The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-12-06


construction Of the new Capitol, and during
the past year the work has progressed to an
extent commensurate with the amount appro.
priated The plans have all been perfected by
the skill of a competent architect, who has al
so the supervision with the commission of the
whole work. Ample and convenient arrange
ments are made for all the departments of tile
State Government, and the building, when com
pleted, will be one of the most elegant, COM
modious and desirable in the Union. Every
improvement which modern skill has devised
has been incorporated in the plans. The gran
lite of which it is constructed is found in great
abundance convenient to the work. If com.
pleted upon the plans already determined upon,
(at cost in my judgment by no means un-
reasonable.) this edtice will be fresh in its
massive strength and beauty when many gene
rations shall have passed away, and will remain
for ages monument of your taste, State pride,
and liherality. | recommend such liberal ap-
preparations as will warrant an active and Ell.
ergetic prosecution of the work, and insure its
early completion.
| shall now proceed 10 lay bef"re you a sub
ject which will engage your Judgment, as we'll
us interest your SympathleS.
Undoubtedly among the first duties Of gov.
ernment are to legisate for the security of life
and property, and the protection of morals.
Next in order is the education Of all classes of
citizens. The third is to make provision for
those who by natural cr other nfirn,ities are
unable to care properly for themselves in The
affirs of life, Among all nations the perform.
ancc Of this latter obligation is regarded as
the highest evidence Of enlightenment and civil
lization. Those who are selected by their fel-
low men by reason of their superiority of in.
tellect to provide for all their social and politi.
cal wants, ought surel ly to I've such as are most
regardful Of the condition of that class of so.
ciety from whom the light of intelligence and
reason has been removed, and who are already
the most unhappy. of mankind.
In the year 1921, when the Asylum for the
lnsane of this State was established, the ar.
rangements made for its inmates were far in
advance OF those Of any similar Institution, not
only in this country, but in Europe. In it the
system of coercion was abolished to greater
extent than any other similar establishment; !;
the personal comforts Of the patients more am
ply provided for; and the whole system, us
formerly adopted in the Bcetre and Salpetrere,
where the insane were regarded as condemned
felons or brutes, was superseded by a more
gentle and humane treatment But since that
period, whilst this institution, from the charac-
ter of the building erected for the accommoda-
ton Of patients, together with its unGvorable
location and the limited extent of the grounds
about it, has from necessity remained station:
ary, others, both in this country and in Europe,
have left it far behind in the Improvements
which science and experience have suggested; !;
and they now present US in turn examples from
which our own system can be greatly amended
have made it a portion of my public duty
to examine into the condition of the State Asy-
tion has been to recommend to you thorough
change from all the present arrangements. Pro.
vision is made only for 100 'patlents-against
about 400 lunatics, which are estimated as the
number in the State The accommodations,
therefore, are too small and the duties of
legislation upon this subject will be but impcr-
fectIy discharged as long as there remains
single lunatic unprovided for. The situation
is within the corporal limits Of Columbia, ex-
posing the inmates, without the possibility of
avoiding the difficulty, to all the noise and bus
tie which prevails in a city, thus defeating very
often all the regulations for their perfect repose
by the Physician and Superintendent. A loca.
tion in the country, surrounded by farm and
gardens, with other conveniences of air and ex-
ercise, are regarded as indispensable to pro.
per treatment of maladies of the mind. These
advantages cannot be had in its present position
nor can there ever be sufficient increase of
accommodation from the limitd extent of the
grounds, as will meet with the present wants,
still less for those in the future.
The construction of the cdifice is altogether
defective. The population within are so thrown
together as to prevent anything like cassili-
cation of the patients. The refined and sensi-
tive, more alive perhaps to uncongeual asSoci.
ations than persons of sound mind are from
necessity made to associate, to some extent,
with those who by their misfurtunes have de-
scended to the lowest thoughts and habits pos
sible for human beings; so that from this cause
many patients of the former class are under
the necessity Of being provided for by their
friends without the State, in Institutions which
are more judiciously arranged. The basement,
which was intended for patients Of certain
disposition, and which is perhaps one of the
most important portions of the structure, from
its excessive dampness and wretched ventiIa-
tion is totally unfit for habitation. The dormi.
tories, or rather cells, for they can hardly be
dignilied with a name implying convenience
and comfort, arc not large enough for person
in health, still less are they adapted to class
who, from one of the peculiaries of their dis
ease, require greater amount of pure air. Their
dimensions are six feet by eight, and ten feet
in height, afFordng only 3S4 cubic feet of air,
which by persons scientifically and practically
acquainted with the treatment of insanity, is
regarded as but little more than half enough.