Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-11-30


Of the numerous conspirscies and escapes that
have occurred within the term Of the present
lease. An Increase Of the present number oil
cells, under such circumstances, becomes ooso
lutely Necessary. recommend also that some
provision be made for the separate confinement
OF female convicts.
| | feel it to be my duty, to recommend TO your
serious consideration, the erection oil a Lunatc
Asylum in this State. From the census Of
! 1870, taken by the General Government, il ap.
pears that there are in Missouri sixy.eight insane
and idiot persons. From a fair proportion OF
these and from the probable increase Of this mum.
Der since that time, it is reasonable TO suppose
that there are now in our State about fifty insane
persons. BY the provisions Of on law, such
unfortunate beings are confined in our county
| iaiIs, where they seldom If ever, receive any OF
those soft and kind attentions that have been
found so necessary for their recovery and restora.
ton TO society. This has forced many OF our cit
liens TO send TO foreign institutions Of this kind
the insane who happened to be connected with
them by ties OF relationship or dependence. This
should not be so, and we should alter at the ear.
les practicable period, our system o! policy
which seems 10 regard these hepess beings as fit
subjects for association with felons and murder.
e!s as men whose misfortune is made the subject
OF the same punishment as the violators Of the
criminal code Of the land, and whose secure con
6nement in prison is considered essential 10 the
Tepose Of society.
The very construction OF our county prison
preludes the idea OF the comfort that is essential 10
the proper repose OF the insane confined therein,
and the usual management Of these institutions
necessarily debars such unfortunate inmates from
the liberty and apparent freedom from restraint,
thatare found 10 be such important agents in sooh
ing and Strengthening their disordered intellecs.
1t is true that kind Tailor may sometimes anne.
liorate their condition. but it can scarcely be sup.
posed that his attention, distracted by his other
prisoners. can be rendered very serviceable, or
that his efforts can tend much to the recovery Of
the lunatcs in his custody, when he has neither
the skill nor time to use the onl means that have
been found effecual in their cure. The conse.
quence is that the future restoration Of the unatc,
if not rendered wholly impossible, is made mat.
ter Of great doubt and difficulty. 1t is our duty,
as a christian people, TO treat these msera able
beings, from whom, for some wise purpose,
Doubt ess, our Creator has withheld the noblest
one Of his gifts as fit subjects for our compassion
and not as objects OF our punishment, and to re-
gard their calamity as an appeal to our protec.
ton and not as an incentive TO our inhumanity.
made for the erection or purchase OF suitable
building, in the City OF Jefferson, for the recep.
ton OF the lunalcs OF our State 1t is true that
the finances OF our State will not justify the ex
penditure OF large amount for this purpose, but
in matter that appeals so strongly 10 our hu.
mainly, the only consideration of cost that ought
to be entertained should be that which would lin.
it the expense 10 the amount absolutely ne, essa.
ry to effect the object. The statistical tables
from other States show an immense proportion Of
cures OF the insane committed within year. and
as the number with US is as yet small, the annual
expense, after the Institution is once in operation
and with the fair proportion Of cures, would be
comparatively nconsderable. There is also
another point of view in which this institution
may be beneficial The plea OF insanity has
become very common one, in case Of homicide,
and when it is used successfully, the offender is
turned loose on the community, perhaps 10 repeat
the offence for which he was arraigned. Would
it not be we'll by making this plea special one,
one on which the Jury must specially determine
on the fact Of madness, to imprison the accused
in the Asylum until he has been pronounced by
competent authority, entirely cured OF his homi.
cidal propensities? To these subjects invite
your serious attention.
transmit to you the annual report OF the In.
spectors Of the State Tobacco Warehouse in St.
Louis. From their statement it will be seen
that the receipts on account OF the State for the
last fiscal year, amount 10 the sum OF seven hun
bred and sixty dollars and fifty cents. When it
is recolleced that the sum OF two thousand five
hundred dollars is annually paid by the State, on
its bonds issued for the purchase Of the site and
and the erection OF this warehouse, it becomes
matter Of grave consideration whether the State
should not free itself from this ncumbrance. 1t
is true that the estimated receipts for the first
year may not be considered as fair average for
The future, but may moi the expectation be Justly
entertained, that the trade in this staple OF our
State increases, private enterprise will start up 10
participate in its benefits? In such an event com.
petition will reduce the income OF the State ware.
house, and it will be rendered very questionable,
whether at any time, the revenue, derived from
this source, will equal the amount Of interest
annually accrung
No injury can arise to our citizens from the dis
continuance OF this warehouse, as the inspection
OF tobacco can still be obtained in ST. Louis.
am OF the opinion that it is the interest OF the
State 10 dispose Of this property at the earliest pc.
Rod. The increased value Of real estate in the
City OF ST. Louis, induces me TO believe that the
State can dispose OF it on such terms as will Sc
cure it from any serious loss.
The Auditor OF Public Accounts will in due
time report TO you the condition OF the Treasury
at the end OF the two last fiscal years. From his
report you will find that the balance remaining
in the Treasury on the first day of October, 1942,
was, $4l, 1856 36
The amount received during the
L..