The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-24

in each year-grand juries being usual
no oltener summoned, and States attor
MES, believe, seldom, if ever, in sucI
cases, filing information. The obviou
Il difficulty of reaching, by such an an
:, nual process, all the violations of the Ii
. cence laws. connected with the facts tina
the maximum of the penalty is but $40
would seem to suggest the propriety
OF either giving the jurisdiction to justice:
Of the peace, or Of making provision
that they may bind over offenders with
the witnesses, to the county courts, as
often as the offences shall he committed
If we are to have laws on this subject
they should be enforced. Every good
citizen must desire this, whatever may
be his opinions on the question of tenn
perance. Better. far better, to have no
laws than to permit them to stand on the
statute book unexecuted since there is
thus added to the prohibited, and yet
permitted evil, that other great evil of a
practical denial Of the righttul suprem acy
oflaw.
have been furnished in advance, with
copies of the eighth annual reports Of the
Trustees and Superintendent OF the YER
mont Asylum for The insane. From these
reports it appears, that during the past
year, 232 patients have enjoyed the bene-
fits of the Asylum; thot 90 have been ad-
mited to it, and IA discharged; and that
1873 remain. Oft discharged who had
been insane, not exceeding six months, SO
per cent. have recovered; while of those
whose insanity had been of longer dura-
ton, the proportion Of the restored has
been but "a per cent.-showlng what
should universally be known, the great
importance OF early efforts 10 secure for
the insane the benefits Of the institution
The reports show tina; inveterate cases,
supposed to be beyond the reach Of a per-
feet cure, may be very greatly ameIiora>
ted. Several touching examples of these
are given 10 The report OF the Trustees, in
which persons have, after arrangement
of from IL to 80 years, been taken, in con-
dilions of horrible wretchedness, from
cages and cells, their chains knocked of,
and within few weeks from their en-
trance into the Asylum, have been persua-
ded to enjoy the luxury of comfortable beds
and with safety admitted to receive their
food with knives and forks at a common
table.
anu happy 10 learn that since the last
report, additions 10 the buildings have
been completed, so as, in the opinion of
the Trustees, TO furnish accommodations
fully adequate 10 The wants of the State
1t appears also thai reduction has been
made in the terms of admission, by reason
Of the means which additional buildings
have furnished for the accommodation of
a greater number of patients, withou. the
necessity of increasing the number of Of
fccrs OF the Asylum.
1t is an exceedingly firling and important
arrangement in the institution, that facili-
ties are furnished for the employment Of
the inmates in the occupations to which
they have been accustomed-the influence
of which, with appropriate amusement,
upon their health & as means of restora-
lion 10 mental soundness is apparent.
Itappears that the income, during the
past year, has been a58l,l4 more than
the expenditures; leaving as general re-
suit, after allowing for bad debts, small
balance in favor of the institution.
The report ofthe Trustees bears strong
testimony TO the judicious management Of
The Superintendent; 10 whose exerllons the
State is evidently very greatly indebted for
the success OF this valuable institution, in
accomplishing the humane purpose Of its
establishment,
The appeal at the close of the report of
the Trustees, in behalf of the insane poor
OF the state, is worthy of consideration.
There is no conceivable claim upon Chris.
tan charity so strong as that which comes
from those who are destitute alike of rea'
son, and Of appropriate means for its res
toration. That claim, it is feared, will
not be adequately met by towns charged.
Bile with the support and maintenance of
such poor-the furnishing them the means
of restoration to mental soundness, or
even of amelioraling their insanity in cases
where it is supposed 10 be incurabIe, con-
stiluing, under existing laws, no part of
the legal duly of the town. Whether if
such duty was imposed on them, it would
result in securing the needed relief or Sc
curing it as promptly and efectually as it
should be, may perhaps admit OF ques>
ton. submit whether further provision
should not be made by law, for securing
the benefits of the asylum to all the insane
poor within the State.
The tern of one of the Senators of this
State in the Congress Of the United States
will expire on the third OF March next
1t will, therefore. become your duty to
elect person to represent this State in the
Senate OF the United States for six years
from and after that time.
have received from my predecessor
sundry resolutions Of other States of the
Union, communicated to him with requests
] IL. Il I l. l. IL III.