The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-24

IMPORTANT DEoIsIoN--THK ALIEN PASSENGER |
AcT.-Tbe important decision OF the Supreme |
Court of the United States In relation TO the above
oct, will create much interest the shipping and
commercial community throughout the States;
and particularly at the present crisis, when imm
grafton forms TO prominent branch OF trade
from the different European ports
II appears that majority o. this court, now at
Washington. have rendered judgment adverse to
The copsttutonality of the State laws imposing
taxes upon alien passengers arriving at the respec.
tive norris in the States. This measure will mate
rally affect the interests Of the cities upon our At
lannc seaboard; and the decision, which will be
formally rendered at the end of the present term,
will create much embarrassment in the ensuing
spring.
The ground taken by the United States Court Is,
that the States are prohibited from passing any
laws calculated to affect or obstruct commerce,
such as it Is recognized or established by the laws
of the Union; and that under such provisions, no
tax can be LEVIED upon passengers while on board
ship at these ports upon the owners of the YES
sells. The decision, when published, will be read
with deep interest, and will create good deal of
confusion, both here and European ports, before
those engaged IN this business can make definite
arrangements W carry Out nc
principle IS liberal and just In constitutional and
national point of view; but we should be equally
guarded protecting ourselves in the States from
the importation OF foreign pauperism and crime.
1t is understood that the British government are
openly at work to weed out the masses of crime
and restitution to be found IN the purleus of Lon
don and elsewhere In England -hordes ofth,s degra-
ded class OF human beings. If we could only make
John Bull responsible for the conduct OF those va
grants and emissares who threaten to lnundate
us during the ensuing spring, we would not feel
disposed 10 offer any opposition to the decision in
question. OF its consttutionality, under the laws
of the United States, however, we must say that
we believe in its soundness, and are equally of
opinion that suficlency OF power remains still
\ with each State, under the laws of the constltu-
ton, to enable them to guard against any injurious
consequences that are likely to flow from this de-
cison. 1t is time that the matter should be pro-
perly adjusted and the State Legislature now at
Albany, should pass law, upon "consttutIonal''
grounds, embracing some provisions to protect us
from all the abuses that are likely to ensue from
temporary change in the alien laws
We always welcome the industrious, well
conducted emigrant to our Shores and here he
will find field for his labors but it is remarka-
BILE fact that In tracing up the statistics of the
higher grades of crime that fill our State prisons,
many of the most accomplished pickpockets, and
those famlliarly known "knucks, have gradual
ed In London and In the large European cities.
Indeed, this can scarcely be designated Yankee
offence. We should, therefore, if possible, keep
John Bulls fingers out of our pockets and prevail
on HIM to keep his paupers, pickpockets and va
grants at home, to operate In their own "dlggns "
Congress will probably pass a law that may
place the matter beyond all future dispute but we
await the publication of the decision in full.