Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-16

hrs friends considered II unsafe 10 allow him
10 be NJ large. Sir, ho was shut up IN jail,
close beside raviDg maniac. Can their hcarts,
eau their conscinnces, rema in at pence in such
a state of things
| Sir, there are men enough ready 10 contri-
butte. a good deal Of pains has been taken to
circulate information in regard to the condition
Of this unhappy class in this State, and out Of
II il a book Of facts has been circulated widely.
Now ia the time, when the sympathies Of The
benevolent and philapthroPc, Of those whoSe
hearts are moved AT the aspect OF human suf-
ferng are aroused. Now, ] say, is the time
for action. ] am sorry, sir, that Rhode Island
is so far behind tho age, on this subject. Con-
nccticut has her reiug. (or Che insane. Massa-
chusetts has hers, with Dr. Woodard, a man
of the greatest ability, 10 snperiniend IT, How
often, in these institutions, are the insane re-
stored TO health and bapprDrss--the shattered
intellect repaired, aud the raving maniac re-
turned whole in mind and body TO the bosom
of bis family. In these institutions these dis
eases are made a study, and the mode of cur
ing them the subject Of constant experiment
and nvesiigation. See what Interest these
States around us have taken ip this matter,
ard then recalled that wa have $50 900 be-
queaihcd, given to us for The establishment Of
i an Asy lum--and that money is lying idle
Sir, IL oug ht to inctc the moral sense of every
rnsn,ber of this Assembly-tha moral sense
which was shocked at The idea OF u lottery,
whic h could not suffer one in rxistence-can
il sleep on upconcerned, and suffer these cry
ing evils to exist among us, with the means of
reform placed in our hands Mr.. Updiks
then read the portion Of the will of the late
Hon. Nicholas Brown, containing the bcquest
Of $50, 900 for the establishment of a hospital
for the insane, and said,l ! do not see any
ground for delay on the part of The executors
Of this will, il the Legislature will only act
II the Legislature will not act, Of course tho
executors will do nothing. But let The Lcgis-
laturo once act. and these executors viii cheer
fully, readily, promptly cooperate with H.
! The gentleman who made this bcqucst was
one of The best, the most noble. hearted aud
Iphilanihropic man that ever lived, aud with
this solemn in junction To his executors, address
Sod 10 them IN his last will and testament,
"Do y0u lhnk they will throw any obstacles
IN the way of The accomplishment Of this OBJ
| ject "'' No, sir---no sir, they will Join heart
and hand in it.
Now sir, ! am informed by n gentleman ia
whose Judgment and information, | place the
utmost confidence, that Il suitable building
might be erected for $3n,OOO. And if not, sir,
more can be raised. Money viii not be- want
II ing. | have now n number of letters in my
pocket from individuals stating that they ara
ready to contribute, To aid in this good work
to pour out their money like water Sir il is
no wonder that they are willing, anxious to do
so in view of the conclusion of this unhappy
class of persons in our midst. These men
upon whom the Proyidcncs of God has visited
The dircst aiiliciion 10 which human nature is
liable, are sometimes treated IN a way which
il makes ones blood run cold to think Of
Men afo shut up in holes, chained 10 rocks,
chained like wild beasts in dcns. Sir, wo
have health aud strength and reason, and we
ought to be grateful for it--but how easily may
we be deprived of it-how easily may ilr lamp
oi reason be quenched in any mind. Shut ont
from the blessed light of day, from the free air
# heaven, from the npanionship, aye, from
he very sight Of our fellow men. Who
would noi be made crazy by such treatment,
if he was sane b, fore. Which of our minds
would stand the test Of so many accumulated
liorrors' Sir, the most heart rending scenes
are daily .naciing in this State, which wrro
they but known, would excite the pity, the
sympathy, the carDesi efforts Of tie whole
community ] have myself known mn individu-
al from a very respectable family, Il man sir,
IN whose VEINS flowed the blood of heroic
sircs-and who was visited by this atlliction.
lie was scEt Ia jail-and kept there until his
little property bad been exhausted in his sup.
port and then he was placed in hole dug in
The side Of bank, boarded up and chained To
a rock. his cries aud shrirks could often bs
heard by The passers by Al length in ono Of
his paToxysms of fury, he burst his bonds and
escaped and after the lapse Of two years, re.
turned home perfectly restored Such was tho
effect Of kindness aud comfort upon one who
IL his confinement had continued, might TO
this day, have remained n furious madman.
Sir, nsanity may br prodnc,d by this treat
mcnt, it il sure to be confirmed and continued
by II. Gan we rest IN pence over these facts
another hOnr Can we sleep over them
another night without doing something Let
us act aud act speedily Let nv extend this
committee. do hope there will be i,nmedl-
ate action on this subject. Mr. Updike then
moved there should be an addition to that
committee.
Mr.. Branch said he agreed with the gcntlc-
man (Nr. w. in all that he had said That
ho felt the importance Of action. That not
being chairman OF the committee il did not
belong to him to call them together. II is
much easier Sir, to talk than to act, especially
when we are here in comfort and leisure, but
still as ] perceive tho gentleman seems to feel
a deep interest in The subject ! move that he
be added to the committee.
Mr., Crans,on objected ot FIRST on the
ground that II might seem TO imply n censure
of the conduct of the committee but after
wards Withdrew his objection.
Mr.. Urdike and Mr. Dixon were then ad-
ded to the committee.
Mr.. Updike read an act 10 provide for the
ascerianment Of The condition Of the public
schools OF this State.
Twenty five Thousand dollars, said Mr. u,
ire appropriated ont of the Treasury Of this
State for the support of public schools, and
m equal sum is raised by tho town. Fifty
thousand dollars is therefore annually cxpcn-
led for this object. Is this expenditure
'enefcni or not? ! fear Sir, thnt in many of
'nr towns il is far from benefcal-that It is
wasted and thrown away. Having this fund
hey hire a man to teach so long as the mon
y received from the State VIII pay him,
md the very day that il gives o,li, ihc school
eases, II IT is only two months in The year.
This IS great evil. ] am confident, that in
he State Of Rhode Island. the free school
ystem M II now exists is no blessing. with
he exception Of the city of Providence,
where 'hc schools hre differently managed,
nd where they have n wonderful advantage
ver The Other towns OF the State. Now, Sir,
here arc funds enough to establish schools,
nd good schools, " they were properly
But as they now are, | would
ot ask for any more funds. Money enough
, wostpd now poured ,ut imam ,bo ..,J