Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-18
sver she Dispasst.I
A PET59lUk ~ THELBGicLATons

A pFTY9lUh ~ T'HE LBGiSLdTOhs
M vssxtu,s Aaaisss ne Rsssnnssssues
az sp,rssI esmaissse n Fsvsr o. 80
aessus . law Sss the Renewal 81 the Prs-
,s.s wht~ ismsses srthe Esssern Lnns"e
Asyisn 70 she Asslum sew ~ Process o.
n<t.s su,Is Near Pessrsburs fsr The Cs'sFed
Insane, and CsnversIns the Eastern Lsss'
&c Asy,um Inss One Exclusively Tor the
Use Of the Nesrses-
with nj, due respect 10 the special com
mittee, but With freedom when the e,s-
sussion Of an important measure ae'nanus,
shall proceed 10 give my oIinion ana ,ne
reasons why the recommendation " '"'s
SPECIAL committee should not peeome .
law; believing that such plan nas nos .ne
support Of the directors OF either OF tne Two
asyliIm,. nor Of any expert on INSANITY, DIN
IL. ON the contrary, hasty and ill-adv'sed
,nvpsstion. made without due knowled-e
and r, flection, and. n carried out, most ii'
jurious TO the unfortunate inmates OF The
Eastern Lunat:c Asylum, placed mere tor
treatment by their friends, who never con-
templated their removal by such measure
Your petitioners protest against sucn 4
measure, amongst other reasons thar mifn.
be urged-fiirst, because such law would
be IN eoutrayersion OF all the rights OF All
The partice conccrnsd-would be perVer-
.Iop OF q noble charity and unjust, ana
net called for by the people, VINO are
taxed to support the asyiums; secondly,
because Il would be impolitic and inexpe-
dent and attended with an Unnecessary
expenditure Of money not authorized by
any public expression Of The people. who
are the Judges Of the mode aud measure of
their beneiletions. When the Eastern Luz
matte ASYLUM was established IN lII3. with
The consent Of the corporation OF VIII
Iismsburg and the Legislature, In the heart
OF the city. IL was designed az an asylum
mainly for the benefit o. the white race,
and only incidentally for the negroes.
who we're then principally slaves. and
whose owners were charged With the ex-
pepse OF their cure and maintenance. AT
this period the population OF virginia was
mostly in the Tidowater region, ana tnere
were few negroes in the other grind divl-
tions Of the State, hence there was o1t
small number OF negroes IN the ssylum IN
its ear ly history, and they were chiefly from
this region. No one can believe the fOund-
ers OF this asylum contemplated IN us cree
ton and support that II would ever be Tor
the exclusive Dt0fHt VI b'-iV'-s - ~
right and lawful 10 peryert this charity
from its original purposeand intent into the
exclusive use OF the negroes. never so con-
templated by IFS founders. the corporation
OF Williamsburg and the Legislature! Ca
bono2 There is ample provision made by
the state for buildings, now being com
pleted on site agreed on by the proper
authorities, for the cure and mainte-
nance OF the colored insane. and Will
soon be- completed, with all OF the mo-
dern improvements. With this Prov.
sion for their race, the negroes are satisfied,
nor do they desire the change proposed,
and II made would have cause TO regard II
as violation Of good faith on the part OF
the state. This change, therefore, would
be manifestIy unjust 10 all the parties con-
cerned, and 10 none more than taxpayers,
who have contributed for more than CEN
tury annual amounts to make the Eastern
Lunafic Asylum a suitable institution Tor
the cure and maintenance OF the insane OF
our own race. The Eastern Lunatic hsy-
lum has become historic, and Is one oil the
landmarks OF the past. That il would be
mpoitic and ircxpedent to make The
meditated change in this me.honored in-
sfitutjon there can be no doubt. The ctl-
zeps OF Williamsburg and adjacent c0un-
tly held a large meeting at the courthouse
on Monday the 10th instant, and with one
voice, without regard to party or color.
condemned the scheme, and we have
no doubt that, II time was allowed. similar
meetings would he held throughout the
State. In addition 10 the reasons already
assigned. we assert that such change
would be inimical 10 the Democratic party.
The city OF Williamsburg and adjacent
country contain among its inhabitants an
intelligent class OF as sterling Democrats AZ
can be found in the state. who are kept
down by the negroes and their allies. l. II
too much TO ask OF our Democratic Legis'
lature that they will not increase our EN-
barrassments by giving our opponents aid
and comfort, and annual contributions
from the treasury. which may be used
against us in future. as in the recent pre-
yious administration
II il the misfortune Of our party 10 be
kept down by the force OF the superior num-
bors Of the negroes and their allies. and
now that the country is rejoicing In the
great victory which has delivered Us from
our enemies we hope that YOU will not
rass measure which might asSis, in disap-
pointing our hopes OF obtaining possession
OF our MUNICIPAL and county governments,
now in the hands OF Readjusters. our
senatorial and legislative districts are in
the hands Of cOlored Readiusters. so that
we have no representative from our dis
tricts 10 present our views. nor DO we
know what course they will pursue on this
question, and we therefore have 10 appeal
to all who agree with lis 10 sustain our pc
t:.iOI.
We have heard that the reason assigned
by the special committee for this change ~
that the Eastern Lunatlc Asylum is located
in place filed with miasm, and thai the
negro can better resist lis banciul influence
than the white man, and therefore such
contemplated removal of the lunatics would
be for The benefit OF both races. H. reply
to these assertions, which are altogether
gratuitOuS, we enter our positive denial.
II is not slrue that the location OF Williams
burg is more under the,innuence OF miasm
than that near Peters burg. the site OF the
new asylum. nor is il fact that the negro
Is less subject TO masmatic influences than
the white man. But we go further and
maintain, OH the evidence Of the entire
medical faculty OF this city. that from its
elevation and drainage il Is q healthy loca'
ton, and particularly exempt from Asistic
cholera. yellow and typhoid-fcverS, so fatal
in other portions OF our State. An exam
ination OF the records OF the Asylum and
those of William and Mary College sustain
this fact beyond contradiction.
The writer OF this paper knows from ali
inspection OF these records that the rates
OF mortality in these institutions are less
from climatic and other diseases than those
of similar institutions elsewhere located.
In conclusion, We ask is II meet and right
that the ancient city OF Williamsburg and
vicinity, whose past history is that OF the
/ State in its most glorious period. to appeal
in vain TO Democratic Legislature TO be
| delivered from what we regard As a
nuisance il this change is made? Already
| is heard amongst us the cry OF or best
| citizens. II the Eastern Luuatic Asylum
| is 10 be converted INTO one exclusively for
| negroes, we shall be compelled TO leave our
homes. We hope our earnest appeal and
| petition to the Legislature will be heeied,
and that this cup will pass from our lips.
And we win ever pray, &c. l0GK.
some boys picking chestuuts in Chicopee.
Mass, the other day came suddenly upon
acave in the woods, which had the appear