American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-20
WAsHINGTON,

MONDAY AFIEhNOONt OOlODEh ~
HousE or REYuGE.--A writer in the Nationa
Iatslliguesr, Of this morning, suggests to tn
City Councils the propriety Of converting to tn
purposes of House of Refuge the buildn
now occupied as an Infrmafy, between the Cit
Hall and jail He says:
SIT would answer the purpose extreme
well, with little or no alteration, while tn
$4,000 so literally offered by Mr.. Corcorar
would be enough to furnish and arrange u
without any expense to the city" +" rms Duiiu
ing is, to be sure, now occupied for other pur-
poses but no doubt the gentlemen under whose
control it now is would very willingly relinquisl
it for so benevolent and useful an object Al
any rate, as they use il now only for their own
private benefit, the claim that they might be
supposed to have upon it ought not to be al
lowed for moment to interfere with important
public interests and the President or Congress
would unquestionably grant it at once to the
application of the city authorities"
We would reply:
/. Mr.. Corcoran and other gentlemen have
made generous offer to bestow sum of money
on condition that thirty thousand dollars be
raised and we have no right to understand
them as offering it on other terms, nor does it
become us to suggest other terms to them, and
especially the investment of their funds in m
old and perishing edi6ce.
2. A House of Refuge should, if possible, be
in the centre of large enclosure, away from
the noises Of the streets, the prospect of the
prison and the court house, and all such sug-
gestiye associations
3. A House of Refuge for youth should be a
place of intellectual, moral, religious, and ply
sical education and development; and the edi-
fee named is by no means adapted to all these
purposes.
A. AS at present administered, the Washing
ton City Infrmary is one of the most benefcent
Institutions this city contains and is not used
by the trustees 'only for their own private
benefit" In the pursuit of our own vocation,
we have often, within the past two years, seen
in this place unfortunate, MANNED, and suffering
citizens and strangers, unconscious and help
less; while the professors in charge, with their
faithful and devoted students and assistants
around them, were passing days and nights in
their seryice-incurring fearful responsibilities
In their zeal to relieve, and expanding most
freely from their own resources whatever was
necessary for the welfare of their patients
and all for what? For direct pecuniary re-
compense in the world! The patients thus
brought to them should. in strictness, be a
once required to give security for the payment
of all usual charges, or should be conveyed to
the almshouse; but-without intending to dis
parage the almshouse-our whole people know
where proper medical attendance and skilful
surgery may be relied on, and that the faculty OF
this institution will not turn suffering fellow
being from its threshold! None, we arc sure,
who have correct and ample knowledge upon
the subject, will withhold the gratitude so Justly
due the conductors of this establishment; and
we can scarcely believe for a moment that there
are any in our midst who would withhold
from them even far greater privileges than they
now possess in the occupancy Of their present
location. Sure we are that, with the knowledge
the members of Congress possess of the In
Urinary and its influences, that body will never
withdraw from it aught of the aid it has hith-
erto extended.
We are anxious for the establishment of
House of Refuge, and unite heartily in the de-
sires expressed by the writer in the Iateligencer,
that the purpose may be speedily contaminated;
but we believe that the ability and the will
exists among our citizens to erect handsome
building, in all respects well adapted to the
purpose, and to do this without casting
shadow upon any other benevolent or salutary
institution in our city; and, least of all, upon
the Infrmary, by whose skill and beuignity SO
many blessings have been dispensed to our
people.