Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-09-10

G.rWe regret that we have not found room to
publish n speech recently made by the Hon. .. H.
Smith, in the Senate of tho u. States on the sub
iect Of granting lands TO the several States for the
instruction of the deef and dumb, the blind and
insane. Ii has been copied into several eastern
and western papers, and is spoken of in high terms
of commentator, not only for the ability with
which the subject is treated, but the high moral
sentiments it contains. We hope to transfer it
10 our columns at future day; in the mean sub
Join the following remarks concerning II from the
Philadelphia Gazette.
"We insert upon our first page speech dei'V-
cred some weeks ago in tho Senate, by the inde'
fatigable chairman of the committee on Public
Lands, Mr.. Smith. of Indiana, on the subject of
the Deaf and Dumb, the Blind and Insane. 1t Is
rather more Of n report than speech, ns IS JUST
" remarked by the Senator himself, and contains
statistics and information on various points CON
nected with these three classes of unfortunaies
who are especially dcpen upon the guardian
ship and kindness Of their fellow beings 1t Is
due TO the Senator from Indiana, that this effort
Of his in the cause of humanity should be &C
know'edged; the claims Of The afflicted have been
al least strongly though simply presented by hIm.
The aggregates which he has collected IRON the
late census plead for themselves. 1t is also sat
isfactory TO advert to the subject, because it does
not often unprecedented il conid not 10 expect
cd that legislative attention is busy with ques
lion Of pure benevoIence.
tits curious 10 notice that there is no very great
di,proportioii between tho averages to the whole
popula ton in each class, the Blind, Deaf aIates
and Insane, the average in the las. being the low
aat. he Tps ont mhert be tharS may
be doubted whether the census tells the whole
Of the melancholy truth in the of this class
for it should be- borne in mind tina, there is like
TO be much difficulty, for various reasons, IN oh
tanning complete returns of the number of the 10
sane and IDIOTS.
Itcanno, be an easy matter todiscrimnate in III,
muf,iorm of disordered in,ellec: for the pur
poses Of classification. Insanity is at best not
very definite term, and there not few crazy
folks besides those who are fit inmates uf 4 m7t
house. We do no, know whether the census com
prehends in its returns Of the Insane. that Pccu
liar species of mental dera ngement, which secure
acquit,al from judicial condemnation. but "hicI
needs no restraint after the verdict is gwen. |
is new fashion Of judicial insanity '-enorml
~ Of crime being taken as proof of mental ina
bity TO distinguish between right and wrong, ah'
therefore in point of fact identified with innocence
Mr.. Smiths speech gives some account OF III
improv emen,s in the treatment of tho Insane
Amid many equvoca devices Of modern educa
ton, there is no room TO question the great anne
Iteration in this particular. Il would not be say
ing too much 20 claim a considerable share in thi
improv emen, for the benevolent efforts of tn
Society Of Friends in our own city. Indee
Philadepha has not been wanting in its Iabour
for either of the three classes alluded to-th
Deaf and Dumb, the Blind, end the Insane
Mueh as yet remains to be done for the relief {
tho Insane Poor.
Before Diminishing this subject. we may rerar
that there is one Of the enumerated causes of in
sanity, "Loss Of property and fear Of property,