The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-03

which burst forth was insignificant and migbt
have been easily mastered had the officials ia
charge been willing to permit the engine and
hose companies to enter the grounds. Unfortu-
nately, the rules of the Hospital are naturally
stringent, ard the persons in charge we're un-
willing to,relax them 40 that when the Staten
Islanders, carried away by well meant but Ill
regulated zeal, did burst open the gate aud en-
ter the grounds at the cost of the lives of three
of heir number, the fire had gained too much
Roadway to be checked, and the alteration and
collision with the police had destroyed the or
ganization Of the force, and converted it into
something very like riotous mob. The SICK
however, were promptly and carefully Carried
out of the burning buildings and lodged in
safety in the long white establishment which lies
nearest to the water side. Whatever could be
done for their comfort was at least attempted
by the mob, while the resident officials under
the influence Of panic, are said to have been
seeking safe place outside the walls
II is not worth while spending time in vain
regrets. The hospital is gone; and on the
whole, however It perished, New York is
gamer by the loss. For years it has beeu .
source of real and imaginary peril-the latter
not lees injurious to commercial interests thaa
the former. For years 1t has been so cru 4 and
shocking nuisance to the most pleasant suburb
Of the city that the people Of the locality must
have been long suffering indeed to have borne
with it 60 long. Now tina. it Is gone, there is
hope that New York has heard the last Of the
yellow fever panics, for which it afforded regu-
lar yearly basis, and OF which our jealous
neighbors-Boston and Philadelphia
failed to make the most.
Should it appear, after due inquiry, that the
col fagration was the work of an organized mob
the event will be matter of regret. AT the
same time, experience shows that grievances
will occur for which the written law has
provided no remedy, and which it devolves
| upon the sovereign people to cure by an abnor-
NAL resumption of their natural sovereignty.
Abroad, in the monarchies Of Europe, it is the
monarch who steps forward on occasions of this
sort and remedies the mischief by stretch of
| prerogative, as the Queen did when she SUE
! pended the Bank act, and as the French EN-
peror does every month or two Here, govern
ments are mere subordinates invested with
delegated authority; the power of extraerdi-
nary interference with the natural course of the
law belongs to the people, who have exercised
it on many occasions with perfect Judgment,
discretion, and salutary effect This burning
If the Quarantipe-like the Vigilance Commit
tee OF San Francisco-must be judged hereafter.
AT present, the thihg necessary is to provide
Q new hospital. Scores of sick people are
| crowded into one building, which, under pre-
sent circumstances, may be considered decidedly
insecure. New York may be said to have no
Quarantine. A yellow fever ship arriving yes
terday morning, might have sailed to any pier
we chose without hindrancc. For anything the
public know, they may be now arriving in
squadrons, and sowing the seeds of disease in the
most depsely settled part Of the city II is time
that something were done. And whatever that
should be, it is easy to cay what 1t should not
be. There should be no attempt to return TO
the old site near Tompkinsville. To do 60 would
be to court fresh fires, and, this time, unsparing
loss Of life. The people Of Castleton will never
permit the lazaretto to be replanted among
them. A new site must be found, and that
promptly. Rather than provoke fresh col
lsions, In the present irritated state of the pub.
lie mind on the island 1t would be far better for
the Governor to authorize, for the present, the
temporary occupation of part of Sandy Hook,
at any and all hazards; leaving to the future
the business of negotiating with Jersey respect
ing the terms of the occupancy, and appealing
to her good sense not to take advantage Of the
sore straits In which not only this city, but full
one-half Of the State Of Jersey also, is placed