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Again the despotic treatment which patients received under the present government of Insane Asylums is the only natural result of one of the fundamental laws of human nature, in its present undeveloped state; which is, that the history of our race for six thousand years demonstrates the fact, that absolute unlimited power always tends towards despotism -- or an usurpation and abuse of others' rights.

Superintendents have, in a practical sense, a sovereignty delegated to them, by the insane laws, almost as absolute as the marital power which the law delegates to the husband. All of the inalienable rights of their patients are as completely subject to their single will, in the practical operation of these laws, as are the rights of a married woman to the will of her husband.

And these despotic Superintendents and Husbands in the exercise of this power, are no more guilty, in my opinion, than that power which licenses this deleterious element. No Republican Government ought to permit an absolute monarchy to be established under its jurisdiction. And where it is found to exist, it ought to be destroyed forthwith. And where this licensed power is known to have culminated into a despotism, which is crushing humanity, really and practically, that Gov-ernment is guilty in this matter, so long as it tolerates this usurpation.

Therefore, while the Superintendents are guilty in abusing their power, I say that Government which sustains oppression by its laws, is the first transgressor.

Undoubtedly our Insane Asylums were originally designed and established, as humane Institutions, and for a very humane and benevolent purpose; but, on their present basis, they really cover and shield many wrongs, which ought to be exposed and redressed.

It is the evils which cluster about these institutions, and these alone, which I am intent on bringing into public view, for the purpose of having them destroyed. All the good which inheres in these institutions and officers is just as precious as if not mixed with the alloy; therefore, in destroying the alloy, great care should be used not to tarnish or destroy the fine gold within it.

As my case demonstrates, they are now sometimes used for inquisitional purposes, which certainly is a great perversion of their original intent.

That great abuses have grown up in connection with Insane Asylums, both in this country and in Europe, is a truth that has been fully established by recent revealments.

Governed as they are, the Superintendent is an absolute, irresponsible autocrat. Whoever falls within his power may be most foully wronged, having no means of redress.

The unfortunate has been cut off from the right of using the mails, or from communicating with friends in any way except under the eye and ear of the Superintendent, and in too many instances what the people have regarded as noble institutions of charity, have been foul prisons, where savage discipline has taken the place of kind, curative treatment.

Nor are these institutions essentially different, wherever found. The trouble with them is, that the theories on which they proceed are essentially wrong, and their practice just the opposite of what it should be. Until these are changed it will be a question as to whether asylums do most good or harm.

The most heinous wrong of our present system consists in the fact that the inmates of Insane Asylums are denied the primeval right of self-defence.

Under our present legislation every citizen of most of the States in this Union is constantly exposed to lose this right by an incarceration in an Insane Asylum, since these institutions must necessarily be based upon the principles of an autocracy under which government the right of self-defence is annihilated.

Now, simply for a misfortune to place any citizen outside the pale of justice, while inside an Insane Asylum, is not only unjust but inhuman.

There should, therefore, be a superior power inaugurated by Legislatures by which this autocratic power, when abused can be held amenable to the laws of our Republic.

And since there now exists no link to connect the inmates of our Insane Asylums with the laws of our Republic -- thus leaving them wholly at the mercy of an autocrat -- there should be one through which this unfortunate class can secure the protection of law, when needed. A Standing Committee of Protection should be enacted by every Legislature, as the link connecting the inmates of asylums with the laws of the country.

It is not assumed that Superintendents, as individual auto-crats, need to be watched any more than any other individual invested with unlimited power.

But it is argued that no absolute autocracy should be created and sustained by a Republic whose fundamental principles require that every citizen shall be held amenable to the laws, and be able also to seek the protection of law, when needed, in defence of their inalienable rights.

Now the insane have the same inalienable right to be treated with reason, justice and humanity as the sane; therefore, the insane ought to have the same protection of law as the sane.