Speech #520120743

The destructive and alarming effects should it gain a foothold can scarcely be calculated or realized. It behooves us. as the representatives of a people who are threatened with danger. to 1 do that which we feel will most effectually prevent its invasion of our country. t I claim we have the power. under the Constitution. conferred upon the Federal Government. to regulate and protect commerce. i to promote general and domestic tranquility. and provide for the commondefense. which certainly confers upon Congress the power c to prevent the invasion of a pestilence which probably would t destroy more lives than was ever destroyed by any war in which we have been engaged. in order to cope with an enemy which threatens to enter our borders. not only through New York. but s every port upon the Atlantic and Pacific coast and over our northern and southern frontiers. Only yesterday I saw an account of several Polish immigrants who had arrived in Wisconsin by railroad from the East through Canada who were suffering from cholera. Now. in order to cope with the sitdation. the General Government should have full control. that uniformity and energetic action should prevail in the treatment of this pestilence- that threatens to spread over our land. We all feel proud of the city of New York. the great gateway of our country. but we must remember that Now York constitutes but a small part of our country.