The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-03-02
EASTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.

House of Delegates on Wednesday, by the
Committee appointed to examine into the con-
dition of the Asylum located at Williams
burg:
To the House Of Delegates Of Virginia:
! Your committee have had under considera-
ton the condition and management of the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum, specially brought to
the attention of the Legislature by mes
sage from the Governor. They have acted in
conjunction with the committee having charge
of the same matter in the Senate, and con-
cur with that committee i'll presenting this re-
port.
The testimony taken induce them to say
! l. 1t manifest that the patronage and Off
ces Of the Asylum have been perverted to and
used for party and political purposes.
2. Lemuel G. Bowden, the President of the
Directory, holds an Office of trust under the
United States Government e., Assistant
Tax Colector-which not only takes him from
Williamsburg, but the opinion OF the commit
tee, under the provisions of the law second
section, chapter twelve Of the Code), vaCates
his Office of Director.
| 8. Several of the directors, SINCE their APP
pointment, have removed from williamsburg
and two have not signifed their acceptance of
the commissions sent them and if not next to
impossible, it is very inconvepient to get Il
board of three as required by law (sec. seven.
CHI. eighty-tve of the Code,) to examine and
receive patients into the asylum, and conse-
quently, in majority of cases, they have had
to be illegally taken in by the superintendent;
be depending upon the board, when he can
convene one, to ratity afterwards his action.
| Again, the law requires that, to constitute a
business board, five directors should be present
together; but, in consequence Of the removal
| of some, and the distant residence of others,
there are not that number in Williamsburg, or
within the range of eighteen miles thereof,
and the business of the institution must be ire
quently transacted without warrant of law, or
| be unattended to.
4. a radical change in the administration Of
| the asylum is demanded, otherwise its use
fulness must be destroyed, and instead of its
being home and hospital for the care and
maintenance OF our unfortunate tellowcrea-
lures, it will continue to be made machine
to be used by those having control, to reward
| friends or purchase offices.
| 3. Supplies belonging to, and money fur
nished the asylum during the late civil war,
have been improperly used OF disposed Of with
ont being accounted for, and it is the duty. of
the directors, in the opinion Of your committee,
to hold the person Or persons responsible there
for, to settlement by civil proceedings at law,
| if not otherwise accounted for.
6. The records of the institution have been
mutlated and the proceedings, for consde-
rable length of time, have been taken away,
and are now in the custody OF Henry M.
Bowden, Of Norfolk city. He exhibited a
portion of them to the committee, and de-
lola Ia, al
vindieation, saying that his superior, one DR..
Watson-appointed to office by Governor
Peirpoint before the close Of the war-had
ordered him to take charge of aud keep them.
These records, your committee suggest, are of
Importance to the asylum. and unless they are
surrendered to the directors steps should be
taken by them. by civil or criminal proceed
ings, to compel the surrender of them or to
punish the offender
In view of the foregoing facts, your COM
mittee, believing that "A reformation i'll the
management of the institution might be ef-
tected by change of directors, made a spe-
cal report to tine Governor. There are in
Williamsburg and its immediate vicinity gen.
tlemep of the highest moral and intellectual
Character who have not been, and could not
be induced to be, parties to the unfortunate
squabbles had over the spills OF the asylum,
and who, while they will not seek and do not
desire the position, would, under the circum-
stances, and to aid in carrying out the humane
and christian purpose had in view III establish
ing the noble charity, accept the dictatorship.
And your committee understand that the
Governor has commissioned a new Board, and
it is hoped that the abuses complained of will
be cured, and the rights of the asylum to pro-
perty and records alluded to be look ed intC
and redressed
Your committee were unable to get all the
testimony they desired, there being several
witnesses knowing important facts, whose at
tendance could not be procured, and they
have therefore asked, by resolution already re-
ported, permission, if they think it necessary,
to visit the lunatic asyums and the instiu-
ton for the education Of the deaf and dumb
and blind during the vacation with power t.
send for persons and papers. Respectfully
submitted B. +. GARRETT,
Chairman Of House Committee
n. X. TKouT
Chairman of Senate Committee.
When the Clerk concluded reading the re-
port from the Committee on Asylums, Mr..
Smith, of Williamsburg, asked to be allowed
to submit few remarks, upon the report
but the Speaker ruled that it was not in order
to do SO until the report was printed.
/, PORTRAIT OF GEN. s oTT.-1he picture
Of Gen Scott. painted by Page and present
ed by the Union League to Gen. Grant, rep
resents Scott seated at a table, with one hand
L., :.