The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-15

VA -NOTN ~ tty ~ ttc 1>y tAW
The Asylums in Michigan have more than :
ordinary claims 10 the favorable cOnSidera-
ion Ofthe Legislature and the State Their =.
inmates while living in the world are shut >
ut Of i by calamity and misfortune They .
re not noisy IN their opportunities, Ike !
hose who thr0ng these halls for money,
ands and public property, in their eager
less for gain The deaf DO not hear and !
md are scarcely heard. Tor they live N d I.
title world OF their own. The dumb are T.
mute. The blind do not see their way 10 f,
his Capitol in the wilderness. The insane
with shattered minds, are too absorbed
With Wild imaginatiOns. startling iAncies
and hOrril decisions, 10 seek our care for aid
and protection
No sir they have no interested lObbieS
here 20 present their claims and Cod knows
they should never need them. And yet
they speak 10 Us in language that moves
the soul in their behalf through him who
opened the eyes OF the blind, cast cut the
evil spirit. and caused the dumb 10 speak.
And sir. II the deaf, and dumb. ami blind
challenge our sympathy and aid, and We al
believe they do. the insane have more press
in. and peculiar claims upon Us. Il they
are not deaf, the sweetest melody may oS
trghtful d.scOrl 10 them, and the SOund'Ot
friendly voice may startis them with
alarm. Il they are not dumb, their speech /
i not the speech OF sanity. II they are not .
blind, they see not with sane VISION
The glorious sunlight Of Heaven is often de-
lusiOn 10 them. and the most pleasing sights
may be 10 them alarming spectacles.
Indeed. sir. in the insane ars deaf and
dumb and blind, while they hear and speak
and see for reason Is dsthrOned. The mind,
the soul. the God-like and GOd-given mon
arch 10 direct man. in this world Of lie, Is
wrecked. and like wrecks on the great deep
without chart compass or rudder Is driver
now III frantic madness as by furious tor
nado, and now mute and calm while wrapt
10 visions and fancies n unreal as the whims
OF delirium. Insanity Sir, deraOges the
mind as volcanic forces DO the geological
strata OF the earth, into . confused mass OF
ruins; and % the mind is more important
than the body, 80 the calamity which in
pairs or destroys Il, = greater than that
which Affects or destroys merely tho senses
OF hearin. aud sSelns, and the power OF
/ speech
And now vhea war and suffering are adj
ding iearfully 10 the numbers Of the insane,
az legislators We should prepare home for
their care and protection. This IS peculia-
arly necessary IN their case, If a cure Is 10 be
effected. a. Il l. well known that restOra-
ton 10 rsascn-tO real life and happiness
seldom occurs, unless immediate relief is
afforded. Their case is then the more
pressing, and is Of that peculiar nature
which fOrbIds delay, or a parSlmOny that
can with more Justice DO applied in provI-
ding for many other State institutions.
Aud now, sir. a few words in regard TO
the Asylum for the Insane, its capacity,
condition and wants. and the duty Of Super
vsOrs, or other local authorities, who have
the insane at their disposal.
The Asylum al this time contains about $50
patients which is some 50 more than its "a
ted capacity, and about 20 applications for
admission ara made every month. such
facts show ia at once the necessity or en-
larging the institution by the construction
OF the north wing for which the apprOprla-
ton il now asked, and which ID absolutely
necessary. Let this bs completed, and the
} entire building will Immediately be filed 10
ia tul capacity; and oven thon we should
, be prepared 10 erect another addition or
, building for those who are hOpelessly insane.
!, The best interests Of the patients. aud the
J wants o. the State, will demand IL.
b With the north wing completed, the bull
ding Will be some GOO feet long. In view
of liz present magnitude, many persons
imagine thai IL should afford accOmmOda-
4, tiOns for large number OF patients. They
DO not understand that il ID necessarily
divided into wards-eight for males aud
, eight i0r females-and thus classified Ion
= different degrees OF insanity; and that Il Is
impossible when 4 class IS fled, 10 success
d fully treat a case which belongs 10 that class,
p IN another class or ward. a knowledge o.
- this fact 10y persons applying tor the ad
mission of patients would save the insLitu-
= ton from much unjust and undeservs u
D censure. IL Is the design, in limo. 10 make
r. tie Asylum a self sustaining Institution
a i us might be done now il the indigen1
, NerC excluded 10 make room Tor moro veal
thy have tho means Of access 70 other Asy
lums, while IN our State Asylum the poor
5 have the preiereuce a. about Oue-tbirl The
, expense which applicants Of means would
7 cheerfully give Tor admission.
i Again, sir, IN regard 10 our count,
authorities who have the care of the insane
, In some counties they have retained then
[ from the Asylum Is long az possible, whef
D there was room for their reception 10 pre-
4 vent them from becoming a comfy charge
D as they do become when placed in the Asy
= lum. Now what ia tho result. They AR
0 retained 10 many cases until they become
T hOpel6ssly insane, and then, when past TO
cOvery, they are sent TO the Asylum 10 be
+ come pertinent tax upon their counties
b Had they been promptly provided for,
! cure would have been almost certain. am
tue tax Oh their counties cOmparativel
! trifing. Ii Is therefore, q short sght0
policy even Ia peeuniary point Of vieg
., Il neglect the Insane a moment aher In
=. sanity cOmmence7, and 10 take no highe
: view OF the subject, Il will DO shOrt-sigh bite
policy Tor this great State 10 withhold tn
;. Necessary appropriation for charging III
: institution and IL usefulness in the future
aud thus save hGadred5 OF the uniOrtuuat
10 society, and The people from peimanen
I, taxation for their support. Wayne county
= il is reported, has pursued the policy O
:, keeping their insane from the Asylum 3
!! long a. possible. much 10 its own dotriment
: The history Of Insane Asylums IN thi
: country, incluling our own II Kalamazoo
q shows the encouraging fact that o5 10 9
out Of every 100 new cases may be success
fully treated and cured II promptly ATTENDED
. TO- while only 20 10 IS in i hundred ar
- ( cured after unreasOnabiy delay; and seldom
!, i ever cured. after the cases become chrOn
! ic. The facts should be know thrOughOu
= the State that our local authorities ma,
: act mOrs intelligently and humanely in III
d., future; and when known 10 tax payers o
? Michigan instead Of conforming u. 70
, making this appropriation, they viii con
dsmn us II We withhold 4.
= There arc periods In the history Of on
:. lives when we meet duties which requir
!. higher views ana motives 10 their consider
:, alton than the amount OF dollars, dime
= ! and pennies they involve. The case bef0r
! ! gs is OF this character Justice and hu
. man.ty require Is - Meet Il Ike men. !
= IS our duty 10 sustain literally al our hu
! name institutions. and more especially tn
/ Asg.um Tor the Insane l. u a State lnsti
: tuition. Il belongs 10 the people. AZ les
: islators we should watch and guard on
: Asylum and ia inmates A. d father care
: Tor his home and family To do 80 IS .
discharge 4 duty 70 our common humanity
an appropriation 70 sustain Il, 10 an appr0
/ priation 20 Almighty God Ii 10 laying N
e treasures in heaven.
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