Mr. HOWE. I am not going to argue this“ question at any length. I care but very little whether this bill pass or not. I do not think it a very important matter whether the U.S. assume the exercise of the power which is asserted inthis bill or not at the present juncture. I thinklit of immense importance that the U.S. should not admit that they have not the power which is asserted here. The newspapers say this morning that 2 vessels in the harbor of NewYork are lyingint anchor under the quarantine regulations of that city with cholera on board. Those 2 vessels are not said. to be American vessels, but I assume that they are stamped with the national authority, sailing the seas by the national permission, bearing the national flag. They have been brought to anchor, not in the port to which they were destined and where they wish to unload, but shortofthat; and the question which I wish should not be lost sight of is, where resides the authority to bring those 2 national ships to anchor, to stop them on their route short of their point of destination? My friendfrom Maine says it is in the city of NewYork if they are bound to NewYork, or it is in the State of NewYork if they are bound to a harbor in NewYork. This bill asserts, I think in terms, that it is in the nation, that by no authority short of that can they rightfully be sto pod. That we have conceded the exercise of this poWerfor sanitary purposes to the different municipalities or the different States, from the foundation of the Government, I suspect istrue. I do not know that there has been any departure from it. The nation has not seen fit to assume the responsibility of taking this sanitary interest under its care, has permitted the exercise of this power to. the several States and municipalities; but that the Constitution leaves it to them, I do not believe, Mr. President, at all. That the Constitution does not give it to us, to the national authority, I never can be made to concede. It is the exercise of a very high prerogative, striking at the very freedom of all our commerce, for the power which can sto one of your vessels on or route a 100 feet from the dock to which she is destined and where she wants to unload wherever you find the power that can do that, you find the power that can arrest every one of the ships belonging to your commerce. Ifyou say that it is in the several States, your power to regulate commerce, for which as much as for anything you formed this Government, is the nierest bagatelle in the world; it is worth nothing. As I said before, I do not care whether we assume the responsibility now at this juncture or not. The Senfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. Comm] told us the other day, as if with authority, that it is entirely useless, that this disease, cholera, is not contagious, is not infections, cannot be fenced up, and it is useless to attempt it. I do not know how that is. I am not a medical man. I do not know but that medical authorities are disagreed upon it I; I believe they are. This proposition says nothing more than that the several otheers named shal be a board of commissioners to take the control of this matter. lf they are instructed or shall become satisfied that this disease is not contagious, is not infections, is not portable, that there is no danger to be apprehended from it growing out of our commercial relations with other countries, than I think we ought in the interests of our commerce to say to the muni cipal authorities of NewYork and of every ot ier city, “ You must not step the national ships on the highways, let them come to their regular docks, and let them be discharged in the due course of their business.” We ought to relieve them from that embarrassment. We ought to make up our minds to one of 2 things, either that this is a national enemy, to be guarded against, to be shut out, or that it is not a national enemy, and therefore relieve our commerce from all disabilities and all burdens by. reason of it.