New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-24
NATIONAL QUARANTINE CONVENTION


which is to assemble in Philadelphia on the 18th of
next month the Bee of yesterday morning sensibly
observes:
We are glad to notice the authority vested in the
Mayor to appoint two delegates to the Quarantine
Convention, to be held in Philadelphia the 18th
May and we trust his honor will make careful and
discriminating selection and appoint as delegates
gentlemen who free from prejudces either in favor
Of or against system Of quarantine New Orleans is
more profoundly interested in this subject than any
OF the cities which will be represented in the pro-
posed convention, since the sole material barrier to
her prosperity-now that orr internal improvements
are in successful precautionary be said to consist
IN her liability to epidemic vistatons 1t is OF trans
cendent Importance to ascertain whether quarantine
can protect us from the pestence, and If So how it
may be enforced most efcacously and with least an
noyance to commerce. A full and impartial invest
cation of this sorey vexed question may be expected
provided the delegates consist OF those who are not
welded to theory for we may be perfectly certain in
advance that if one believer and skeptic in the
imported origin Of yellow fever and the consequent
virtues of quarantine, are sent to Philadelphia, they
will return with precisely the same opinions they
entertained before leaving New Orleans. We know
enough of the medical profession to be aware of the
extreme tenacity with which the theories of the diff
ferent schools adhered to by its members 1t is
only the experienced, the thoughtful the aged and
the studious, who have gradually learned to discard
all preconceved views and to search for the truth in
impartial and earnest spirit. Hence the difficulty
of etsecting satisfactory choice.
We heartily second and endorse the counsel so I'D
mirably set forth above by our downtown cotempo
rary 1t is alike judicous and practica-and if not
followed in letter and spirit, we do not care whit
whether appointments are made or not The selec-
ton Of two mpractcabe theorists of different Schools
no matter how learned, skful and experienced, how
well intentioned DESTROYS of accomplishing good,
would result in antagonisc reports on their return
home in a oto1., tba+
one system was right and the other wrong ; all of
which would tend to render confusion still more
founded, and to darken instead of enlightenng the
minds of the people upon subject of paramount i'm
portance to their present welfare and future pros
perty. The appointees should be men Of learning,
age and experience men possessed of the most valu
able of all sensecommon sense: men willing to yield
preconceived opinions and become imbued with the
opposite opinions upon a plain showing of evidence
not men indissoluby weddedto one theory and one
school and opposed to all other theories and schools
We are well aware that, owing to the rigid tena
city with which members Of the medical profession
cling to their respective theories, it will be diff
cult task for the Mayorto ecta satisfactory choice
but believe it be done, and if done the results
Of their labors in the convention will unquestionably
prove of the most gratifying and advantageous char
acter.
As it is almost certain the various systems of quar-
antine enforced by the different governments of the
earth will be brought, eEtenso before the Conven-
ton, there will be large field for comparison and
improvement. We trust our delegates will make it a
point to secure copies so that our own quarantine
comes up for revision before the next Legislature, as
it probably will, full flood of light may be thrown
upon the subject. Then our legislators will have no
excuse if they fail to make the system as perfect as
any human system possibly be. At present it is
acknowledged to be deficient in many respects, which
deficiencies should be supplied at the earliest practical
bic moment
That the Philadelphia Convention will be the means
IF accomplishing much good we are fully persuaded.
II the opponents of quarantine should, by the pro-
lucton of Statistics facts, illustrations and arguments
Drove it to be incapable of eecting the ends claimed
or it, that it opposes no insurmountabe barrier to
The importation of foreign epidemic diseases, and OBJ
tain decision in their favor, the decision will go far
towards tranqGilzing the public mind. And, if the
advocates of quarantine after surveying the entire
ground, after carefully weighing all the evidence,
pro and con, that may be presented, and after
sidering the whole matter dispassionaely and scien
ticaly with an eye single to the welfare of the human
race, to the conclusion that guarantees in
and induce the Convention to decide &C.
cording to their way of thinking, sorey vexed ques
ton will be set at rest probably forever which will
eyentuate in the establishment of system of perma
nent guarantees at all the principal ports of the con
federacy.
Should the decision he in favor of quarantine, it
will be the duty of the Convention to digest prepare
for general adoption the best plan their wisdom, ex-
Without this their abors no matter how satisfactory
otherwise, would be but imperfectly concluded.
There is but one obstacle in the way that can pre-
vent New Orleans from becoming the greatest COM
mercial city on this continent: our railway system,
after struggle of many long, weary years, being
so far advanced that its triumphant completionis
tain. That obstacle, its nature, extent and influence,
may be explained in three words-lability to epidem-
les. Remove this liability, and glorious future is
secured beyong peradventure. But, can this he
done? We are inclined to think SO. Assuming thata
rigid quarantine will prevent the ngress of foreign
epidemic disorders for the sake of argument, and
work is not half completed. We will only have made
good beginning After barring out foreign disor
ders must proceed to remedy domestic disorders,
by obviating their causes. We make this city as
clearly city there is on the continent and must
make it so before we can hope it will become healthy
city. All this be accomplished by proper sys-
tenn of sewerage, by making the sanitary police ade-
quate to the requirements of the corporation, by i'm
proved grades and many other ameloratons, that
skill and practiced sense will readily suggest.
True, these improvements and ameliorations will
cost large sums of money. But, what of that? It
would be the best investment the property holders of
this city could possibly make il they We're to tax
themselves million of dollars year for five years
if they could thereby render New Orleans healthy
metropolis, and prove to the world that it a
healthy metropolis As soon as this became known
and generally belicved-and it can be made known in
a manner to compel belief-every dollar of this tax
so expended would be speedily repaid back in a ten
fold proportion taking the most moderate estimate
the basis Of calculation.
business.
There was a fair amount of business going on yes
terday on the evee but it will be seen the receipts
cotton were very SLIM There was slight frost on
Wednesday night in the outskirts of the city, and
under the very great change in the weather on Tues
day night, feel somewhat its
effect throughout the cotton region of the Southwest
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