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"In confirmation of these assertions it gave a brief history of the European schools for idiots; the proofs of the very favorable and practical results of those schools, as furnished by the testimony of scientific men of extensive reputation in Europe and America. It furnished the opinions of well known superintendents of insane asylums, that asylums for idiots were a want of the age, from the number, present condition and undoubted susceptibility of instruction of the class in question.

"During this same session, the late Dr. Brigham, in the annual report of the State Lunatic Asylum, dated November 30th, 1845, gave a synoptical statement of the number of insane and idiotic persons in the State. He reported the success of the European institutions for idiots, and ended by expressing the hope that New York would sooner or later provide an asylum for their especial improvement.

"After a proper interval Dr. Backus introduced a bill for the establishment of an asylum for idiots, which finally passed the Senate by a vote of 11 to 10. This bill found a ready champion in the Assembly in the person of Mr. Titus, and, though it was first concurred in, was finally rejected by a vote of 58 to 47 -- not because there was a want of conviction in the minds of the members of the necessity of such an institution in the State, but because the appropriation necessary for the requisite buildings was deemed incompatible with the resolutions of retrenchment in State expenditures adopted by the party then controlling the Legislature.

During the interval between the session of 1846 and the one succeeding, Dr. Backus pushed his labors with unwearied zeal. He collected additional testimony from various sources to be embodied in a second report, which was made in the Senate, February 16th, 1847. At his suggestion, also, memorials were prepared and presented to that body by the State Medical Society and other associations.

"In 1847 a bill establishing an asylum for idiots and making an appropriation for the erection of a suitable building, passed the Senate by a vote of 17 to 7. This was finally lost in the House by the want of time at the close of the adjourned session.

"I have dwelt thus long upon the labors of Dr. Backus, because, though not successful in accomplishing the special legislation or immediate results which they were designed to accomplish, they were by no means fruitless. They prepared the way by a convincing array of facts and the warm expression of faith in the proposed enterprise, for the later and more successful attempts at legislation; and because the time for such acknowledgment seems not inappropriate when we witness the beginning of the realization of the hope he then earnestly expressed, that the measure he advocated would find favor with the legislature, 'that the heart of many an afflicted parent within our borders might be gladdened with the thought that soon there should be an institution where he could safely place his poor stricken child, with the encouraging hope that he might in some measure be restored in mind, with acquired habits of cleanliness, industry, and a disposition to advance in knowledge and in some useful occupation, and become, although a weak and humble one, a constituent, social member of the human family around him.'

"To continue the history, I will mention that Governor Fish recommended the subject to the consideration of the Legislature in both of his annual messages. But as there was no one in either branch of the Legislature who felt any particular interest in the subject, and who would continually urge it upon their attention, no action resulted from the recommendation. I will now notice briefly the history of the legislation to establish our asylum.

"In the first message of Gov. Hunt, the attention of the Legislature was again called to the subject, and the recommendation was renewed that an institution should be established for the benefit of this long-neglected class.

"Not resting with the mere mention of the subject in his message, he exerted himself personally to accomplish so desirable a purpose. He invited Dr. Howe, Superintendent of the Massachusetts Blind Asylum, under whose supervision an experimental school for idiots had been already established there to visit Albany and give an exhibition of the results of training and teaching in the case of some of the pupils then under his charge.

"This had its desired effect. The sympathies of the members of both branches of the Legislature were warmly enlisted, and an act was passed at the adjourned session, establishing an asylum for idiots, with a sufficient appropriation for its existence for two years. Trustees were appointed by the Governor whose names were a sufficient guarantee that the experiment would be fairly tried, and whose opinions as to the result of the experiment would have a controlling influence upon the action of future Legislatures. Providentially a very excellent building for the temporary accommodation of the asylum was at once obtained, in the vicinity of Albany, and no delay was experienced in the reception of pupils.