The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-02-05
INSANE AsYLUMs.
Arguments of Mrs. E. P. W. Packard Before
the Committee on Benevolent
Institutions.

Following are the arguments in brief
made by Mrs. E. P. w. Packard, of Chicago,
before the committee on benevolent institu-
ton of the Indiana Legislature. Mrs. Packard
has devoted the remainder of her life to the
cause of ameliorating the condition of the
inmates of insane ssylums, and having her.
self experienced the wrongs 10 which such
persons are too often subjected, speaks
knowingly, and no doubt thoughtfully, of
the chief causes of complaint and the man.
ner in which they can best be averted. Her
remarks have reference to two bills which
she has caused to be presented for the con-
ssderation OF the Legislature.
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
| CoMMITTEE-As men of intelligence, you can
not be ignorant of the fact that the age has
arrived at that period when the reform of
! insane asylums has become an imperative
necessity. 1t is now well known fact that
these humanitarian institutions are being
diverted from their avowed use as curative
| homes for the insane, and are sometimes
made horrible prisons, where the innocent
sane victims of cupidity or malice are hid
den, where they are rendered almost as pow
| er!ess to thwart base and wicked designs as
If they were placed in their graves.
Gentlemen, our insane asyluns are all
! prisons, and no patient can be received ex-
cept prisoner, or at the price of personal
liberty; and the imprisonment of
a sane person in an insane asy-
lum is a greater calamity than I'M
prisonment in peniientary. And yet
candidate for the penitsntlary is allowed
! fair trial before i'm prisonment while can
| didate for the insane asylum is allowed no
trial 1T ALL so far as self defense is sconcsrned.
1t is entirely ex parte in the application of
the law, the presence OF the accused not be
| lrg required nor is any advocate or de
1 fer nio rpfb riprbf tn ad l,f
defender in his absence. And the principal
evidence for his fitness for asylum i'm oris-
onment consists in the certificates of
two expert physicians that, in their
opinion, the party is insane. Now, il GER
| tifcates are sufficient safeguard for per-
sonal liberty in the one case, why not in the
other also? To imprison one in the peni-
tentiary simply on the certificate of two in
dividuals that. in their opinion, the party
accused is a thief or 8 murderer would not
seem to meet the demands of justice: and
vet your present laws allow the unfortunate
victims OF cupidity, envy, jealousy, bigotry
oS malice to be thus imprisoned in insane
| asylums for life on this treacherous
and very uncertain basis. Are ycu, gentle
men, willing TO trust your own y rsonal lib
erty any longer on this frail basis? If you
would desire trial before imprisonment,
why not provide one by securing the passage
of this bill. the provisions of which are of
personal interest to every individual in this
victims of this unjust legislation, if any
there are in your Insane Asylum, dc
now appeal TO you for deliversnce
from the macbiDatious OF the unscrupuious
by allowing them the trial hitherto 50 un
Justly cenied them, as Is provided for In
the fourth provision OF this BILL
In reading the statutes of Indiana, and
finding that jury trial is now demanded
where property qualifications are tested,
could not bat wonder that Indiana legis-
l..~x Ir1 oil al
good a protection as they have accorded to
property rights; for, TO me, personal
liberty seems of paramount importance.
As proof that your present laws of commit
tai do not afford adequate protection of per
sonal liberty, will first give the opinion OF
Superin Everts, as he gave utter
ance 10 1t on my visit to the institution the
day after my arrival in this city. SAID he
Mrs. Packard, l am very glad ycu have
come to secure such legislation for this State
for it is greatly needed. Many are brought
, here as insane, who never ought to have
been sent, and for long time have felt that
additional safeguards were needed 10 prevent
these mistakes. Indeed, had thought oi
presenting my views on this subject TO the
Legislature myself, and should probab y
have done so had not your timely effort:
superseded it."
Gentlemen. you are indebted to this wise
man, whom | cannot but regard as a prince
; among superntendents, and of whom Indi
ana has reason to be justly proud, for having
so meritorious q bill 10 consider; for hi.
wisdom has perfected bo:h of my bills, as in
his judgment the rights OF humanity de
manded, so that every provision Of each bill
has been indo.sed by him.
, As another proof that this bill Ia needed,
: will stale the case CT bright intelligent arc
energetic young man of this city, Of :.55ou
? % years of age, who has several times called
upon me since have been in this city, tC
] know what are the prospects of this bill be
coming law; for he claims his personal lib
erty is daily imperiled by members OF
secret society, who have become his enemies
and he fears to live in any State where hi.
personal liberty can be taken from him with
out trial. A few days since | assured hin
that, in my opinion, in one week his, per
sonal liberty would be as securely shielded
from legal kidnapping in Indiana, his native
State, as in any other State in the Union.
Gentlemen might pursue this argument
! much farther by showing the fallacy of exper
testimony on this subject and contrasting i
with that of facts and actions as indications
Of mental condition This later evi
dence this bill contemplates, since
it requires the same saiegusrd
for personal liberty that is accorded to prop
erty-namely, the test of q civil suit Witt
| men of your intelligence, however, 1 deem
it unnecessary to prolong thus argument to
insure your approval of this bill, and youl
prompt recommendation that it may, forth
with become a law of Indiana.
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF TIL
CoMAIrTEE-Our present insane asylum sys
tenn affords too great a license OF an ire
sponsible power, and furnishes an opportun
ity for SO artfuly covering up and concealinf
the treatment of the patients from public
} scrutiny as to almost defy the detection O
evil practices. If any exist. Aud also the
, present system deprives all its inmates o.
every opportunity for self-defence, by no
> | n ms 70 q pri an mr. n
indefinite period of time, but it also places
every inmate outside the pale of justice
and beyond the reach of the laws
by depriving them of all communication
with the outside world, except throu n the
consent of the superintendent. And it il
. the acknowledged practice of the superin
tendents to burn many of the letters written
} by, or sent to, the patients, and thereby