The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-11-12
Insane Hospital.


this paper, not having followed the matter close
iy, could give only general information.
Siace them there has appeared pamphlet "i
~ pages from the press Of the Morgan Journal,
giving n lucid and apparently impartial state
meut Q. the facts in the case which may be inter
estirg to many Ufthe readers Of this paper and
rs the question ~ one which should come home to
all who possess sympathy for the unfortunate Of
nurracc.
We propose TO give condensed account of,he
,,a emculs III this little book.
appears, from the preface, to be the opinion
of the author that the a'tempt has been indus
triou-ly made to represent the dificicncies in
question as local affair entirely. It ia to coun
teract this attempt. aud to give an authentic veis
ion he publishes the pamphlet
| Ia June, 1852, at the extra session the Legi-
! laturc, hearing rumor, and reports Of mismsnage
men, in the institution. senia committee Of three
Of which ". Ames Of PUtnam county was char.
man to Jack.un,e. This committee after a
ha,ty trip passing al hour or two, 70 'he insli,u
ton reported confrmatory Of these rumors {:
which were adverse to the management of tie
majority f the Board Of lruster- and to the ca
paci,y Of the experimenting Physician sppar
ently not satisfied with the cursury character Of
this examination. The Legislature. a, the same
session. appointed a special commission to iuve..
tigale the matter thoroughly durIug the recess
aud report a, the next session. This commission
was composed Of y. " Elwards a LAWYER and
two physicians Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Green al.
person. of high standing and remote, as TO resi-
dence and Influence from either Of the two par
tie. existing in the then Board Of Trustees, bp
tween whom originated the difficulties causing
til, rumors referred to
/ After thorough aud gtotracted investigation
OF some weeks, dnrug which their examination
OF witnesses were urdtr oath and tull opportu.
uin being afforded aud avalled of for sub,tanta.
ting charges, this commission reported to the lie.
gislaiurs at It, last session 1853.
. In this report they not only entirely quash all
the rumor- and charges referred to- together wrh
! the report Of Nr Amr. cuuJniitee but compl
mcut most highly the maj rity of the board of
trustees who had been maligned, give great ere
dit to tie experimenting physician. and coDgra
ulate the state up0a the architectural character
of the building aud It's marked economy. dura
bty and ftnuss, contrasting, both 1t aud It's ina
nagemen,, most avorably, with similar institu
tons 10 other ststes.
Mr. Ames (perce'ving. doubtless, that in their
hasty CONCLUSIONS his committee had acted unlus
tly) justIfes their intentions, in an article to the
Morgan Journal by stating three of their lnfor
mers to have been three members of the board OF
trustee. These three must have been Ms-srs
Warren, Dixon, and lIuIst, as the other four o,
the board Of seven, werr Messrs. Holmes, Nor
ton. Turner, aud Beceaft. who had been the &C
ting majority, who erected the builL,ns, and
against whom the accusations were made.
Thus far all ia plain sailing. and are simple
matters ofhistory, entirely jusuf,iug this paper II
the opinion before Expressed that the insane
. h.spital va. well managed, and il certainl, con
elusive evidence Of the I'll ial uprighInes. and
ability Of the tour gentlemen last named. who
appears, have never received, directly or luli.
. rectly, any compensation for their services
We have stated SO Ear all plain sailing, Bu,
now i reached a new chapter III aif .rs IN which
il is charged bat some OF all of the minority
above named t" accomplish their designs against
the majority had determined to burrow lover
than ever before, and anticipate he gubcrnatoria
electieu by obtaining II nominee from the conven
tiun, over whom they or their friends could have
influence, and thus secure the removal and appa
rent disgrace OF those hey as.silsd, az yet, uD
certain what would oe the report Of the commIs
SION.
Evidence to subsaniate thi., and the influenC'
which WAS exercised over Gov M,tiesun. in ma
king the appointment of the present board o
trustees, aud leaving all of the nld majority whC
had 80 successfully and honorlbly camplrei tl'
building l. also introduced. bur W. cduuor no
crde to or in any wiz" co,nr.n,nce III" intlmr,i"r
which has naturally found its way to the wounnr,
feelings of th- mrjorlty. that G,v. NJ ,tte~ou t
their removal wa. influenced, at all. by mutite
prrjndcial to them
To them and to us, II may and does seem hnr
that even the appearance ot diss,tlsfac ion VIII
them should be .vnced; a. il also does app-a
unjust that where thev had 80 long served with
out other compensation than the satisfaction rXpe
rlcnc, Il in doing their duty fof the interest Of rh
nuG,runate they should no, have been sns,ainr
hy the Executive,