Litchfield enquirer., 1859-03-24

MeiCidi SIatiSIicS VIII De cOISulCeQ TOT years to come. He possessed mind far above medi- ocrity, and an energy and industry that oyer- came all difficulties in business-yet, he could not control himself This malady was. with him disease, and as much beyond lis control as insanity. No pride of character could re- 1 strain hirn-no social endearments could check hiln-no promise, no VOW, hover sacred, could keep him from gratifying his diseased appetite Many time has he shed bitter tears over this his calamity-has wept, drank and died
 In any interesting pamphlet recently issued by the Board of Trustees, containing q full ac- count of all that has been done in regard to the Inebriate Asylum, we find the following sensible remarks referring to insanity viewed as disease, incorporated in letter addressed to Governor Morgan by Dr. J. B. Turner ur- ging the propriety of an appropriation for the Asylum:
 It matters not how this disease may have been induced-whether by stimulants prescri- bed for sickness, or by the encouragement of parents by the influence of social friends, or gay associates whether under extenuating circumstances, or in full of the terrible penalty which this malady inficts on it's vietim-the state is equally bound to protect society against such outrages. The innocent and the virtuous should not be exposed to the insane man, let the cause of his insanity be what it may. He should be taken to an asylum to be controlled and treated according to his disease All the laws and penalties which state can enact against crime committed by the inebriate will never prevent him while at large, from com mittIng murder, arson and theft, or from ta- king his own life. The experience we have had upon this subject during the past year alone, is enough to convince every enlightened mind that such policy endangers the life of every citizen, and places in the hands of the insane man the flaming torch of the incendia- ry. The true policy of a government is. to prevent crime rather than to punish it. Why, then, should our state allow its citizens to go at large when they have lost selt-control, and when experience shows that it is not compat- ible with private and pnblic safety for them to remain at liberty? Does the state bring to life the murdered family, by simply going thro' the accustomed forms of judicial procedure, in order to punish the man for what he can scarcely be held responsible, or place him as criminal at the bar, when his testimony would not be received in the witness-box, or fsd out too late that he really is maniac, and send him at last to an asylum as a criminal The only true and enlightened policy, then, which experience points out and judgment dictates, is for the state to provide an asylum for this class of our insane. Every enlightened citizen of cur country will approve of such policy, and long will be remembered the administra- tion which has through it's wisdom provided an asylum where the incbriate can be con- troled and treated ; and in which his malady can be cured-a malady which is disease in individuals, curse to families, plague to communities, and destruction to races"
 Now that the State Senate has passed the appropriation bill for the benefit of the propo- sed asylum, we may deem the institution a permanent success. And among the many beautiful features and ornaments of the En- pre State. the noble Gothic building on the hillslope of the susquehanna will, in years to come, be pointed out as the first Inebriate Asyum--t will not be the only one-in the world.--N Y. Erening Post.