National Republican., 1879-05-28
UOusE or REPRESENT.ITITE

Immediately after the reading Of the Journal the
House resumed the consideration of the business Of
the morning hour, being the bill relative to tile re-
movai of causes from State to Federal conrtS.
Mr. TowYsrESn (lll.l, who has charge of the bill,
proposcd that 1t should be taken out Of the morn
ing hour and free debate be had upon IT.
TO this Mr.. CoNGIR objected,
Several Democrat. appealed to Mr. Town2hcnd
to withdraw his demand for the previous question,
innsmuch ps the morning hour was completely
blocked up by this bill, but he refused to do 80.
The question REQUIRED on scconding the demand
for the previous question, WhCn the Republicans
refraining from voting, no quorum voted.
4 call of the House was then ordered. This to-
pcthCr with r0ll.Cull on motion To dispense with
further proceedings, consumed the morning hour,
und the bill went over without action
The House then proceeded to the consideration
olthc bin to prevent the introduction of contagious
or infectious diseases the Senate bill on that sub.
iccl being substituted for the House bill of like
Mr., McCiowAN spoke in favor Of the bill and
argued that under the constitutional provision
which gave Congress power to regulate commerce,
II was perfectly proper and constitutional for Con-
grcs to egisate on the subject of II national quar-
nntinc. In discussing the power of the states over
the "9Sc Ms, he 'se@ anrs @H as YS% S 9%rR 9Gai
was an exception, It only proved the rule.
state quarantine and state health laws could never
he Elective in preventing and staying contagious,
TwO admitted facts made that impossible. These
facts were, that the State had no jurisdiction out
side their territorial limits, and that they had no
Mr.. MANNING spoke in favor of the BILL and
argued to prove its cOnstutionality.
Mr.. RICE opposed the bill, ana argued that the
United States had no authority to establish quNrNn.
tine laws If the constitutional power OF the Gov.
Crnmcnt could he yindcntcd in that respect nnd
If the difficulties which he saw In the way G0ulu be
removed. no one would support the bill moro
heartily than he would But he came from n sec
tion where great labor and pains had been eX'
pended in establishing quarantine laws.
II had been admitted III the discussion thnt the
great city of New York had already Succeeded IN
establishing quarantine laws that were substantial
ly protection against the introduction Of conlagl.
ous diseases. 1t was so with the city of Boston. II
was so with the other great commercial cities oi
the North. They had already, at great expense
thrown around them themselves the protection ol
laws and regulations through which the inhidious
pcstilcncc cannot break. lie believed TINT i was
The right privilege and prcrogltiNo OF the States "a
make these regulations, and they were not TO DC
broken, down by any less experienced and more
Government. lie quoted from the decision in tho
famous New York passenger cases (thc cmgrnn'
hoidmoncy eases dGta Of the Judges of the Su
prcmo Court, TO the effect that the power to make
quarantine regulations was apOlice power, and was
in the states, not in the General Government.
Mr. RENGAN said he could not concur with the
gentlemen from Michigan and Mississippi lNr
McGowNn and Mr. Manning rs - the power of The
General Government to take charge of sanitary and
police regulations, nor could he go rs lar as TIC
Gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Rico assuming
That the General Government could not, through it
consular agencies and otherwise ADOPT mehus L
prevent the introduction of epidemic diseases IRON
iDrCign countries. His (Mr RcgNns) idea was lha
The action of the General Government should b,
limited to keeping out the introduction of disease
from abroad, and that the States should establish
and exercise police and quarantine regulations N
their respective ports. The General Goicrnmcn
should aid and cooperate with the states.
Mr., GOoDE denied that the bll ihirngcd nppl
State quarantine regulations. II simply provided
that the National Board of Health should AID SWlt
or municipal authorities In the execution Nnu en-
fDrccmcnt of the rules and regulations oil lh'
different state Governments,
Mr.. CONGER advocated the bill, which, II II mean
nuXtliuU lupuut llut tlp Federal ltUNprlmGut llut
supreme and absolute authority over the states /
State Rights could come into the exercise Of nm i'm
pOrtant power of Congress TO defend the people lt
Them come Let those who advocated them brllll
in the rights of the States to forbid Congress non
following the impulse Of It's nature, Let stat
Rights men pass this bill, ana lhey passed lh
Rubicon. Let them pass this bill, which the scOurg
of pestilGnCc compelled them TO pass Uor III u.
other way could they shut out the scourgc of pest
lcuCG from the lHnd) ana they Orcslcppud all thcl
ilucly-drRwm distinctions. The friends OF stat
Rights dare not mako that question paramount
when the lives of thousands OF their ieuw'Cltizen
were quivcring in the balance between the doGtrln
Of state Rights aud the power of the General GoN
crnment 10 fence out lcsticnco and disease AN
death
Ten years ago, when he had first become MON
Der Of the Committee on Commerce, SlRlc'klghl
men had come in obedience to the command 4
their constituents to urge appropriations iOr river
and hurbOrS, saying ut the same llmc mat lhcS lN
been brought up 10 believe lhNl the General liu\
Crnmcut had no right TO make such appropriations
The committee had said Then you cannot nav
the appropriations" and the gentle urglngS IN
the Little petitions of the constituents At home hA
suppcd the foundations OF state nights III the mlnt
OF those immortal statesmen, ana they had yicldc
the point Laughter lie had for the last two