Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25

which referred much or the Presidents message
as relates to the navy, reported bill to authorize the
construction OF six steam frigates and for other pur-
poses.
Mr.. JONES, of Iowa, from the Committee on Terrific
res to which referred the bill to authorize the
sruction Of line Of telegraph from the Mississippi river
to the Pacific ocean, reported back without amendment
accompanied by a report.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Mr.. BAYARD, from the Committee on Public Build
ings TO which referred the resolution directing
inquiry into the expediency of completing the pub
lie buildings in Washington reported bill to authorize
the construction and completion Of the Treasury building
and also the construction of building for the War; Navy
| and Interior Departments
THE bill authorizes the President to the Trea-
sury building to be completed include rooms for
the State Department. The whole to constitute one
building, with frsnt 18th street not exceeding 40
feet front of similar extent facing west and front not
exceeding 2I0 feet facing NORTH with similar one facing
south No alterations to be made in the exterior of
the present building except such may be required
unite it to the addition 1t authorizes building for the
War; Navy, and Interior Departments, at the
present Sites to conform in outside dimensions the
Treasury building with such modification of details as
the President may approve The Easements to be
faced with granite MARBLE the superstrucure TO be of
marble. The bill appropriates 100000 for commence
ment which may be applied to either or both buildings
which may be erected consecutivey simultaneously,
the President may determine; but if only time,
the Treasury building is to have the preference.
MIR. SEBASTIAN, from the Committee on Indian At
fairs asked be discharged from the further consdera
ton of The memorial of Richard Fields and that of VIM
M. Ryer.
INDECENT INSANE.
On motion by Mr.. FOOT, the Senate proceeded to con-
slider the bill making grant of public lands the
raj States and Territories of the Union fer the benefit
INDECENT insane persons.
Mr. FooT said: Mr. President the Committee on Pub
lie Lands reported amendment this BILL in the form
af substitute for the original bill which was introduced
by myself, and referred to that committee; and that
amendment substitute there is pending amend
ment offered by the Senator from Indiana Mr. PETTY
who is not now in his seat
Mr.. President, this bill, with but slight modification,
has been pending before Congress for the last five
years. and has passed each House by decisive maores
at different terms though unfortunately not at the
time in The object Of the bill and its pro-
visions doubtless well understood by most, if all
the members of the Senate 1t has been very fully and
carefully considered by your Committee Public Lands
and we think it well guarded in all its provisions 1t can
hardly be deemed necessary therefore, enter upon any
extended discussion at this time with view to enforce
its claim upon the favorable consideration of the Senate
by the last census it appears there thirty
thousand in the United States abong under the
most fearful and terrible of all Affections mental alena-
ton insanity; very large proportion of whom in
ofndgence and want destitute alike of the
ordinary physical comforts of life and of that remedial
and treatment which afforded only at well-en
lowed hospitals devoted exclusively to that purpose and
which all observation and experience show to be ndis
pensable to their restoration
The ameEoraton of the condition of this large and in
creaspg class of citizens suffering under the most
direfu calamity which befall human being to
them far may be done reason useful
ness and happiness is secondary object of public
interest of national concern. The subject is which
appeals not to sympathes only but it addresses it
self emphatcay to regard legislators for the pub
lie veal. 1t seems hardly possible to conceive Of any
other practicable mode than the measure pro-
posed by this BILL by which the Federal Government
transcendng its constitutional powers eectu
ally contribute the pshment Of this most bene
cent and most desirable object. .....st..
The bill proposes grant of ten millions of from
your immense public domain for this object to be appor
toned among all the States, new and old, according to
prescribed and equitable ratio in sections and parts of
sections after it shall have been surveyed The States
which there public lands of the value Of Sl.25 per
to have their disrbutive shares selected from
such lands. The States in which there public
lands Of that value receive the of their dis
trbuve shares in in land scrip, to be sold by the
States at price not less than dollar per No
State to which scrip is to be issued authorized to locate
it any other State Territory but their assignees
may locate their scrip upon any of the uapproprated
lands of the United States which shall then be subject
private entry at S125 per acre..
This provision will prevent the location of this scrip
upon any Of the public lands along the lines of proposed
railroads. whose minimum value shall have been fixed at
the duplicate price, or at any price above per acre
The expenses of these proceedings to be borne by
several States respectively. The moneys realized from
the sale Of the lands and from the sale of the scrip
be invested in the United States stocks other stocks
yielding not less than five per cent upon their par value
and this is to constitute perpetual fund.- the interest
which shall be applied to making provision for and
the support and maintenance of the INDECENT insane
public hospital institution devoted exclusively
their and treatment and having full corps of officers
physicians and attendants attached to them The pre-
vous assent of the States to the grant, with all its prov
sons and conditions is to be sgni6ed by legislative
acments any portion of the fund shall be lost if
it shall become diminished from any accident
whatever, the State must make up such loss dmnu
ton, and keep the fund entire and inviolable.
These the principal features of the BILL The OBJ
ect is good 1t is, indeed object Of growing
and national Importance The measure proposed by the
bill is not circumscribed, local. partial in its
operation, like very many of your grants; but the
contrary general and equitable and universal in
its operation and influence the mseres it proposes
relieve passes clear Of all the objections to merely
local and partial grants 1t clearly within the
limits Of your constitutional power upon general prnci
PIES and has the authority OF precedents almost without
number. Indeed the presidents, many of them 20 far
beyond this proposition and which, from their local and
partial character obnoxious to objections of which
this stands clear. Objects Of humanity and charity,
the attention and consideration of Congress- and have
shared the bounty Of the Federal Government in different
forms. Without stopping to upon them, beg
leave call the attention of the Senate several in
which the principle and the power ask be exercised
and applied in this case have been fully recognised by
Congress.
In 1919 Congress granted township Of land for the
support of asylum for the deaf and dumb Hartford
Connecticut In 1926 they granted another township of
land for the support Of similar institution at Dsnve
Kentucky and in 1872 Congress appropriated $50 600
be expended in the purchase Of provisions to be sent
to the people Of Venezuela who had suffered from the
great earthquake; and in 1915 they granted of
land in the Territory Of Missouri called the New Ma
l. fhn