The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-14
J. HOLCOMB, Editor & Publisher.

not serve their ends.
In return for this liberality Of the State
and in view ct the interests of the blind,
we have ever wished TO extend the bene-
fits of the establishment as widely as pos.
sible. We were not obliged, by the
terms of the grant, 10 receive more :han
twenty beneiciaries, but W. have never
hesilated TO admit any applicant Of proper
age and character The number of pu>
pills from Massachusetts has. for many
wears been greater Than twenty, and 1t is
now thirty >seven. Indeed, the Institution
is virtually open to all /; and every young
blind person OF this Safe may ob.ain in it
a course OF instruction graluitously.
The amount Of money received from
the stale has been somewhat lesseDed DUR
ing the last two or three years, and for
this reason. There is an annual appro-
~priation of six thousand dollars for the
benefit ofthis Institution, and as much for
the education Of the deaf mutes, bat as the
Asylum at Hartford charges only one
hundred dollars per annum* for each pupil
admitted. it follows that there will be an
~unexpended balance, if less than sixty are
sent there. Formerly the number was
not over thirty; but within two or three
years it has increased very much, in con.
sequence Of the Trustees of the Asylum
conserving 20 receive pupils al an early
age, and the money that would have been
paid 10 our Institution has been paid to
that at Hartford.
This decrease Of income would have
caused some embarrassment, had it not
been that a few leeacies were left U.S.
But in no case could we regret that a
greater number Of mutes are educated i;
and, indeed, individual members of our
Board used what influence they couId 10
procure the increased facilities for the in
struction of that mos, interesting Glass;
! We were confident that the State could
and would provide fully both for the blind
and the mutes, even if an increased APP
preparation should be necessary. AILlhe
other States OF New England have made
appropriations for the instruction of the
blind ; and all Of them, as we'll as South
Carolina, send pupils to our school but
as the sum charged for each does not ex>
coed the actual cost Of his maintenance and
instruction, this circumstance does not re-
ally add 10 the funds OF the Institution
Nevertheless, although This is no, a source
Of pecuniary profit, it is one Of great pleas
ure, because i, widens the circle of %usefuIs
ness ; and it is certainly a source of just
graduation to the Stale 10 be able to offer
to her sister States the means of educating
their blind cheaper than it could be done
at home.
Besides The regular appropriation from
the State of Massachusetts, the Institution
has received occasionally striking proofs
Of the confidence and esteem OF individu-
ais, in the shape Of donations and lega>
cies. These have furnished Us with the
means Of increasing the comfort and ex.
tending the usefulness Of the establish.
ment and we hope they will be continue
ed. because the funded properly is so very
small, that they furnish the only means
for contingent and extraordinary ex-
penses.
But iii reviewing the fourteen years Of
the existence Of our Institution, II is net its
immediate success alone which gives US
cause 10 congratulate the Safe aud the
CORPORATION ; for during that period six
similar schools have been established in
the United States, some of which have at.
tanned great importance and excellence,
and ell Of which give promise Of perma-
nent usefulness. The success of these
establishments, aud The rapid spread OF
facilities for inslructing The blind, are a
mong the cheering signs Of the tines
They show how accessible are the hearts
of legislatures and people, when appealed
to 10 a cast where suffering is unques-
tionable, and where the relief which is
asked for cannot lead to imposition, nor
increase the original evil.
1t is hardly sixteen years since the in.
%s!ruclion OF the blind in The common
branches of education began TO BIZ first
talked Of ia this country as a. possible
thing but as soon as lis feasibility was
shown clearly, then States and people be~
gan to vie with each o'her. in their ef:>fts
10 effect it. Pupils from our Institution
have been exhibited by the Directors in
all the New England Societies, in Ohio,
Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina,
Georgia and Louisiana ; and 10 all OF
them the plans proposed for the benefit of
the blind found instant favor.
Olher institutions have been active and
successful in creating an interest in the
subject in their own and ia contiguous
States, SO that now seven schools for the
blind receive pupils from seventeen of the
United States. Such success in this par
ticular department Of humanity furnishes
abundant encouragement to persevers in
it. and to enter upon new and explored
fields Of exertion. A deed OF charity done
in the spirit Of love is never lost upon the
doer, however it may be upon others; and
an individual or a government, if led by
the RIGHT motives 10 enpnpa in one work