The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09
GMentp=Strth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WEDNESDAY, January &, 1871

IN CONTINUATION.
Mr.. BRIGGS moved the adoption of the report, and
that it be printed which was carried.
Mr. WIN. COST JOHNSON moved a suspension
OF the rules that he might report bill providing for
the relief of the lunatics of the District of Columbia.
He that the House would not be five minutes
in the consideration of it, He moved that the House
60 into Committee of the Whole on the considera-
ton of the bill
Mr. CALVARY MORRIS hoped that the House
would consent al once 10 take up this bill He was
satisfied, after having visited the prison where they
were confined that the subject demanded the nmedi-
ate attention of the House, and Of every benevolent
individual
The question on the suspension of the rules was
then put and carried-whereon, at the call of the
Speaker,
Mr. WILLIAMS, of N. c., took the chair and the
House resolved itselfinto Committee of the Whole
the following bill:
BE It enacted by The Senate and House Of Reprseen-
tdtires Of The United States Of America in Congress
assembled, That the marshal ofthe District of Coum-
ba be, and he is hereby authorized to send to the luna
TIC asylum, in Baltimore all such unatic persons
are now confined in the ails of Washington and Alex
andra counties, and all such may hereafter be COM
united as unatics by order of the circuit criminal
courts and that he pay the expenses of their removal
and other maintenance in said asy um, and be allowed
for the in the settlement of his accounts at the
Treasury Of the United States.
Mr.. CUSHING begged for little information
this subject He confessed he did not understand the
matter.
In the first pace-why the corporation ofthe city of
Washington did not take care other own paupers2
Secondly what right paupcrs may be confined in
the common Jail He would ask if there be no aims
house where they might be received if paupersf not
paupers why their relatives called on for their
support-and if this bill be to transfer to the United
States the charge of the lunatics of Washington
Mr. w. COST JOHNSON in reply said that
the lunaics not placed with the paupers because
it would be at the manifest peril of the personal safety
of every pauper. The peril of the paupers would be
the same as of the citizen they allowed their
liberty in the streets.
Then, in relation to the city corporation of Wash
ingon-why they have not built lunatic asylum
For the same reason that the State of Maryland has
never done so till within the last two years-because
they had not the means-and to employ physicians
and give these lunatcs all that is necessary in order
that they might recover their health, that the
reason. The physician had reported to him that many
of these lunacs would, many of them, have been re-
covered before, but in their sane moments they
depressed with the idea that they confined in the
with tho culprits those who steal and com
nit every outrage society. They were placed there
because there was other place where they could be
put.
He had letter in his hand, from the Superinten
dent of the Lunatic Asylum at Baltimore, stating
that they would receive the unatics of the District at
a moderate compensation. The State of Maryland,
previous to the erection of her Lunatc Asylum, was
in the habit Of sending her unatics to Philadelphia
and he hoped that the Congress of the United States
would feel interest that these lunacs should not
large. Common sympathy calls that these pro-
visions should be adopted
Mr. CUSHING made another inquiry He would
not yield to the gentleman in compassion or in desire
that all proper means-all legal and just means
should be taken for the benefit Of these individuals
But he DESTROYS to know whom the response
bly of assisting and providing for them truly rested
And another inquiry He had asked why these per-
confined in jail2 The answer was, that in
the poor house they would be dangerous to the per
sona safety of the paupers He desired TO know why
the city of Washington can not make provision for |
their confinement in the poor house well in the
jail He was told that among these lunatics were in
dviduals kept in that Jail without the common sup
plies necessary for life, lying the stone floor He
desired still further information this point and to
know by whose fault I is, that these persons are in
this state Of misery and restitution
Mr. w. G. JOHNSON would give an OK PLANTATION
He was told that the Corporation of the City Of
Washington furnishes two dollars per week for the
support of the unatics there confined That was all
they could afford They could not afford 10 emnlov |
physician, and give Il en- all the care and attention
necessary for their restoration. twas this account
that he urged the passage Of this biIthat they should
have the care Of proper physicians and supernten-