Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-25
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 25. 1893.
A National Quarantine.

II there is any question which IN its very
nature ought to be treated as national
one. il is the proposition 10 establish
national quarantine, and the House of
Representatives voted on Monday. 1873 10
30 that such was the correct constitutional
view. Congress has power % deal with
the subject as IL could not be dealt with
BY the legislatures OF the several States.
But even IL the State legislatures and To-
cal authorities were better qualified to act
upon the subject than Congress 1t would
still remain true that il is the duty of the
latter body to pass laws concerning quar-
antine for uss IN all the States in the
Union. The Federal Constitution ex-
pressly delegates to Congress power to
regulate commerce with foreign nations.
and among the several States. and with
the Indian tribes" What is there left of
the quarantine question for the local
authorities TO take hold of? Why
should there be any doubt enter
tanned as 10 tine right of Congress TO
manage this matterI Is 1t commended
that 10 provide for a national quarantine
is not to regulate commerce Is there
any portion of the commerce OF this coun-
try which is not included in the terms en-
ployed in the Federal Constitution to de-
scribe the commerce which the national
legislature may "regulato"? Read the
words of the grant again: Congress
shall have power to regulate commerce
with foreign nations, and among the seve-
raj States, and with the Indian tribes"
That language includes the whole world
20 wit, foreign nations and the States OF
this Union, and even the despised Indian
tribes. IL Congress had not the power to
provide for q national quarantine the Con-
stitution would for that reason be consid-
cred as having failed TO fulfil the expecta-
tions of its trainers. Mr.. GLADSTONE once
pronounced our Federal Constitution to
be the most wonderful single achieve
ment OF the human brain" But II 1t does
not empower Congress to protect our peo-
pie from pestilence. then 1t is not the in
strument which the greatest of living
Englishmen has pronounced it to be.
We are told that in the State of New
York. for example. the experience OF her
officials has been such as TO qualify them
the duties of framing quarantine regula-
tions. AS we have just said in substance,
this fact, il fact it be. does not discharge
the national legislature from the duty so
10 regulate commerce with foreign
nations" as to keep out of our country
all contagious and infectious and filth
diseases.
Will it be said that New York has already
undertaken 20 establish en- effeotual quar-
sntine? Well. let her confer with the
national authorities and influence them, as
undoubtedly they may be influenced. TO
adopt such quarantine regulations as ex-
perience has shown 10 be the kind needed
for the accomplishment of the objects hal
in view by Congress as well as by the New
York authorities. Let not On inexcusable
jealousy of Federal control of State mat
ters-if this is State matter-induce the
congressman from any State to vote down
the proposition to provide by act of Con-
Cress for national quarantine.
But Tammany is fighting the national
quar- ntine proposition because the local
quarantine laws provide for an immense
amount of patronage? We will not stop
10 consider that question. This large
nation of forty-iour States cannot afford
even TO tolerate leGislation--or failure to
lsgIslate--based upon considerations of
that sort. Let us throw away all IN
worthy motives and be governed by our
sense OF duty. Can anybody entertpin a
doubt as to what is the duty of the Fede-
Isl Government in the premises?
We add that the bill which was passed
low the House Of Representatives on Mon
day provides that the Marine Hospital Ser
vice shall cooperate with State and NUM-
pal boards of health in the enforcement of
the rules of such boards and the regula-
tions prescribed by the Secretary of the
Treasury TO prevent the introduction of
contagious and infectious diseases into the
United States from foreign countries, and
from one State into another; but nothing
shall be construed to warrant Federal
official in relaxing State rules.
SO there can bo no reasonable objection
made to that bill.