The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-23
Tho Hospital for the ! nauo.

Tho Hospital for the iINuc.
At the session Of the Virginia Leg.
i.lature Of 1878. tha. body passed an
net for the construction Of "a third Lu.
nstic Asylum. to be located in what
sas then called Trnns.Allegheny vir.
GINA, aud u. on earnest Of tue under
taking, appropriated S95 900 towards
that purpose. Three distinguished
Virginia gcn,lemCu-two from east of
the Blue Ridge and one from tho vul.
ley were appointed by the Governor
mlocats it, Owing to Centruity and
It Q. advantages, they chose Weston
a, the place for its erection. A Board
~ our best citizens were commissioned
soon thereafter as Directors. and two
II them appointed 10 get up tho plan
Ut building. In diseIlargisg that duty
they procured tho services Of one Of
the most accomplished architects in
tho country. who, in company with
item. visited oil tho Lunatic Asylums
uf no,e 10 the United States. in order
u ucquaiu, themselves more fully witt
the modern plans aud architecture Of
such institutions; aud the plan Of that
modcl building for tue insane, on the
nther side Of the river, Is the product
"f,hrir labors. The Virginia I.Ogis.
Ia urI Appropriated prior to April,
1851, the sum of Sl65.0OO towards
it' construction, and the work wen,
uu bravcly until the war, when its
further prosecution was necessarily
suspended. But for this (civil war;
The greatest Of ALI evils, the. "Ttars.
Allegheny 1.unatic Asylum would, in
our opinion, have Gro this, been, con.
pleled. Tho war dismenlS ered the
ancient Commonwealth Of Virginia,
md made for US a new State. The
new State brought on at once n new
state of thiugs-new Offices aud new
men to fll them now law-makers-
new laws and new public buildings
were then for tho frst tine to DO look.
I'D after, These things very naturally
brought on not only struggle for the
llouors aud Omoluments of tho Offices
Tut for the location Of the public
buildings, in the hope Of additional
gain by tie handling Of the public
monies expended in their erection.
The Peuitentiary, the University, the
Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and
Hind, aud the Normal Schools, have
been located and erected. or otherwise
aided BY til !, i gi,lature! The CTi
Iol Of the State has not, Ms yet, been
permanently located. 1t has. so far as
we arc Informed, at the present session
nf the Legislature, become tho subject
of much bitter. csptious. aud threaten.
ing discussion. Members Of that body
aud outsiders il the interest Of Charles.
TIN. have. as We learn, attempted to
intimilate our Senator and Delegate 10
tn, proper discharge of their
public duties, by threatening them
win the dele,t Of an appropriation to
tue Hospital for tho lnsaue. To such
rs make these threats, we must be
permitted TO say, that the Hospital for
The Insane is the joint property of the
whole peOpls-erectcd for the exclu.
sivs use aud benefit Of the insane of
every county in tue State /: and It ap.
pears that every county in the State
lias more or less insane "a ii, cared and
provided for at the States expense.
Every citizen Of tho State, and every
friend Of this unfortunate class every.
where, has in it a common interest.
We feel proud oft because it is of il.
tclfa monument Of til, highest Chris.
tian civilization. It is truly our ~.
blest charity-i,s inmates a:c the
States wards, and the Legislature
their appropriate guardians iona
than NJ. Benuctt and Albert A. Lewis
have no greater interest 10 i, or guar.
diauslip over it, than my other mem.
hers Of the West Virginia Legislatu 0.
In all matters pertaining to tile public
interests, the people Of this County
and Senatorial District expect Mcssrs.
Bennett and Lewis to do ,hoir duty.
nnd that. too. without faSr mr. faynr -