The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-13

Asylum, respectfully requests the favor OF the editor TO
publish in the 'Unon" the memorial to the common
council" to relieve that institution from taxes
TO the Mayor Board of Aldermen and Board Of Com
mon Council Of the city Of Washington;
The memorial and petition of the Washington City
Orphan Asylum respectfully represents
That by act of the Congress of the United States,
bearing date the 2ih day OF May, ls2S, this institution
which had previously existed voluntary ASSOCIATION
OF individual Contributors, became incorporated body.
The object and design OF Its founders are distinctly set
forth IN ITS mare, and recognised IN It's charter II
was instituted for the humane and benevolent purpose OF
providing home, subsistence, maintenance and edu
cation for the destitute male and female children OF
this metropolis Thus far It's resources have been de-
rived from the voluntary contributions OF individuals
the property which il holds, and the amount of which
restricted by the charter of Incorporation from
the same source with the exception OF grant OF some
vacant unnproved and, OF course, unproducve prop,
ery, bestowed upon it by the Hberay OF Congress. All
the means at It's disposal have been faithfully appopa-
ted IN rgld accordance with the intention OF the donors
and, with the exception OF the necessary expenses mel
dent to such an establishment, every cent which has
been expended has been scrupuousy devoted to the
fortunate objects for whose especial beneht the nsu-
ton was originally created A large and commodious
building has been erected upon lot OF ground presented
by liberal beneacor. II is exclusively occupied by
the orphans and the females to whom are ntrusted
under the constant supervision OF the managers their
actual superintendent and care The services OIL me
gentlemen trustees, in whose the property Is held
and OF the lady managers, who have the immediate con-
troll and direction of the establishment, are wholly gra-
tuous, and they necessarily engross much OF their time
and attention In rendering these services, and IN fur-
nshng and obtaining the absolutely necessary to
accomplish the benehcent object OF the institution, the
parties are stimulated by no other nducement than
sense OF Christian duy by an anxious desire to rescue
the infant orphan from the depths OF misery, ignorance
and crime, TO which their unprotected position exposes
them and by a udcious kind and parental care of
those who have been deprived by the providence
of God OF all natural protection and sohcitude to
save them from the Jaws of destruction, both tempo
raj and eternal In thus fulfilling what they sincere
| ly regard among the most prominent religious OBJ
legations they believe they are Likewise discharglng
highly important social duty. If vicious citizen is
equally curse to himself and the community OF which
he is members if, the other hand one trained up I'm
the nurture and admonllion OF the Lord-educated IN
habits of sobrety and industry, taught vencraton TO
those in authority and obedience to the laws bless,
ing TO himself and to society," then every child rescued
from misery and vice, prepared by moral culture and
proper training to become useful IN his sphere OF 1e is
thereby transformed into valuable member OF the COM
munity and contributes, far as his influence may ex
tend TO the aggregate mass OF general happiness ana
prosperity. =,
An institution whose only professed object is the &C
compishmen of such ends, whose whole labor and Ell
forts have been expended their tutherance and when
has been, far lis limited means have permitted emil
nently successful in fulfilling these high designs mgh
with feeling of assured confidence appeal to the coIpo-
authorities for liberal pecunlary AID to enable It 10
enlarge its field of operations and its sphere of useful
ness It might appeal to It's past history to JUSTIFY the
most sanguine ancpaons for the future:
1t may truly be said that every child introduced mo
the Orphan Asylum, and educated within lis walls,
would in all human probability, if not thus provided
for, become burden upon and an INJURY to the c0nnu-
nifty. As mere paupers, their maintenance ana sup
port would impose upon the, city heavy bur,
den of expense Independently OF the direct and
immediate consequences which must result to society
from the vicious and profgae conduct OF these un-
fortunate outcass, and from which it can scarcely be
expected that without adventurous aids they can escape,
main at large in their destitute position, is, that they must
become the inmates of your aims house or house OF cor
rcction We need not detail the expense to which the
community must necessarily be exposed either III mann
/ T. iuip thopo
them criminals From all THESE one[ous puiGeis' III
rect and incidental, you have been renewed; from all
these caantous consequences you have been projected
by the Orphan Asylum far as ITS means ana influences
have operated. 49,. - ),
( Not only however, has this institution been allowed
TO in its of benehcen usefulness WITHOUT
any aid from the corporate authorities, but The managers
now find themselves aborng under heavy and grevous
burden, and oppressed with heavy load IN the shape OF
taxes assessed under your authority upon the very prop
ey which conveyed to them III the expectation tha
it might in the of time, furnish additional means
for extending the benefits OF their institution ms prop
ery is and must long continue To be, wholly unproduc-
tive 1t Yields no to the asylum, and, II II ,s
made to pay the imposed upon It, 1t must be either
abandoned the ncumbrance must be removed by the
appropriation of the very scanty pecunary means which
have been, with infinite difficulty raised ior lhe lnme-
date and pressing wants OF the institution ,rIoPery
thus held is held in trust Tor sacred purposes Inc con-
tributions of public and private charity employed IN
rescuing your destitute poor from CRIME ana
destruction, relieving your treasury rom INC expense
of supporting those who are unfortunate, or con
vcting and Furnishing such OF them as are CRIMINAL are
inns Subjected 10 taxation in order that from them, may
be raised means to be applied TO The geera expense OF
the city Funds raised for the special purpose OF clothing
and feeding those of whom we have assumed the man
agenent, and which, administered with the most scruPu
lous economy, inadequate to meet these eXgehcles
could not even if we had them on hand, be thus appro
priated In all sincerity and frankness, we state that we
have not the means of paying this demand ii you can
afford us no relief the property must be sold; ana hose
lots which though yielding us no revenue, nave
been looked enabling us, at no distant day. 10 IN
crease charity TO an extent IN some proporHoh com
sc fIa nfIn nj fhp pitU
must be inevitably sacrificed for thepurpose OF placing IN
your treasury amount OF money IN itself insignificant
and as we sincerely believe far short OF the sum from winch
Won have been already relieved through the instrument
talv of this institution. May not appeal to your
sense of what mere Justice demands at your hands, to
the most obvious considerations OF what policy ana IN
erest dictate? May invoke authorities still higher
and more sacred and in the name of that Christian charity
of which are the humble mlnstersof that holy re-.
gon which commands us to feed and cothe the poor and
destitute to visit the iaherless their allchon and to
save the vet uncontaninaed innocence OF infancy from
poutono beseech you to interfere, and TO arrest the
i destruction which impends over us!
We cannot conclude this perhaps already too proract-
ed exposition of our case without earnestly requesting
YOU TO reflect upon the consequences which may not I'M
reasonably be anticipated from compulsory sale OF the
property of the Orphan Asylum to meet this demand
We will not dwell upon the Judgment which an i'm
partial intelligent and humane public must pass upon SO
harsh and 1--WE NAV be permitted to say suicidal procedures
on the voluntary expulsion from your borders OF an IN
nues be- exercd at great expense OF private means
and individual labor, in fulfilling duty OF charity and
benevolencein rescung your own poor and destitute
from suffering ignorance, and crmeln substituting
pous and useful education for the progae and vicious
training to which the unfortunate objects under our care