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Visit Of The Legislature To The Asylum

Creator: n/a
Date: April 1854
Publication: The Opal
Source: New York State Library

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Go on, therefore, Senators and Gentlemen of the Assembly to alleviate the sufferings of humanity, and promote the noble cause of temperance; and your efforts will "win for you the page of history;" "the orator" shall sound your "praise in high places;" your names shall he remembered in the poet's "glowing anthem;" and more than all you may be cheered by the reflection that you are laboring to promote the happiness of man, and to preserve for generations yet unborn, the blessings which are now enjoyed by citizens of our AMERICAN REPUBLIC.

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The Hon. Benjamin Joy, replied on behalf of the Senate and Assembly, in an eloquent, feeling and impressive manner, showing that the lessons of the day were not lost upon one at least. The delivery of his address elicited the most profound attention, and we noticed in many an eye "the tear unbidden start" as he spoke

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-- "the gentle words
That sink deep into the heart."

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Through the kindness of Mr. H. C. Paige, Reporter to the Albany Register, we are enabled to give his address in full.

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That which has been witnessed to-day, is too touching, too deeply affecting to pass unnoticed, and yet, how can language express the feelings which well up in the heart, and give utterance in copious tears, as we look upon the inmates of this institution, and listen to their various utterances.

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I never felt such unmingled pride and admiration for my country, and her noble institutions as I do at this hour. As members of the Legislature, there have been before us the deaf and dumb. By our system of educating that class, the deaf are made, if not to hear, at least to understand, and the dumb to speak in written language.

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The idiot, from the dark, deep mental echoes which enshrouded him, has, by our institutions for his instruction, been brought to a state of mental capacity and enjoyment. -- A change has been wrought in this once forsaken and hopelessly abandoned class, which staggers belief, and must be witnessed to be in any degree appreciated. We have seen those, who had once been regarded as hopelessly idiotic, who could not even feed themselves, capable of observing and appreciating, and able to comprehend figures, and to understand many different branches of study. Indeed, such development of mind as lift them fairly above their former condition, and make them a comfort to their kindred and to themselves.

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And what is the spectacle here presented before us? We here learn, that this one noble institution, for the aid of that most unfortunate class, who find aid and comfort within these walls, has in its short period of its existence, aided over four thousand persons, and has now nearly four hundred and fifty in charge and under treatment.

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How sincerely should we exult in these great systems of benevolence, which look after the wretched of our land. Are they not Godlike? Did not the Saviour of man-kind make the miserable --the blind -- the halt -- the maimed -- the deaf -- the dumb -- and the insane, his special care? In what shall we exult so much then, as in those Heaven-born institutions, whose office it is to emulate his illustrious example?

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Of the causes of insanity, this may not be the appropriate place for me to speak, but it is highly fitting for me to say, that if these causes are in whole, or in ever so small a degree, under human control, the highest Christian obligation demands not only a search for those causes, but their prompt removal. The eloquent speaker who preceded me has pointed you to one great cause -- the liquor traffic. May this cause be speedily removed. Do we not feel to-day a deep impression that humanity demands it?

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To the inmates of this institution let me say that you have our deepest sympathies. Our hearts go out toward you with gushing commiseration, and we involuntarily say, "how can we solace your sorrows?" We will remember you as Legislators -- we will remember you as your fellow-citizens, and liable to all your griefs. We will remember you in our families, when we each return to our homes, and our little ones gather around us to learn of what we have seen in our absence we will speak to them of you -- and when we offer the morning and evening acknowledgements to heaven, then shall our prayers ascend to that God, who, ''as a father pitieth his children, so pitieth he them that fear him," that you may be in his holy keeping and be restored to health, and to your anxious friends.

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Who, of all present, possessed of unclouded reason, but will be henceforth thankful for this inestimable gift? Who, but will be more deeply touched with sympathy for the suffering? Who, that is a father, but will cling more tenderly to his children, and bless the "giver of all good," that they are distinguished from the insane, and exempted from their sorrows? And who, but will feel increased concern, to shield his offspring from every cause, whether near or remote, which can produce the melancholy results which we have to-day witnessed? What citizen of the Empire State, but will feel prouder of his State, and more determined to prove himself worthy of her high renown, and more zealously to foster her noble and God-like "State Charitable Institutions?" Not one, I feel assured, within whose bosom reigns a love of country, a generous heart, and a sympathetic pity for the unfortunate!

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