The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-12

lOCatiou Vi Iue 1ustlIutlou euouiu NC
promptly decided. If decided affirma-
lively, provision should be made for the
purchase, either of the property in which
it is temporarily established, or OF some
other site. After careful consideration
of all circumstances, 1 think it my duty to
Recommend the first of these alternatives
most judieious and most economical.
Deaf mutes constitute another class for
whose education public provision must
necessarily be made. To our State be-
longs the homer of first recognizing this
principle; aud nearly 80 years have now
elapsed since her Asylum was first open
ed to these unfortunates. The number
now in the State is estimated at 300
OF these, more than oue-third have receiv-
ed instruction in the Asylum, and proba-
bly, another third are of suitable
age for admission. Of this lat
ter number $50 are in actual enjoyment
of its benefits, while $50 are necessarily
excluded. The number admitted during
the year was 35, and the same number
was discharged. The expenses of the In
stitution paid by the State during the
last year were S2l,17I 81. The average
cost of each inmate $l41. The impor-
tauce of adding to the instruction in this
Asylum, proper training for some indus
trious occupation, as well as the necessity
of some further provision for those whom
It's limited capacities exclude from admis-
sion, will doubtless engage your serious
consideration.
t Another class whose situation enlists
the warmest sympatAies of every feeling
near,, and invokes irreslStiply the provi-
dent benevolence of the State, is the
Bind. The total number of this class is
estimated TO be $40 Of this number
about 200 are of proper and legal age fol
admission to the Asylum. Ofthese about
/ 60 have either already received its bene,
tits, or are thought by their friends toe
young to be sent to it; leaving lao who
f should be under instruction. There were
in the Asylum last year loo; there wer,
: admitted or re-admitted during the veal
| %; the whole n1mber under its instruc
, ton up to its close was los. The aver
: age number i'll daily attendance was o.
The expenses, excluding IS, 500 for per
: meneut improvements, were $la,sS7 95
: showing an average outlay for each in
1 mate of near $l42.
D 1t thus appears that the whole numbe
of persons rendered infrm and dependen
: by defective and diseased organization i
: 500; that of these 3040 are in condition
: requiring provision FOR them in public o
S private institutions; that 847 are actual
: in the State Asylums, leaving 2,l93 an
it provided for, except so far as they ma
: find relief in the County Infrmarles o
y private families; that the average numbe
2, constantly In the Asylums though the las
u year was S34; that the total cost to tn
n State of their msintainance during til
IS year was $l2S, ,4l0; that the cost of eac
( inmate for the year was 81 81; that to pre-
J. vide for those needing, but not now recei,
le ing, the benefits of the Asylum, at th
a same rate would require an annual add
S, tional expenditure of $337,722, maxim
le an aggregate annual outlay of $466, l3s
te and that these estimates are exclusive
lie interest, about $4,000, on the capita
ir about 100000, invested in the existin
1 Asylums and Of the yearly cost Of perm,
le nent improvements, which was last yes
a. about Sl3, 600: and of the capital yet I
s. be invested in new sites and structure
III and of the interest upon that.
Us No one desires more earnestly than
is that the General Assembly may fully di
al charge the Obligations assumed in IL
ne Constitution by The whole people, to IL
m children of sorrow. The duty OF fulillin
or them is clear, and the benefits of its pc
i'd formance evident. The social conditie
of no people can be what it should b
ly while class OF guiltless and helpless vi
he Tins of physical or mental disorder +
IS mains unreleved. Nor is the duty
SIS relief less imperatively dictated by consi
= erations of economy, than by consider
ue lions of philanthropy. The dependent i
n irm must be sustained by society in son
ch form. The only cnoice is between mode
a. And how much better that mode viii,
n. raised SO many of them from depths
Iic Ihelplcssness aud wretchedneSs, and max
'e- them self-supporting and even useful mel
n bers of the community, than that 9th
,ss mode which wastes resources in ftful al
ID, inadequate relief, drops its wretched o
be jects IN their sorest need, and inficts up,
.y: society the moral and social evils nece
to sariiy resulting from the presence of su
all a class neglected in its midst
nd The statements | have submitted q
,ts designed to set clearly before You the n
at ture and magnitude of the evil, for viii
o. you are called upon to provide rem
he dy. They will, perhaps, convince you
p- the necessity of restoring the poll
of adopted at the opening. and pursued
ed twelve years in the administration of t
'g- Asylums, of requiring that the cost
m maintenance in them lie betrayed by t
of parents and guardians of the inmates,
ge cases where the circumstances of the pi
.se ties fully justify it They will, thin
he also satisfy you of the expediency of e
en- couragement, by law, to the establis