The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-05-02
The Asylum Investigation.

The late hour at which the card of Mr..
}. w. Blackburn was handed in last week
and the pressure upon our time and space,
prevented such editorial remarks relating
to it as shonld have been made at the
time
The position assumed by the Board of
Directors was anomalous, considering
theif citation to the matter and their duty
in the premises. They constitute the
legislative authority of the institution.
When irregularities or mismanagement or
wrong doing OF whatever nature, come to
their knowledge through whatever source,
with reasonable probability of their verify,
il is their duty to institute inquiry and
promote inve stigation. AS guardians OF
the institution and all of it's sacred inter
ests, if such inquiry should result in the
exposure of cause for such investigation,
it is e further duty to probe the matter to
the bottom. and adopt such measures as
will protect the charge committed to their
care and Supervision.
When the officers Of the institution sub
mitted to the Board the facts which were
formulated in the note communicated to
them: it was the duty of the Board to at
once inaugurate an investigation, to send
for persons and papers. take testimony.
and make the fullest and most searching
inquiry into all irregularities alleged
to exist. 1t was an evasion OF duty aud
sfirkiDg OF responsibility, when they re-
quired the Off cers TO formulate charges and
specifications, to assume the lole of prose-
cutors, and employ counsel aud to be com
PEELED to pay the counsei's fees. That was
thu duty and business Of the Board.
When the charges bad been mada, as
adduced to sustain them, iii the opinion OF
the Board. there would have been eminent
propriety III no5 virtually condemning the
officer who Was prominent in bringing
the charges and conducting the prosecu-
ton, under the command of the Board. 1t
was case where personal feeling and
| friendship should have been suDOrdinated
to a sense of Justice aud fairness to all
parties. 1t was not question. so much,
who should be elected steward, as it was
what would have been right at the time,
and under all the circumstances. No one
| questions the fitness and capacity OF the
present steward. He is a gentlem an who
will do his full duty and administer the af'
| fairs of the Institution, so far as they are
committed to him. in the interest of the
State aid from high sense of the obliga-
tion5 which the position imposes. AS
much had been done by his predecessor as
as tie resolution adopted by tie Board
declared 1t was this singular position in
which MIR. Blackburn was placed that
compelled lin to make the statement he
did his ca ID, and clear himself from the
implication. entionally made. no
doubt, which rested upon him. in the
mind of those who knew nothing of the
facts of tie case.
| Several years ago a scandal was deyel-
oped in the management of the asylum at
| Williamsburg. An Investigation was made
by the Legislature of the State through
committee of its members appointed for
that purpose. All the facts, revolving as
they were, were given to the public. Leg
islation was enacted making such offences
felony, That law is still on the statute
book. The Commonwealth s attorney for
the city of Stanton, was the attorney for
the pro ,ecu:lon in the case at the Western
Lunatie Asylum. He, better than any
one else, knows all the facts. lie knows
the law, and he knows his duty under his
oath VI CiliCe. 1t is not necessary 10 elab-
crate, for it is disagreeable enough and
| repugnant to our feelings to say even this
much. But the press owes il duty to the
public, and that public has a right to know
h NV its public charities are administered
and lis public officers discharge the du ias
with which they are entrusted. IL will
not be satisfied with any mockish sentimen
talism about ii matter SO grave, or any
studied avoidance of putlic and impera-
tive duty.
The Governor knows his duty. too. lie
can not overlook the condition Of things
revealed by the testimony in the recent
inve, tgation. OF the fact that some of it
was given two years ago and now repeat ed,
as We understand. 1t IS a matter impli-
eating too dee ply the welfare of the great
charities of the State and the character of
his administration, for it to be allowed to
be "whiStled down to wind" for fear of
hurting somebody's feelings. The recent
disclosures, for the first time brought to
our knowledge in tangible shape by Mr..
Blackburn S card. are too atrocious to be
tenderly dealt with. The revolving reve-
latian which the evidence, now among the
archives of the Institution, attests. can
not escape the Governors attention. OF
fail to call for heroic remedies. He can
no by silence, manifest indifference, or
suff r the implication of cowaruice by
passing the whole matter by, without ID
searching and relentless investigation,
even if it be necessary to make a clean
sweep of the Institution.
Iron Gate.
Last Tuesday was the day appointed for