Washington sentinel., 1854-05-05

OF the insane persons enumerated, l4,972
were white, and 63S colored; and of the idiotic,
l4,257 were white, and 1880 colored.
What will strike the observer as singular in
these statistics says the Detroit Free Press
a." Is the disparity in numbers of insane and
idiotic persons in northern and southern States,
compared with their relative populations. Thus
in Massachusetts,, with a population of $4,000,
the insane and idotic numbered 2,47l, while
in Georgia, with population of 100000, they
only numbered 9SS! This is the most striking
example we find, but similar fact is exhibited
as to several other northern and southern States.
The manner to account for it probably is, that
the south is mainly an agricultural section,
where very little poverty and distress exists,
and the north is thickly studded with cities,
where, partly in consequence of the immense
foreign immigration, privation and suffering is
common"
The above statistics present us with quite
formidable army of lunatics and idiots; but
yet, compared with the whole amount Of our
population, and taking into consideration the
vast number of distressed, prosecuted, and suf-
fering emigrants who monthly reach our shores
from abroad, the number of these unfortunate
people is by no means large.
We do not doubt that the veto Of the "in
sane BILL" as it called, will be the occasion of
the pouring out of much lachrymose pity and
pathetic lamentation. Philanthropy will weep
itself into convulsive Mysteries, and humanity
will feel stab under the fifth rib. We shall
doubtless be asked what will become of the indi-
gent insane, unless the bill shall be passed de-
spite the Presidents veto. Are they to be left
unaided, uncared for, and unpitied
We yield to none in admiration for those
noble and charitable impulses that operate on
the friends of the bill. We feel, perhaps, as
much commiseration for the unfortunate bene
6ciaries of that bill as any one can feel 1t
would afford us infinite pleasure to see them
tenderly and literally cared for; but, as we
have before said, the federal government was
not created for such purposes. 1t can nowhere
find authority to found great charities. 1t
cannot do by indirection what it has not the
power to do directly. If it cannot appropriate
land or money for the support of paupers and
of unfortunate lunatics, it cannot give land
ana money 10 INC NotdISS loI tuoSe puIpOScs.
Nor does it follow, because the general
government does not possess and consequently
ought not to exercise such a power and make
such an appropriation, that therefore the in
digent insane will be left to suffer and to per-
ish Every State makes some adequate pro-
vision for them. The laws of all civilized
countries make provision for them. Charita-
BILE men and women everywhere make provi-
| sion for them.
| It is not the duty of the federal government,
it is not the province Of Congress, to dispense
charities and found eleemosynary institutions
Indeed, to our mind it is clear that such ex-
ercise Of power would be at variance with the
most cherished principles of the Constitution.
It seems an ungracious thing to withhold
charity. 1t seems a cruel thing to refuse
relief to suffering human beings. The tenn
ptaton to stretch the Constitution, in order
to administer that relief, must be hard to resist
in the case Of free-hearted, kindly, and gen.
crous nature.
But if the Constitution be violated for good
purposcs.i it may also be violated for bad pur.
poses. 1t ought not to be violated at ALL