The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-15
The Quarantine Question.

application will Immediately be made by
them to the State authorities for an appr0-
priation Of 100000 for the reconstruction
Of the Quarantine buildings on the site OF
the old Marine Hospital at Staten Island. In
coming to this decision, the Mayor and Commits
sioners state that they are mainly influenced by
desire to punish the Staten Islanders for their
contumacious and rebellious conduct. The inn
policy Of restoring an acknowledged nuisance
and Of waging war against the feelings and
sentiments Of an entire community are ignored
in this wise conclusion. 1t matters not that the
general sense of the press and public has pro-
nounced against this perpetuation Of q danger
which has long kept alive the apprehensions
and excited the indignation of our citizens. No;
New York and Brooklyn must be exposed aanu-
ally to the perils Of contagion and death, in
order that the Staten Islanders may be brought
TO proper eense Of the enormity of their offence.
The same comprehensive spirit of despotism
which saddled New York with the police of
Kings, Westchester and Richmond counties, and
rice qersd now seeks to distribute to all these
districts the punishment incurred only by one
Of them.
What sort of principle is this which the Qua
rantine authorities, prompted and abetted by
Governor King, are about to introduce into our
civil policy? Under what government, Boosting
of free institutions, can they find precedent
for UGH q course? For the first time in our
history we find the duty of government asserted
to be that of vengeance, and not Of self vindica-
ton. Is not the one q necessity arising out of
a culpable failure to perform the other; and is
not this display of truculent zeal owing to
consciousness of neglected responsibilities
Whether this he or be not the case, we are
satisfied that the public of New York will never
give their sanction to the recognition of doc
trine, which, however natural it may he as a
corollary Of black republican Legislation, is sub
versive of all the principles Of sound and whole
some government.
Convinced as the Quarantine authorities must
be, that this act Of severity will neither per-
suade the Staten Islanders of the impolicy of
their conduct, nor have the effect of permanently
restoring the Quarantine buildings to their late
site, we can hardly think that their intention of
running counter to the feeling of the general
body Of our citizens and to the declared inten-
tions of the Legislature, is dictated by senti-
ment alone. In considering the pertinacity and
strangencss of their course, we mus not forget
the fact that the disbursement Of the 100000
required for the new buildings will involve
large amount Of jobs and fat pickings, to lie re-
newed, as in the case of Seguine Point, as soon
as the proposed edifces shall be again burnt down.
They must feel morally certain that the people
OF Staten Island will never suffer the Quaran-
tine to be again permanently located among
them. No amount Of military protection by
which the new buildings may be surrounded
can ever ensure their safety. Our State militia
have duties as citizen, as well as soldiers and
they will not consent to be made the continued
instruments Of despotism which thus seeks to
perpctuate monstrous wrong and grievance.
We are astonishcd that the Mayor, who is
man Of good common sense, should have allow
cd himself to be carried away in this matter by
the views Of o few ship owners and political
jobbers. The one care nothing for the health
and safety Of our population, provided they can
effect an economy in the charges on their YES
sells by keeping the Quarantine in the imme-
diate vicinity Of the city; the other only take
into consideration the personal profits 10 be
made out Of the disbursement Of such . large
amount Of public money. We are the more sur
prised at the Mayors conduct, because we do
not believe that he synpathizes with either Of
these interests, and because he must feel that IL
II highly improbable that the next Legislature
win ratify proceeding 20 directly opposed 10
the spirit and intentions Of the last Quarantine
act Should he persist in his present course, he
may depend upon IL that whatever credit he
may have gained by the energy and fairness Of
his previous acts will be forgotten in the odium
that win he excited against him by 20 pcrversc
q resistance to the popular will.
A result not calculated upon by the partizans
OF the Health Commissioner, Is likely to arise
out of their determined opposition to public
opinion. The facts ELECTED in the course of the
controversy on this Staten Island outburst have
led people back TO the question, whether
there II any utility In q Quarantine establish
ment at all Since the yellow fever patients
have been exposed to the influence Of the open
atmosphere and tent life, o sudden check seems
to have been opposed TO the spread Of the dis.
ease. IL the destruction Of the Quarantine build
ings were attended with no other benefit, the
demonstration Of so important fact In medical
science. Composing IL to be Legitimate one)
would in itself be cheaply purchased by the cost
Of the buildings destroyed. II goes far TO bear
out the theory which now finds general favor in
Europe, that the Quarantine system Ia clog
upon commercial operations, without being pro-
ductivc Of any marked sanitary benefits to the
community which II Is intended to protect. 4
reference to The important report upon the OK.
tortions and expressions practiscd In connection
with the Staten Island establishment, which ap
pearsin our columns today will show how Far The
FIRST Of these opinions is we'll founded in our own