The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-11-22
Cs9I.4 tS1aBi a., u.s. II sc.
Tuesaay Morning. November 2S, ls70.
Tho state LunatIo Asylum.

~ Tho State Lunatio AsyIum.
A correspondent has called upon US for
information as to the state of affairs at
thepState Lunatic Asylum. We shall
present such views as are suggested by
the information we have received. We
have reason to believe that the Suporin-
tendent, DR.. Ensor, is man OF sense
and libt rality, who seeks to fulfil his
trust in fan enlightened and humane
spirit, (; and that he is sustained by the
more discreet members Of the Board of
Regents-white aud colored. The STUN
bling-block in the way is the man DR..
Harris, q >colored importation, who has
been foist,d ina place for which both his
limited education, his nature and his
habits wholly disqualify him. This man
was Assistant Physician attend.
ant and Secretary and Treasurer-and is
receiving, we learn, q salary of over
$4,000. Recently, as we are informed,
Governor Scott, upon complaint made
to him. removed DR.. Harris from his
post OF Assistant Physician, but he re-
tains the post of head attendant and
Secretary and Treasurer. He should be
removed entirely, and it is a duty, which
Governor Scott can scarcely omit. to pro-
teot the helpless unfortunates in the Asy-
lum.
It is reported to us. that this man Har-
ris has taken almost exclusive coptrol of
the male department of the Asylum, and
has introduced harsh methods of trent
ment hitherto unpractised, and which are
simply outrageous. The chain and pad
look and the cold water dousc are not
unfrequently employed by this soulless
and incompetent attendant.
To put colored man in charge Of
white lunatics, is barbarism that even
no decent Republican, whito or black,
shouldapprove. These people, deprived
of reason, have their unconquerable pre-
judices and when man like Harris
exercises his despotic sway over such
people, who doubts but that he adds fuel
to the fires of madness, or increases the
sad despondency of depressed hearts.
We deem it the bounden duty of DR..
Ensor to make IN indignant protest
against the state of affairs existing in the
Lunatio Asylum, and which we know
he cannot sanction. We deem it the
bounden duty of Governor Scott to exert
his authority to protect the interests of
the unfortunate inmates of the Lunatic
Asylum, and to rise superior to all those
influences that may be used to protect
and retain in Office an unworthy and a
lazy officer. If tho state of things re-
ported to US exist in the Asylum, they
should be changed unless they are
changed, we shall feel it our duty to ar
ray against the management Of this Asy-
lum, an indignant public opinion, which,
embracing both white and colored, will
prove to be irresistible. But we shall be
fair, and we add, that wo believe that
Governor Scott, sustaining DR.. Ensor,
will interfere and correct these abuses
If politics are tc lie introduced into the
Lunatic Asylum if it is to be used as a
political body-if it is to be dc-human-
lied and outraged by such creature as
him, whose brutality has been reported
to us, better let its walls be levelled to
the ground, and its inmates remitted to
the care of friends and the charities of
the public.
Notwithstanding the mcnacing attitude
OF Russia aud the rosolute assertions of
England and Austria IL is said that no