But, under our free government, no compulso-
Iy measures can be resorted To and he agreed
with the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr..
Burtun,) that the state governments are The
most competent to leSisate upon these sub
jects. We may, however, lend the aid Of this
government by the appointment Of an agent
10 furnish AN ample supply of vaccine matter,
and distribute it to those Mhe may apply
through the Post Office Department, free OF
postage. When the law now proposed To he
repealed was firstenacteL, III 1913, it was the
opinion of many respectable members, that
the best plan ould be to give the agent il said
ry to compensate him for his services, and
cause him 10 distribute the matter grGtuitousiy
To every applicant. Others, however, doubt
ed Unconstitutional power of Congress 10,
apply the public money in this way, and
tht-law proposed to be repealed was pas
sed. Whilst he would applaud the deep in
terest and solctude of the gentleman from
~. G., for the health and lives of his neigh
bors he weud ask ofihc House to pause and
reflect, before they decideslnder the excited
feelings uf a moment, 10 lessen public conf
dence in the efficiency of remedy against the
greatest scOurge which was ever visited upon
the human family. Would it not be a matter
worthy OF inquiry, whether, instead of repeal
Ing the law, and thus subecting the people to
the additional expense ofpostdgc, il would not
p he better policy to modify the law so as to
authorize the appointment SOf an Increased
number ofagents in different part of the cuun-
try, for the more extensive diffusion Of the
bepeits of vaccination? Would 1T not be
good policy 50 to regulate the army and navy,
as tn compel every new recruit, every cadet
IN the academy, aud every midsbipman and
marine in the navy, to be vdccinated? The
President Of the u. S. has already dismissed
the agent, IN consequence of the violent pre-
Judces against him growing out OF his unfur.
tunate mistake in sending the small pox virus
to ~. =. Is not this "A sufficient punishment
for single error? And who among us claims
exemption from error? Who among us does
not claim the privilege of being mistaken p
Mr.. G. said he would venture to assert that
$4,000 souls at least, and more. probably
100000, have received from this agent the
benefits of vaccination, through the instru-
mentality of this law, which you are now about
to repeal. He hoped the House would pause
and reflect before they decide and for the
purpose of aifOrdiDg time, he moved that the
bill he postponed TO the first day of the ensu-
Ing session of Congress.
Mr.. WHIPPLE, as one of the Committee
which reported this bill, gave the house his