The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-24

The PERSIA AND OUR QUARANTINE LAWS
The attention of the British House of Commons
has been called to the proceedings had in this
city some weeks ago against Captain Judkins,
of the steamship Persia arising out of his strict
observance of the Quarantine laws of this State,
and out of the offended pride of petty Custom
House official. One of the representatives of
the British government in Parliament has pro-
missed that the attention of her Majesty's Minis
tiers will be given to the subject, and the Eng
lish papers have taken up and discussed it, so
that in all probability the affair viii not be
allowed to rest where il is.
The circumstances Of the case are 30 recent,
and were SO fully detailed at the time, that II is
perhaps unnecessary to recite them at length
They are briefly these: The steamship Persia
of the Cunard line, which came into this port on
Tuesday night, had been, on her last preceding
arrival here, boarded at Quarantine and placed
for time under the direction of the Quarantine
officials. While In that condition, one of the
boarding officers Of the Custom House, named
Denyse, visited the ship, and after making his
inspection, was about to return to his boat as
usual, when he was informed by Capt. Judkins
that the vessel being under the operation of the
quarantine laws, he could not leave without
the permission of the Health Officer. The fede-
raj official, who was probably as ignorant of his
duties and as unfit for his position as the large
macs of such officials usually are, was quite in
dignant at the idea of his freedom of action
being interfered with, although Capt Judkins
directed his attention to the fact that he himself
and every person on board his vessel
were forced to bow to the rules and re-
strictions imposed by the quarantine laws, and
that those laws superseded for the time being
all othsrs. The Inspector having been thus de-
tanned on board for few hours until the Per-
STA was discharged from quarantine, smarting
under the sense of imaginary indignity offered
to his person and position, lodgedA complaint
against Captain Judkins, had him arrested and
brought before police magistrate, and forced
him to give bail 10 answer to the charge of
false imprisonment. An official correspondence
between Mr.. Cunard and General Cas- followed.
Captain Judkins returned with his vessel to
Liverpool, and the publication of the facts con-
nected with his arrest has led TO interpretations
in the British Parliament, and 10 criticism by
the English papers, Of the anomalies between
our State and Federal laws.
During the absence of the Persia the matter
came before the Grand Jury Of this county, In
the shape Of q bill Of indictment against Captain
Judkins. and that body came within an ace Of
finding true bin against the Captain for his
strict Observance Of the laws Of the State. But
fortunately for the character ofthat body, II hap
pened to have among its members gentleman
well known in maritime and commercial circles,
and one who is practically acquainted with the
quarantine laws Of all countries. This gentle
man, Captain Russell Glover, by his intelligent
crossexamination of the witness for the proee.
cution, exhibited the frivoousness of the charge,
and at the same time showed the necessity of
having the quarantine laws Of each State fecog-
nized by the general government
The bill was ignored by the Grand Jury. The
conduct of Capt. Judkins was virtually approy-
ed by this finding, and salutary, and, we hope,
useful lesson was read to the official whose sense
Of outraged dignity gave rise to the proceed
ings. But the main point still remains unset
tied, and must 70 remain until Congress pass
some general law recognizing the validity and
supersediDg force Of the quarantine laws Of the
several States. Every man Of common sense
must see the absolute necessity Of quarantine
laws being treated as supreme. Otherwise IL is
idle to attempt to have any quarantine at all.
Even as IL IL, our national vessels pay due OBJ
servarce TO the quarantine laws of this and
other States-ss ia instanced by the case Of the
spsqushaDna tes 9thsS day, pvt while thus ihs