Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-10-02


heads or members Of families deeply inter-
ested in their fate. SO we readily perceive
that the welfare and happiness Of many thou
sands of our people are intimately connected
with the insane Many otherwise happy
homes are now made sad and fearful by the
presence Of some insane member thereof,
while our Asyluns are full, and the plea Of
insanity has become the refuge Of the crimi-
nal and while our present incorporate. ex-
travagant and vicious tendencies continue
while our forms of self abuse are legion, in
Guiding not only the gravcr forms, but all the
vauities aud folies of the day; the pride and
strife, the jealousies and ialsehoods found in
Christian communities so called, continue, We
can look for no favorable change. Yet we
all know that the laws Of our wel-being can
not be habtually and constantly violated with
IMMUNITY. We know that temperance, in-
dustry, truth aud sefsaeri6ce, are the by
piene Of both mind aud body aud that moth
Jog so well secures health, souudness Of mind,
and length of years, as to be temperate in all
things to rightly use, not abuse, the facul-
ties and privileges God has given US for cur
success in life
OF the important aud b5neGcent character
Of our institutions for the insane, there can
be no doubt; and until recently charges of ILL
treatment aud abuse against them have been
only occasional, and insufficient to excite at.
tentiou but recently the papers are filed
with reports calculated to iuaamo the preju-
diced diminish public confidence aud even
excite perhaps in the minds Of the most can
did feeling of disirust. Investigation will
probably show most Of these reports untrue,
or exaggerated, aud unwisely or prema,urely
given 10 the public These incidents we may
occasionally look for " so long as the wrongful
imprisonment Of sane persons is capable Of
adding to the interest Of a novel, or as long
as the stories Of the Insane are received by
creduou. people as unqualified truths" But
we know that in the attainment Of the most
benefcent objects, abuses are liable TO occur
where even the wisest precautions are Gu
forced consequently vigilance may be said to
be the price Of liberty not only, but the price
Of the highest success in every department or
undertaking
Now let US briefly consider some provisions
Of our Statutes in relation TO the insane, with
a view to determine if it is necessary or pos
sible to take further precautions against in
ddeutal abuses On page 500 Of our General
Statutes, there are provisions which | think
are now ia force like the. following That
when any person tried on an Indictment for
murder or manslaughtcr is acquitted By rea-
sou Of insanity, the court at lis discretion
may order such person to be confined in
State Prison and when ordered to State
Prison, to be subject to such discipline and
labor as the Superintendent may deem best
that is, supposing the going at large Of such
person would be still thought dangerous In
case of indictment for less offence the per-
son may be confded in the County Jail
Where the Grand Jury fail to indict because
Of insanity, the person is to be confined in the
County Jail. etc. These laws were enacted
at an earlier day, and are now blot on our
Statutes, it being cruel aud absurd to send an
insane person to State Prison. Il is punish
ing those We have declared guitless, and ex,,
GLIDING them from the benefits Of early treat
ment at an Asylum, where - per cent Of
such cases recover. Such laws, if they have
not already been, should nov be repealed.
They tend 10 make or excuse heartless Super.
intendenis and cruel nurses
In case it ia sought to make an insane per.
son beneficiary at Brattloboro the certh.
Gates Of two respectable physicians, asserting
said persons insanity, are received as concu-
siye evidence Of the fact. 1t has been charged
that sometimes these certif Gates are ucom-
pctently, or hastily given, or frau1uleuily OBJ
tanned and consequently persons not insane
are ncarceratod as insane. Would it not be
wise to add, at least, TO the certificates Of two
} physicians the certificates Of the select men
Of the town in which such insane person re-.
sides This would not prove burdensome,
because the select men have now to certify to
the pecuniary disability Of such persons and
should it be made their duty also to satisfy
themselves Of their mental disability and Ger.
iiiy thereto it might prove bar 10 posi-.
BILE litigation, error, or misconduct.
But suppose independent people, if their
, friends bee ONE insane, sometimes preGr to
keep their misfortune from the public as
much as possible, and on their own and their