Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-05-02

aware, sIr' that any training, however laborlOus
teaches mere animals the amenities of life. / onc
listeded to song Of praise from the lips Of elias
of these unfortunate youth. was not aware a
tho time sir. that heard animals worshiping tn,
Creator. do not believe it sill. / supposed
then and now, that it was mind developing from
It's lowest type, but capable of progression, and
that each one before me candidate Tor the
Lille that is to come, when mind shall slough Of
some OF ihe nfrmities that sometimes desolate Its
existence here.
Mr.. President, this is not merely benevolent
measure, but, sir, it is also an economical measure
There are at this time not less than 1000 idiotit
| psrsons In this State. Unfortunately We have no
before us the statistics upon this subjec: collected
under the law of last winter The census of 1856
returns the number at 1861 but this undoubtedly
falls below the truth. Every one is
aware oil the natural hesitancy of relatives tC
make known the fact that every case may be
enum Grated. From what data We have from oui
own statistics and from comparison of the statis
tics OF other States the true number is without
doubt nearly us have stated it, Of this number,
about live hundred are under the age of fifteen
years, and Of these children probably three hun
dred are supported by public charity, al an annual
cost actually and pruspectvely Of at least S15 per
capita, which applied to the number supported
by public funds will amount in the aggregate to
S22 500 per annum. / think however that this
estimate is too low. The estimated expense for
the same purpose in the State Of Connecticut is
Sl5O to The person annually.
As mere money calculation every dollar ex.
pended upon this class Of persons is thrown away,
They are mere consumers. They produce moth.
iug-they contribute nJthin :, either in mechani-
cal labor or by directing the industry Of others.
Now, in illustration Of the intended operations Of
the system which | propose. suppose that these
800 youths continue as they are until public char
ity Is relieved by death assume that their aver
age lives will continue 20 years longer, and we
li,fa i,,, a.
tenacious of life, and you have, at the very moder-
ate estimate which ! have made expended for
their support the sum Of $3.50 all Of which is a
public tax. But take these children, educate
them for five years at an expense Of SlO0 Per an
mum, which in the aggregate will amount to $780,
QUO, and You have then removed them from the
necessity OF public support, making q difference
between the system of supporting docy aud the
system OF educating idiocy OF $500 600 in favor Of
the latter system. BY one system humanity is
permitted to 70 tin filth and pollution, and by the
other tits rescued to life and intelligence. Choose
ye this Gay which you will have.
But these youth when educated, not only sup
port themselves, but also become producers to tho
general wealth. Allow that upon an average each
one will, in addition to his support. Sl0C
per annum then i'll the aggregate, adding this t,
the former annual tax for this support, you gair
| to the general wealth 500, 5000.
! But detain the Senate too long. ! wisl
/
and - then conclude.
! The bill provides for three classes of pupils
First, nine State beneicaries Secondly, sucl
uumber of county and township benificares
may be accommodated in the Asy lum and lastly
paying pupils, supported by their parents o
friends; and from these sources the institution
proposed, will derive its support. No large ex
! lcndture from the State treasury is required OF
asked for to initiate the experiment, if experiment
| 1t be called by the increduous only the comp
| lively small sum Of three thousand dollars.
And now, sir, it | have in my preceding re
marks truthully stated the ohjec. of this bill il
have correctly portrayed the results that may
DO obtained by the passage of this measure if il
be true that these unfortunato youth who low
the objects alike of pity and disgust may be re.
claimed to comparative usefulness and happiness
if these objects which commend themselves to our
intelligence and humanity can be accomplished,
shall the pittance required by this bill be an OBJ
lection to defeat its success? Will any Senator
upon this floor refuse his support upon this con
sideration alone? ? For one, Mr.. President, de-
sire economy in the administration of our State
government.
The State has lavished thousands in the GecOra-
ton Of the Capitol. until these halls almost vie
with regal splendor. VIII she refuse this small
pttance for the eGcation of her unfortunate youth
to whom her aid will lie life and mental resurrec.
ton Finally, sir, predicate this measure upon
considerations Of duty, of humanity. and of econ
omy, and upon these considerations ! am willing
to risk its fate.