Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-19
WESTERN ASYLUM.

We are gratified TO perceive from the proceed
ings Of :he House OF Delegates that bill passed
that body on the lth inst, appropratipg $50, 600
Stanton; AMI we presume there will be no diff
Guilty about its receiving the sanction of the Senate
There are now about IS applications for admis-
sion into the Institution, and all the apartments are
occupied. This fact conclusivels demonstrates the
absolute necessity of extending the means of ac-
commodation. The proposed appropriation, we
understand, will provide comfortable dormitories,
dining rooms, attendants rooms, sc. for $50 add-
,ional patients, which will make the aggregate
number something over 400 and it is presumed no
further expenditures will be required for the insane
white population Of Virginia. Strange to say, how
ever, there are no means yet provided for insane
negroes or mulattoes, bond or free. That subject,
however, has engaged the attention of the Legis-
lature during the present session, and the supern-
tendens of the two Asylums have been called on
by resolution of The House of Delegates to give
such Information as may enable the Legislature to
act advsedly in regard to it. We sincerely hope
that means may be afforded for the relief of the az
fllcted OF both those classes of our population.
The humane and judicious system Of treatment
adopted in our Asylums, has done much to remove
the preudices which formerly existed against send
ing insane persons TO public curative Institutions
Hence it is that the number of their inmates has
been, of late years, so much increased. Some have
supposed that insanity itself had increased But
we apprehend that such is not the fact. The CEN
sus will show that the per centum of insane popu-
lation about keeps pace with the aggregate increase
Of population.
II would be curious subject of speculation for
one who had the time and access to authentic sour
ces Of information, to ascertain what is the proper.
ton of Insane persons in the different countries and
under the different forms of government known to
the world, and then TO determine how far these re-
suits were r-3duced by political and social instiu-
lions, and the abundance or scarcity of the means
of Observation-Disclosures pretending to possess any
accurate information, we would hazard the asser
ton that there is larger relative proportion of in
sane persons in the United States than in any other
country. This result we suppose would be the
natural consequence of the wider scope which is af
forded for thought and action in our country than
in any other, and from the unsettled condition of
our society. In the old countries, and under
governments which impose many restraints on the
freedom OF speech and the press, the minds of men
are not let loose into such boundess prariss of spec
uatlon and enterprise, as opened up TO the A
merican people. And where society has become
stratiied by the usages of ages men are content to
remain IN the class and Of The class in which they
were born. But in the United States where we
all start from the same level and the Presidential
Chair is the legitimate goal ofambition to the hum
blest pupil of an old field school, there must ever
be restlessness and a straining after distinction,
which, whilst ii leads generally to the most perfect
development of the faculties of the human mind
not unlrequently terminates in insanity.
The phrenzy of political excitement which too
often pervades our country and the commissions in
its financial affairs with the vcissitud IS in the ne
cuniary circumstances particularly of the mercantile
classes, must lead TO fearful shocks in the nervous
and intellectual constitutions.
But more than every other cause do we suppose
the excessive use of intoxicating liquors in the Uni
ted States tends to swell the per centage of nsan-
ty.
We should be very much gratifed if the super
intendens of our Asyums would turn their thoughts
into this channel and favour the public with their
views in regard to subject SO full of interest and
SO worthy to engage the attention oflhe phanthro-
plst the politician and the philosopher