The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-07-11

Just invoked. AT the present moment, more than
ever, respect for those principles by the great Pow
can alone preserve Europe from the gravest dis
asters.
Relief of the Insane--Humane Efforts
of Miss Dix.
One of the most forcible and gratifying exem-
Publications. of genuine philanthropy of the present
day is furnished in the person of Miss d. l.. Dix,
sister of Senator Dix, of New York. There is
scarcely any portion of our widely extended coun-
try but has witnessed her disnterested and active
efforts in behalf of the insane With the view of
promoting the objects which she has labored to
attain, she has recently memoralized Congress for
the establishment of an Asylum for the INDECENT
durable and incurable insane in the United States
The memorial was presented to the Senate by Mr..
Pearce, Senator from New Hampshire, who, at tie
time, accompanied it by some very appropriate re-
marks.
Nothing can be more pleasing to the genuine
philanhropist, than the contemplation of such de-
voted, dsinterested and truly noble efforts in behalf
of the unfortunate of our species as have been ex-
hibited by this lady She unites in her own char
acter all the graces and virtues which adorn her
sex, and has unremittingly devoted her time and
talents for many years to the attainment of the
purposes of her noble humanity. She has gath
cred from public documents--and very largely from
her own experience aud observations variety of
facts, the recital Of which is of the most touching
and impressive character Her memorial shows
that the number of insane in the United States at
the taking Of the last census was about IS 900, and
that this number at the present time has swollen to
| more than $4,000 A singular view presented is
that this class of sufferers in the United States is
more Numerous, in proportion to our population
| -, III. '
u"r IN any o'uei Ano"i country anu this seems re-
theiact that there exists in other country
such freedom OF civil political and religious insti
tutons and of course that tbera ia NO ,,bara aIso
,ho al IS -
He sA'iie aru iiunioe. Vi causes Oh hentai
excitement SklHui Physlclans, experienced IN
| the management of the insane, have demonstrated
how much NAV be done for the care and imnrove
ment of that class bv means pronerl,, ,J,rtod a.
,ba; 4r.,.,,a,,.. - ~ 49,, 49,
80, snu sne iaotS collecteo Dy TINS
'-sS sH'" ny" usPiolapy destitute the most OF
them are we make the following extracts fromt
her memorial in which she sums up the results of
some of her observations:
ssI rsneat that ,hass institutions EharalI,, s,.
,;l ~ 90 No., S g. $3.50, y 9us
;rs roo,p, ,ar,s,lial go nv AZ
I, nav IL suSgas,ad ,bot ,bo,,ob boso;,I ..a..
IL yneit snaI ne IL % 81. h bl,tI
H., 81 ,ast 70
ditiOn ba oOnsdared onJ in,
whom The right exercise If the n asoning Cscn,iss
NAV he looked upon as mast hone. Rather than
enter upon a philosophical and abstract argument
to prove the contrary 10 be the fact will ask per
mission to spread before YOU fen statements gath
cred, without special selection, from a mass of
records made from existing cases, sought out and
noted during eighfg years of sad patient deliberate
investigation. TO assure accuracy, establish facts
beyond controversy and procure SO far as possible
temporary or permanent relief, more than sixty
thousand miles have been traversed and no time or
labor spared which fidelity 10 this imperative and
grievous vocation demanded. The only States as
vet unvisiied are North Carolina, Florida, and
Texas. From each of These however, have had
communications, which clearly prove that the con-
ditions of the INDECENT insane differ in no essential
degree from those Of other States
g have myself seen more than nine thousand
IDIOTS epileptics, and insane in the United States
destitute of appropriate care and protection and
| of this vast and most miserable company, sought
out in jdlS, in poor houses and in private dDedings
there have been hundreds, nay thousands, bound
with calling chains, bowed beneath letters and
heaVy iron balis attached to drag chains, aeerated
Win .oPes, sCoulgeu WIN rocs ana lefIlled beneath
snhect m ghes and scorn and tor,nrin ,ricLs ,'
abandoned TO the most loatbsome necessities or
subject TO the ves and most outrageous violations
these are strong Terms, but the language fails to
con Ty tLle ASTOUNDING truths.
;tnassad ~ daa;I n 'Jn gFo' 'ne Hoene sue HAS
I -. 1..I
ampIes Of insane men and women in 6l,5,, ceUc
chained and hobbIed together with many idiots and
| epileptics wandering abroad. Some were con
hned IN low, damp dark cellars; some wasted
,meh en,s'enIe ~ IledlS dungeons eeserlea anu
scrlbng the snfsTinos Of thssa nbsnnv be;nos
dav even. What must be the accnmnlaiion of
the woes and pains of years, consigned to prisons
and oor-houses, to cells and dungeons, enduring
eneIy variety VI PlSatod5nelpless' dessrte9 OF
inc ENTERTAINMENT mains snd ARISES Tbssa =
no tales of fiction. believe Thai there is no inn.
agnable form of severity, of cruelty, of neglect,
OF every sort OF lll-manaeement for mind and
uooy' 10 Mncn nave nor seen .he insane subject
~ an our country, except we snree sections mere
tba Ia rgss, eassr Of ,hesa h,,
whiIs IF late wears omc5 s aoons,nIabad ou,i
mora 10 nronossJ bv far ,be Imp, a'L
those who suffer remain unrelieved and must doso,
except the General Government untes to assist the
several States in this work
Although the labors of this lady have procured
munifcent donations from wealthy md banavoIen,
indi,iaoI 90 III. -
anu Hooio s'an's from souie Vi t'e
Sales' the unioriuna'es tor whom they are intend
| ed N vel 10 ada ;lnl