The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-13


LAVA very important and healthy meeting of
citizens Of the Fifth ward wae held on Thursday
evening last in the Laight street Methodist church,
for the purpose of considering the conduct Of the
Corporation, IN recent measure which they have
adopted for the construction of wharf, to be
used for landing emigrants during the ensuing
summer, under recent law of the Legislature.
This meeting was called at short notice, and was
composed of the most intelligent and respectable
citizens of that ward. The conduct of the Copo-
ration, in the location of an emigrant wharf in the
Fifth ward, at the foot of Hubert street, was de-
nounced in the severest terms, and measures were
taken for the purpose of staying any further mea-
sures under the ordinance, until further proceed
ings are had on the subject by the proper autho-
rites.
We understand that this movement of the Corpo-
ration locating the emigrant wharf at the foot of
Hubert street, has been adopted under recent law
OF the State. II is, however, condemned in the
most unqualified terms by the citizens of that ward
as Its health is endangered by making Hubert street
and that region the general nucleus for landing the
crowds OF emgrants, in every condition of health
during the ensuing summer. AT the meeting IN
question, several highly respectable gentlemen Of
the Fifth ward took part in the proceedings, and
gave direction to the public opinion. Among these
we may name>J. w. Blocker, F. Tilyou, and
Henry Carey, Esqures, and several others in their
train. On resolution offered by Mr.. Blocker,
that gentleman expressed his opinion that although
the people OF the Fifth ward were opposed to the To-
cation of the emigrant wharf at the foot of Hubert
street, yet they have felt for the health of the city at
large, well that of their own ward, and that it
would be much better for the Corporation to recon-
slider the project, and make location for such pur
pose somewhere above Thirtieth street, or on some
island in the harbor, instead of endangering the
health ofthe city, by allowing emgrants to be land
ed in its most populous districts. These sentiments
were received with cheers and applause and Mr..
Henry Carey followed them up by most energetic
and eloquent speech, depicting in glowing language
the gross negligence and ignorance of the Corpora
ton, in making such location for such purpose in
any of the populous parts of the city, endangering,
at the approaching unhealthy season, not only the
health of the Fifth ward, but that of the whole city,
and making them liable to all the chances Of ship
fever, yellow fever and all the other fevers that life
is liable to.
We understand that Judge Edmonds, on the rep
resentation of the Fifth ward, has stayed the pro-
ceedings of the Corporation for fortnight. This
VIII give tue people OF the WnOle city time, In every
ward, to prepare and mature plan to prevent the
introduction of any fatal disease during the ap-
preaching unhealthy season. Some place certainly
could be selected north of Thirtieth street, on
either the North or the East river, which might
furnish better location, far as regards the pre-
servation of the public health of New York, than
that which has been made by the recent ordinance
of the Corporation. This order, we understand,
was one Of the dirty deeds of the last Corporation
before it went out of power and into nfamy; and
we trust the new Corporation will reverse it, and
take such measures will protect the general health
Of the city from any contact with disease, coming
from any quarter, or originating in any country. To
the emgrantsfrom Europe, of all nations, the people
othis city and Of the whole country extend the hand
Of greeting and fellowship; but while they are will
ling to see emigration proceed, on proper principles
they desire to preserve the health of their own cit
zens, and of their own cities, from any fatal con-
tact with contagious disorders that may be engen-
dered by the poverty or remissness of other lands,
and which produce disease in emigrant ships.
We trust that the Corporation will take proper
measures in this matter at their very first meeting