Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-10-16

Suhlt STE diOuIu ueUl, udC u1ey dTe HleIl-UOuu W
society, not by the law of force merely, but by the
higher law of moral obligation as well as by the
sympathes Of our common nature.
Such a course of treatment would, doubtless, have
a. very happy influence upon "Vagrants and idle and
disordery PERSONS" for whose restraint and discl-
pine our laws make no provision, save that OF the
town pooT-houses which, by the Dist Sec of chap.
Hof the Revised Statues, are constituted houses of
correction, but which, while they involve the evil OF
an unnatural mingling of the aged and infrm poor
with the FESTIVE and troublesome, can seldom be
made to accomplish to any considerable extent the
purposes Of correction and reform. 4.
The bearing upon our whole system of criminal
justice, Of such process of discipline as may be car
ried into effect in county houses of correcton-es-
pecialy in the cases of juvenile oifenders-is obv-
GUS It's sautary effects would, in due time, be VS.
ibe in diminished drafts upon the State treasury for
the expenses of criminal proceedings; in dlmln-
ished number of convics in the state prison, and in
increasing peace, order and obedience to law thro-
out the community.
have received the ninth annual report of the
Trustees and Superintendent of the Vermont Asy-
lum for the Insane, which presents very gratifying
exhibition of the condition and prospects Of that in
stitution under its present excellent and efficient
government
During the past year 294 have been admitted into
the asylum, so have been discharged, and 263 re-
main. Three hundred and sixty-three have enjoyed
the benefits of the asylum, within the entire year
OF the 80 discharged, 50 have recovered. Of the
48 recent cases discharged there have been 43 re-
coveres In the 81 chronic cases discharged, the
recoveres have been but l6. The great Importance
of obtaining the benefit of the asylum in the early
stages of insanity, is thus rendered apparent.
The annual Suite appropriation for the benefit Of
thednsane poor increased at the last session of
the General Assembly, to $4,000; in consequence
of Which the number of patients at the asylum has
increased during the past year, so as to render the
erection of additional buildings necessary. Addi-
tonal buildings to contain about so rooms, are part
ly finished and occupied, and WILL it is expected, be
completed by the first of Nov next when all the
buildings will be sufficient for the accommodation
of about 300 patients-a number deemed by the
Trustees to be as large as is desirable in one asy
lum.
The report states that such an amount Of funds
will be received from other sources as to supercede
the necessity of an application to the Legislature for
assistance to defray the expense of the additional
accommodations.
Since the first of JAM last l37 patients have sha-
red in the State appropriation of whom 10 have been
discharged; leaving of these cases. 118 now in the
asylum, The existing State appropriation has paid
little more than threehs of the expense of those
who have been III the asylum State benellciarles
during the past year; leaving the remainder to be
paid by those who sent them there and it is esti-
mated by the Trustees, that the appropriation will
be adequate to Gefay, during the next year, but one
third of the expense of the present number of State
benefciaries. They suggest the desirabeness of an
increased appropriation, so >as to defray nearly one
half the expense of that number. | concur in this
suggestion. An increased appropriation would pro-
badly have the effect of inducing towns to place. and
keep at the asylum insane poor persons who might
otherwise be deprived of its benefits There is a
class of cases in which entire recovery might be eff
fected by continuance beyond the limit of the pre-
Sent State appropriation, when restriction to that
limit might render the appropriation, as to them of
little value 1t is very desirable that the insane
poor should not through insufficient inducement to
towns to continue them at the asylum, be returned
uncured, to the miserable condition which, through
the humanity of our legislation, they may have
been permitted to exchange for the substantial com
forts and the improving influence that institution.
The establishment of the asylum, with its excel
lent system of treatment while it has had the effect
of disclosing the terrible secrets of insanity, has
pladdened the hearts of the benevolent, with rea-
sonable hope of giving efiectual relief to large
portion Of the insane, and of mnisering greatly to
the comfort of those who have, by long neglect, be-
come incurable. No object proper for Legislative
aid, makes a stronger appeal to our humanity than
this.
Upon entering upon the duties of Commissioner
of the Deaf and Dumb directed inquiries to the
Superintendent of the American Asylum at Hart
ford Connecticut, for the purpose ofobtamng inior-
nation, in sundry particulars, in regard to the past
connection of that institution with the education of
deaf and dumb persons, at the expense this State
and received, i'll reply, statement specifying, a.
greeaby to my request, the names and residence of
persons supported, in whole in part by this State,
the times of their admission and discharge the peri
4 oF tbairi Mt hn hlic a,,d
the amount paid for each by the State. | transmit
the statement herewith, to the House of representa-
tiyes for the use of the General Assembly. It ap-
pears that from the year 1917, but principally since
the year 1925, 1l3 have been educated in whole or
in part by this State, at expense, up to the LIST of
May last of the sum of $50, ll6 Is.
have made orders for the admission into the A.
sylum, of g. The whole number now in the Asy-
llm, at the public CHARGE is 90. Ofthe appropria-
ton for this object there has been expended during
the past year. the sum of $1,960 o.
The Asylum 10 under a very competent and intel
lgent Superntendency and is, evidently, deserving
the continued patronage ofthe State
In execution of my duty as commissioner ofthe
| Blind have made orders for the admission of two
blind persons into the New England Institution for
the blind, at Boston. The expenditure for the sup
port of the blind, during the past year has been ST.,
100.
In execution OF Ille law Oh ule last SeSSlOH TOVlu-
ing for Geological Survey of the State, appoint
ed Professor Charles B, Adams, Of Middebury, Prn-
cipal Geologst. Mr.. Adams entered on the duties
of the appointment in March last since which time
he has been laboriously engaged, with the aid of
well qualified assistants in prosecuting Geologi-
cal and Neurological survey of the State. The law
having made it the duty of the Geooglst to report
annually to the Governor, the progress of the work,
he has made to me his first annual report, which
shall hereafter communicate to both branches of the
General Assembly.
The labors of the first year of the survey have
been mainly and appropriately directed to general
reconnaissance of the State for the purpose ofdeter
mining its general geological features, including
the limits of the several rock formations preparatory
to more minute investigations in subsequent years.
How well this part of the survey has been perform
ed will appear in the report of the Biologists when
submitted to you. From hasty examination of it.
have been led to believe that it will be found, by
those competent to Judge, to furnish evidence that
the prosecution of the work, thus far has well fulfill
ed the purpose for which the survey was instituted.
The report will be found, think, to contain more
valuable information than is usually embodied in
preliminary reports, especially in the department of
Economical geology, upon which, on account of its