Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-17
The INDECENT Insane.

Of public lands to the several States and
Territories of the Union for the benefit Of
INDECENT insane persons.
Mr.. Foot said Mr. President, the Com
mittee on public Lands reported an amend
ment to this bill, in the form of a substitute
for the original bill, which was introduced
by myself, and referred TO that committee
and to that amendment or substitute there Is
now pending an amendment offered by the
Senator from Indiana, Mr. Pettit,l who is not
now IN his seat
Mr.. President, this bill, with but slight
modification has been pending before on
gress for the last five or six years, and has
passed each House by decisive maJortles at
different times, though unfortunately not at
the same time in concurrence. The OBJECT
Of the bill and its provisions are doubtless
well understood by most, if not ell, the
members of the Senate. 1t has been very
fully and carefully considered by your Com
mittee on Public Lands, and we unuk II wen
guarded in all its provisions. 1t can hardly
be deemed necessary, therefore, TO enter up
on any extended discussion at this time with
a view to enforce It's claim upon the favor
able consideration of the Senate.
By the last census it appears there are
over thirty thousand persons IN the United
states laboring under The most fearful and
terrible Of all Affections, mental alienation
or insanity a very large proportion OF whom
are in circumstances OF indigence aud want,
destitute alike Of the ordinary physical con-
/ forts Of life and Of that remedial care and
treatment which are afforded only at well en-
dowed hospitals, devoted exclusively TO that
purpose. and which all observation and ex-
perence show to be Indispensable to their
restoration.
The amehoration of the condition Of this
large and Increasing class of our citizens,
suffering under the most direiul calamity
which can befili human being; TO restore
them 50 far as il may be done. to reason, to
usefulness, and TO happiness, Is no seconda-
~ object OF public interest or of national
concern. The subiec, Is one which appeals
not 20 oar sympathles only, but II addresses
itself emphaucaly to our regard as legisla-
tors for the public veal II seems hardly
possible to conceive Of any other or more
I practicable mode than the measure proposed
by this bill, by which the Federal Govern.
ment, not transcend!ng lis constitutional
powers can more eii,cualiy contribute to
the accomplishment of tins most benchcent
and most desirable object
The bill proposes grant of ten millions
/ of acres from your immense public domain
Tor tins object, TO be app1risued among AL
/ the States, new and Old, according 10 q pre-
scubcd aud equitable ratio, m sections and
parts of section, after IL shall have been sur
veyed The states ~ which there are pub
/ lie lau OF the value Of Sl,25 per acre are
/ To have their d.stubu,iye shares selected
/ from such lands. The States ga whlch there
/ are no pubic lands Of that value are 10 re-
ceiye the amount of their disul0utye shares
/ Ia acres IN laud scrip. To be sold by tAt
state at q price less thAn one dollar pen
/ acre. 80 state to which scnp Is TO be IS
sued is authorized To locate 10 30 any Other
State or Territory bat their signces may
/ locate heir scrip upon any of tue uuapprO
{ pnalcd lands of the United States whic.
shall then be subject TO private entry al 5 ~.
per acre.
TINS provision will prevent the location o.
this scrip upon any Of the public lands along
the lines of proposed railroads, whose mini-
mum value shall nave been fixed at the du-
picate price, or at any price above Sl2J
per acre. The expense OF these proceedings
are 10 be borne by the several States re
spectivcly. The moneys realized from the
suie OF the lands and from the sale OF tn,
scrip are 10 be invested IA the United states
stocks, or other stocks yielding not less thar
five per cent upon their par value; and thi
IS to constitute perpetual fund, the nteres
Of which shall be applied to making proyls
ION for and TO the support and maintenance
OF the INDECENT insane IN scme pubic hosplt
al or institution devoted exclusively L
their care and treatment, ana having tul
corps OF officers, physicians, and Attendant
attached to tHeln- The previous assent O
the States TO the grant, with al rs provis
IONS aud conditions, Is TO be signllied ley leg
islatYe enactmeuts. If any portion Of th'
fun shall be lost, or u lt shall become di
mnished from any accident or cause what
ever, the State must make up such loss o
dnminuuon, and keep the fund enti;o an
lNoiiabie.
These are the principal features Of th'
bill. The object Is good one 1t is, IN
deed, an object Of growing and national mn
portance. The measure proposed by the bi!
Is not circunscnbed, nor local, nor partial IL
It's operation, like very many Of your grants
but, ON the contrary, II Is general and oqult
able, aud as universal Ia us operation ant
influence as the mlseres 1t proposes K
relieve. II passes clear Of all the objections
TO merely local and partial grants. 1t come
Clearly within the limits Of your constitution
a! power upon general principles, aud hai
the authority OF precedeuts almost wilhou
number Indeed the precedcnts, many %
them, 20 far beyond thus proposition, an,
some, from their local and partial character
we're obnoxious TO objections Of winch TIN
case stands clear. Objects Of humanity an,
charity both at home and abroad, have no
tufranpnpf Ir ginfp.rH nf ffu nd nf. ID.
slderaton Of Congress- and have shared ihl
bounty Of the Federal Government IN differ
cnt forms. Without stopping TO common
upon them, beg leave TO call the attention
OF the Senate to several acts 10 which In,
principle and the power we ask 10 be eXer
clsed and applied IN this case nave been tai
ly recognized by Congress.
In 1919 Congress granted a township o
land for the support OF an asylum for th'
deaf and dumb IN Hartford, Connecticut
In leo they granted another township O
land for the support OF similar institution a
Danyle, Kentucky; and in 1872 Congress
appropriated sol 900 10 be expended IN thi
purchase of provisions to be sent to the PEG
pie Of Venezuela who had suffered from tn
great earthquake; and IN loi5 they granted
a tract Of land in the Territory Of Missouri
called the New Madrid grants, tor Tn
benefit OF such persons as had suffered bl
earthquakes. la 1877 Congress voted so,
600 To the city Of Alexandra for the relief o
persons who had suffered by the FIRE which
had destroyed a considerable portion of thi
town; aud IN 1917 Congress authorized th,
employment ofthe Unitoa States ships Mace
DOMAIN and jamestown to transport provision
for the furnishing poor Of ireland and scot
land These were all objects of benevo
leuce and humanity. they were objects 10
cal and temporary IN their character, and, u
two instances, among foreign people We
the Congress Of the United states answere,
TO the calls Of human suffering, aud IN be
slowing these graiulties, while yol infliclel
no blow upon the Constitution, you struck
responsive chord IN the American heart.
In 1881 Congress granted tract OF lam
To the trustees Oi ShtwneatOwn, Illinois, 10