The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-23
The IIo.pItal fsr lhe Il.ane.

The Hospital for the Insane.
At The session Of tue Virginia leg.
islaturc Of 1878, that body passed IN
net for the construction Of u third I.u.
nplic Asylum. to be located 10 what
~as then called Trsns,AlIegheuy Viz.
giuia, aud as IN earnest Of the under.
taking, appropriated $4,000 towards
that purpose, Three distinguished
Virginia grntlemCn-two from east of
the Blue Ridge aud one from the Val.
ley were appointed By the Governor
to locate it. 0wipgto centrally and
At Q: advantages, they chose Weston
atthe place for its erection, A Board
III our best citizens we're commissioned
soon thereafter as Directors, and two
ofthen appointed 10 get up the plan
ofbuildiug, In discliargisg that duty
they procured the services Of ono Of
the most accomplished architects in
tho country, who, in company with
item, visited all Tie Lunatic AsyIums
ofuo.e in tue United States, in order
u acquaint themselves more fully with
the modern plans and architecture Of
such institutions; aud the plum Ofthat
iuodel building for the insane, on the
oIher side Of the river, is the product
uf their labors. Tba Virpibi. Isris,
Ia uri appropriated prior to April,
1861, the sum Of Sl65. 900 towards
it, construction, aud the work went
on btaycly until the war when its
further prosecution was necessarily
suspended. But Tor this civil war;
the greatest of all evils, the '.,,rrars.
Allegheny Luuatic Asylum" would, in
our opinion, have ere this, been com.
pleted. The war dismemSered tic
ancient Commonwealth Of Virginia,
rnd made for US a new State. Tue
now State brought on at once a new
state OF things-npw Offices mud new
men to GIL them-new law-makers-
new laws and new public buildings
were then for the frst tine to be look.
I'd after. These things very naturally
brought on not only struggle for the
llonors aud Omouments Of tho Offices.
lut for the location Of the public
buildings, in the hope Of additional
gain by the handling Of the public
monies expended III their erection.
The PenitcnIiary, the University, the
Institution for tho Deaf, Dumb aud
Blind, aud the Normal Schools, have
becn located and erected. or otherwise
aided by til, L'gi,laturcs The Capi
tol OF the State has not, Us yet, been
permanently located. lthas. so far us
we arc informed, at the present session
Of the Legislature, become the subject
Of much bitter. captiOus, aud threaten.
jag discussion. Members OF that body
md outsiders in tue interest Of Charles.
TIN, have, as We learn, attempted to
intimilate our Senator and Delegate 10
tn, proper di,ehargo Of lLcir
public duties, by threatening them
viii the deio,t Of au uppropriationto
the Hospital for tue Insane To such
MS make these threats, we must be
permitted to say, that tho Hospital for
The Insane is the joint property Of tho
whole peOple-erCoted for the rxClu.
siye use aud benefit Of the insane Of
every county iu tue State aud It ap.
pears that every county 10 tho Suite
has more or less insane Ia it, cared and
provided for ut the States expense.
Every citizen Of tho State, and every
friend Of this unfortunate class every.
where, has in it common interest.
We feel proud Of it because it is Of it.
tclta monument Of th. highest Chris.
tian civilization. 1t is truly our no.
blest charity-its Inmates arc The
States wards. aud the Legislature
their appropriate guardians iona.
than NJ. Bennett and Abort A. Lewis
have no greater interest in is, or guar.
dianship over it, than my other mem.
hers ofthe West Virginia I.egislatu Q.
10 all matters pertaining 10 tue public
interests. the people Of this County
mud Senatorial district expect McssrS.
Bennett and l,sws to do ,heir duty.
and that I'm witlnnt fasr n. E.va.