Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-15

that he may be discharged at any time
upon the Order of the directors. The
convict is sentenced by the Federal
Court for a special term, and the act
requires that he sshall be confined
during the term OF sentence" This is
Incompatible with the exercise Of the
discretionary authority conferred on
nearly all Of these institutions by
State legislation to discharge him at an
earlier period and to bind him by inden-
lures of apprenticeship, or TO prolong his
detention until be gives satisfactory evil
dence of reformation. Doubts were en-
tertained by the officers in charge o.
others, whether they were not prohibited
by the terms of their organic laws from
receiving offenders other than those con-
yicted by the tribunals of the State in
which they were located. From the best
I consideration b we been able to bestOw
on the subject, I am of opinion that State
as well as Federal legislation is necessary
to give full practical effect to the humane
intentions evineed by Congress in the
enactment Of the law.
The motives which induced the action
Of Congress appeal with equal force
in the erection Of a house Of refuge in
this District. The confinement Of the
youthful convict in the p~enitentiaTy,
where he is in communion with iuvete-
rate transgressOFs, has "a most %cOrrupting
effect upon his modes Of thought and
principles Of action, and, after suffering
the penalty which the law imposes upon
convicted guilt, he rarely returns To
the path Of virtue. Benifcent results at
teHt wisdom and yOfprOyiding
an asylum for such cOnvicts. IN many
instances they have been led astray by
evil parental Influences, or left in desti-
tute O%rphanage, assaulted on every side
By temptation, and without a friend TO
encourage them by precept and v%irtuous
example, A large discretion should be
given 10 the managers Of such an insti-
Uutiol. They should be authorized 10
detain the offender until he attIins his
majority; or, should they deem il
expedient, provide him, at an earlier
period, with a home far removed from
his old associations. During his confine-
ment he should be taught a useful trade,
habits Of industry, the rudiments Of an
education, and the lessons Of morality
and religion. Under the benignant
influences which would thus surround
them, man would doubtless be rescued
from the ways Of guilt and sorrow, and
rendered. in after life, a useful member Of
that -)ciety of which they once threatened
to become the scourge and apprObrium.
Influenced by these considerations, I
haveencoUragedan incorporates society Of
benevolent gentlemen to take the prelim-
mary steps for the establishment of such
an institution on the aqueduct farm, in
this district. It is hoped that Congress
may afford them the necessary assistance
to secure this result.
The War Department has not yet su-
rendered the building i'm this city fur-
merly used as a p-enitentiary. It is
I'll adapted for the purposes for which
it was employed. This Department has
heretofore invited the attention or Con-
gresS TO the propriety Of erecting a new
huiiding. The subject is again presented
for SUCH action as may be deemed eEpe-
dent.
GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE IN
SANE.
invite the attention Of Congress 10
the tenth anuual report of the board Of
visitors and the JhirteentnannuaI report
Of the superintendent of construction of
the Government hospital for the insane.
These papers exhibit the condition Of
theinstitutiOn during the past fiscal year,
and present, in addition 20 statistical in
formation, many valuable and highly
Instructive suggestions. The number Of
patients under treatment at the com
mencement of the YEA was three
hundred and f~fty-One, including
one hundred and ninety-one from
the army, eighteen from the navy,
two from the Soldiers Home, and four
rebel prisoners. The number admitted
during the year was five hundred and
fifteen, of whom four hundred and
twenty-siX were from the army, ten from
the navy, seVenty-twO from civil life,
three from the Quartermaster's and Sub
sistence Departments, and four were rebel
prisoners. The whole number under
treatment during the year was eight
hundred and siXty-siX, of whom six hun
dred and iOrty-hve belonged 20 the milf
ury or naval service. One hundred and
rs recovered three hundred and forty
eight; as improved, one hundred and
one and as unimprOved, nine.
Congress failed at its last session to
make the required appropriation for the
support of the hospital, and with your
appreciation I negotiated, for that pur-
pose, q temporary loan. Attention is in
vited to the subject, as the money was
obtained on most favorable terms from
the First National Bank, to whose Off
GERS Assurances were given that Congress
would provide for its payment at anearly
period of the approaching session.
The hospital was established for the
treatment OF the insane of this District,
as well rs Of the army, the navy. and the
revenue cutter service. II has, from its
origin, been conducted in such manner
as to merit and receive the uninterrupted
confidence and patronage of Congress.
Its success and usefulness are due in a
great degree to the superintendent, who
has been identified with its history, and
who brings to its service professional at
tainments of the highest order, long
perience, and unsurpassed fidelity in the
discharge Of his ardUOus and delicate du-
ties. He has received the active cO-Ope-
ration Of the board of visitors and of his
subordinate officers. His salary was orig
inaIy fixed at its present rate. The pro-
priety of increasing il IS presented for the
consideration Of Congress.
COLUMBIA INsTITUTEFoR THE DEAF AND
DUMB.
The Columbia Institution for the in
structiOn Of the deaf and dumb has fur
uished instruction to eighty-ive deaf
mutes since the first day Of July, 1864.
Pursuant to the provisions Of an act OF
Congress approved Feb. %, 1866, the
blind pupils, seven in number, were
transferred TO the Maryland Institution
for the Blind. The books, maps, and
papers, especially designed for the in
struction of such pupils, were delivered
to that institution, for the use of the
beueficiaries of the United States.
INDECENT deaf and dumb persons of
90 Haa-hnhla ofra - nrnr.nrNN~ haUannTrFFr to
this district, and the deaf and dumb chill
dren of all persons in the naval or MILF
tary service of the United States, while
such persons are actually in such service,
are received into the institution upon the
order of the Secretary of the Interior.
The annual charge Of Il hundred and
fifty dollars for each pupil so received has
been paid as provided by law. In ad-
ditiOn 10 this outlay, appropriations have
been made for salaries and contingent
expenses, the purchase of grounds, the
erection Of buildings, the introduction Of
Potomac water, and other improve
ments. The directors, in theirTepOrt, pro-
pose to relinquiSh the per capita charge
for the Government pupils, and
include the estimated amount thereof IN
the item for salaries and contingent
penses, which they desire may be in
creased to so, 700. This sum, with the
items embraced in the estimate,
viii require for the next fiscal year an
appropriation of ST $40. During the
fiscal year the institution has re-
no aid from Congress, other than
the sums paid for the maintenance ofthe
admitted by order of this Depart
and the board ask that a clause
appropriating S55,4A5 81 be inserted in
the deficiency bill.
Congress, by the act Of April s, 1864,
authorized the Columbia Institution %
confer degrees in the liberal arts and
sciences on pupils of the institution, or
who, by their proficiency in
earning, or other meritOri0us distinc-
lion, may be thereUntO entitled Pursu-
ant to the presumed authority conferred
~ this act, the board has organized an
advanced department, in addition
% the primary school where
he elementary branches and the
Mechanic arts have been successfully
.aught. They designate it as " The Ma
ional Deaf Mute College, A prepara-
-ory or intermediate class has also been
with a range of studies more
thorough and efficient than in any SINH
ar school in this country. 1t is designed
% furnish their own pupils, and the grad
lates of the State institutions, with an
opportunity of attaining the standard of
proficiency requisite to an admission into
he freshman class of the college.
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