Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-09-19
For the Indiana Stale Sentinel
National Convention Of Officers of Institutions
for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.
New YoRK, August 81, 1850


My Dear Sir:-Supposing that your readers may he
interested in very brief account of the Convention of
Officers OF various Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb
in the United States which has Just closed its
sion have concluded to jot down few of the more
important items OF discussion and action.
This is the first meeting of the kind which has been
held side of the Atlantic; and its results cannot
fail to have favorable influence the future progress
OF the cause The following list of the officers and
delegates:
President-Hon Christopher Morgan, Albany
Vice Presidents-Rev. w w. Turner, Conn. DIR. H.
Peet, New York. Joshua Foster, Pa. j. S. Brown,
Ind; w. ID. Cooke, N. c.; Thomas Officer, H.; o.
p. Fannn, Georgia.
secretaries-J. s. Poet, New York, and L. H. Wood
ruff, Conn.
The following are the Delegates present:
From the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb
at Hartford, Conn.-Rev. W. II. Turner, Messrs. l..
H. Woodruff, w Chiffon, and Rev. Samuel Porter.
From the Pennsylvania observation-disclosures. j. FOs-
ter Benz. d. Pettengill, and j Mount.
From the Indiana Insttution-Mr. S. Brown, Su-
perintendent.
From the Illinois Institution-Mr. Thomas Officer,
Principal, and N. NJ. Totten.
From the North Carolina Institution-Mr. w. D.
Cooke, Principal.
From the Georgia Institution-Mr. o. P Fanuin,
Principal.
From the New York Insttution-H p Pect, LII. d.,
President of the Institution and Professors D. f. Bart
lett, J. A. Carey o. w. Morris, J. Van Nostrand I.
Gaaudet, ]. S. Peet F. Poet, and J. H. Benedict;
also P NJ Wetmore first Vice President of the New
York Institution, Hon. j. w. Beckman j. C. Green,
ESD. Rev. G. T. Bedell, Israel Russell, Esq, and
Shepherd Knapp Esq, members of the Board Of Di-
rcctOrs.
Hon Christopher Morgan, Secretary of the State of
New York and Superintendent of Common Schools.
Rev. H. n Brinsmade, ID D., of Newark, Nj; Rev.
J. H. Pettnge of Essex, Conn; G. ID. Loring, of
B9ston and j. r. Burnet, of n. j. former Instructors
of the Deaf and Dumb.
The Convention continued its sittings during three
DAYS and its deliberations were marked with peculiar
interest. Among its members were men who have
grown gray in the profession of teaching mutes, and
whose names will he cherished with admiration and
gratitude through long vista of coming years. Others
in the meridian of life there, whose highest ambi-
ton equal their honored seniors. Others, still be-
fore whom the profession is Just opening with all its
freshness, also mingled in the deliberations. Nor
among the least happy incidents of the meeting the
presence of number of distinguished gentlemen
gagged in the business of instruction, but connected with
the supervision of Institutions in the capacity of Trus
tees Officers of State etc. As deserved compliment
this class of delegates the Hon. Christopher Morgan
was appointed President, and we had abundant cause
to be satisfied with our choice.
President Poet, of the New York Institution, took
prominent part in the Convention, and read several
highly important and interesting papers, Prof Turner,
of the Hartford Asylum the oldest Instructor pre-
sent having spent than thirty years teaching
the deaf and dumb Though he read paper, still his
remarks during the deliberations listened to with
the profound attention. One of the very best aTt
Giles read was by Prof Woodruff the Moral and
Religious Education of Mutes" ESSAYS were also pre-
scented by Professor allaude of the founder of the
American system of Mute instruction, himself a speak
ing gentleman, though his mother and wife mutes,
and by Professors Bartlett, Cary, Van Nosrand, and
] l.. Peet When these papers are published Gas they
will be- with the proceedings of the Conventon) they
will be found contain amount of information
subjects of the utmost philosophical Importance and in
teressubects not hitherto presented TO the public eve
The debates in general conducted orally, but
all translated into signs IN most beautiful manner by
Mr.. Gallaudet. The gentlemen present OCCASION
ally participated in the discussion, using their Pc
~ IF
course at understood bv all the teachers but trans
lated by Mr. G. for the benefit of such members and
spectators did understand signs. The questions
propounded by the Chair were rendered into signs
and all (mutes as well speaking delegatcs) voted
with upilted hands. 1t determined, that the
demand of two delegations, the vote should be by Inst
tutions each being entitled to vote, and add
tional vote for every twenty pupils
The age at which mutes should be received for in
struction excited considerable discussion The dele
gates from the Hartford Asylum, to which pupils from
Massachusetts may be sent at the OF eight years.
took strong ground against the practice, and were
unanimously sustained by those from other Institutions
resolution with great unanimity adopted that
pupils ought in general he admitted before the
age of years. Some of the delegates in favor
of fixing the lowest limit at twelve years; but they
would have been voted down, had they pressed the mat
ter, and had the vote been taken by Institutions. The
instruction of the deaf and dumb in articulation was in
cdentally alluded to- and found be generally prac-
ticed in American Asylum This disuse has how
resulted from the failure of faithful trial In several
Institutions. An interesting memoir presented by
Mr. Burnett of New Jersey, himself a mute, a sylla-
bic alphabet. Many Teachers think that the next dis
covery in art will be made in this direction. The
moral and religious of the deaf and dumb previous
to education discussed and flood of light thrown
upon the subject Could metaphvsicians have known
what any experienced Teacher of mutes does know on
this subject, the press would have been relieved from
many a ponderous folio I" Natural Religion" the
q Natural State of Man." etc.
The length of the of instruction considered,
and seven years fixed with entire unanimy, the
usual time in which thorough education can be CON-
municated The practice on the part of friends, which
to extent exists most Institutions, Of taking
pupils away before finishing their education Sc.
v9rely and Justly condemned. The subject of receiving
pupils persons thirty years Of age came under
notice. and majority of the Convention seemed in favor
OF admitting such persons at least for year two,
to the advantages Of Aums, if for other purpose,
to least secure them a knowledge of the funda
mental truths of morals and religion.
The propriety Of obtaining from the General Govern
donation of the public lands duly considered,
aud of resolutions, prepared by myself the sub
iect, adopted without dissent, and ordered to be
forwarded the President of the Senate and TO the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 1t is
strange that while the Government has given the
public lands for almost every purpose under the Heaven,
general donation has been made to tie deaf and dumb
of all the States am happy to know that the Indiana
delegation in Congress, in accordance with the request
and Instructions of her Legislature, right this
subject
Ii was also determined to establish Periodical to
be devoted the interests OF deaf mute education The
title is be the American Annals of the Deaf and
Dumb" II will be issued quarterly, at Hartiord and
will be in every respect worthy OF public patronage.
The editorial charge is confded Luzerne Rae Esq,
gentleman whose distinguished attainments as a
scholar and matured experience teacher suii-
cient guarantees that il will be well sustained This Re-
view will be of unsurpassed interest to every inquirer
into the philosophy of the human mind, to every friend
of educaton and every who feels interest in
the instruction Of the unfortunate deaf and dumb The
subscription price very low only dollar per
num- payable in advance Noone doubt the interest
success Of the undertaking. shall be happy my