Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 28, Number 6, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 February 1879 — Page 4

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 5, 1879-

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WEDNESDAY FEBUARY 5. TK11S ( POSTUK A AID): I SV ARIA ELY CASH IN ADVANCE. "Without "With Sunday Issue. Bnday Isfroe. I Copy one year .....uuO 812.00 1 Oopy six inontn .... S.'iO S.00 1 Copy three months.. 30 " 3 00 ICopv one month ....... .MS ' 1.00 1 Copy per wees by carrier .20 -25 Additions to clubs received at any tuna at lob rater. WEBKLT"-. ngle Copy one year - 8 1.00 ubs of Ave owe year . 6.00 labs of ten sue year, (and an extra copy to the getter op of the elate) 10.00 Olabs of twenty-two, one year..-v. 20.00 Agents wanted at every poet office in the State. Bend for outfit. How to SemS Money. Remittances may be made by draft, moneyorder, or registered letter, at our risk. Give Postoffice address in full, Including State and County, and address MDUH1POUS SENTINEL CO. Canada mast be in a better condition for beef than the mother -country, since it prohibits the importation of American cattle. The Cincinnati Commercial says that less than $160,000,000 of United States bonds are held abroad. "We .presume it means less than $1,000,000,00(. . Advices from Washington create the impression that John Sherman and Hayes will prove too many for Conkling, and that in the matter of the Xew York appointments the senator will be snowed under. " Oss reason why American bonds are in high repute in Europe is that tbe capitalists of England acid the continent no longer have faith in any of the rotten dynastic" , and refuse to loan them money at any rate of interest. Tbe indications now are that in the future doctors and druggists, who do business in the State of Indiana, will have to pass a searching examination before they are permitted to ply their vocation. Legislation upon the subject is a move in the right direction. In France the people have been laboring for a century for that freedom which is the boast of Americans, and they seem in a fair way to obtain the object of their labors. TXnder-the old regime pretty much all tbe affairs of the French people were, in seme way, eore-or less supervised by the priests. but all of this is rapidly disappearing. They now have civil marriages and civil inter ments, -in which the priests can notinterfere, and recently the Conncii of the Seine has determined to employ only civil nurses in the Paris hospitals, where previously the work was .performed by Sisters of Charity. This may be carrying the work of reform to an extreme limit, but it is regarded as necessary to completely divoice religious from secular affairs. UNITY OF ACTION. Th harmony that prevails in the counils of tbe Democratic members of the Legislature, ts evidenced yesterday in their action upon the 'question of fixing a day for the election of officers to take charge of tbe benevolent institutions and State prisons, is gratifying. Every Democratic member seemed to be animated by purpose to carry oat the wishes of his constituents and to legislate in the interest of a majority of the people of the State. The speeches that were made by distinguished representatives bad in all regards the true ring, and 83 they warmed to the subject tinder discussion, it was pleasant to see the party coming together in solid column, dismissing every real or supposed cause for division, and uniting upon questions of supreme importance. As a result of all this, we are led to conclude that during the -remainder of the session harmony in caucus will result in speedy and prudent legislation. If there have been Republicans who anticipated triumphs for their party by virtue of Democratic disagreements they may as well abandon their hopes and conclude to submit gracefully to -the inevitable. Democrats do not -carry little differences upon minor questions to extreme lengths, and their wisdom aDd sagacity, as also their devotion to principle, always set. things right at the proper time. We congratulate the Democracy of the State -upon the flattering outlook. A NOBLE PHIL ANTH&O PHY. It is one of tbe crowning glories of our Christianity and our Christian -civilization that the unfortunate are cared for at the public's expense, and to such an extent bas th-'s beneficence been carried that physical misfortunes, no matter what may be their cause or character, are shorn of much of their misery, and the victims plaeed beyond ' the reach of despair. Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that a large portion of the time of Legislatures is devoted to the consideration of benevolent institutions and the . amelioration of the v condition of their inmates, and the appropriations annually made from the revenues for the support of these institutions indicate clearly the fact that the great public tear t beats responsive to every charitable demand. Notwithstanding all this, the pablic, in a vast number of cases, satisfied with having done its duty in contributing fuads, hac been content to lea re other matters entirely in the bands of those whom the authorities have selected as the custodians of the an fortunate. Well established facts show that this confidence has been grossly abused in many respectspartly owing to defective laws, but still more to tbe be&rtlesszess of officials. In this article, however, we allude to the treatment of person who, it Is alleged, are insane, and we call special attention to the reports of the argument made before the committee on benevolent institutions, and elsewhere published in to-day's Sentiael. by Mrs. E. P. V. Packard, of Chicago, vha is now in this city for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the General Assembly -Erasures calculated to promote the well being of persons confined in tbe Asylum for tbe Insane, and to guard against, by more stringent laws, the incarceration of persons alleged Us be aClicted with insanity; to make the r&nioval of persons who have been improperly confined more speedy than at present permitted by the law, and to confer upon all the inmates Of Ihe Asylum the same postal prmlges as

are guaranteed to other people This work

we regard as a noble philanthropy, and Mrs: Packard in making it her life work is mak ing for herself a name and a fame as deserve iDg of the beatitudes of Heaven and earth as Howard and Florence Nightingale secured for themselves. We are not surprised that Mrs. Packard has concluded to devote her time, her talents and. her energies to this ' great work, for the - story that she tells of her own cruel and protracted incarceration is enough of itself to move Legislatures to act. ' Refined and educated, endowed . with intellectual abilities of a high order, Mrs. Packard differed with her husband, who -God save the mark! was an accredited minister of the Gospel of Cbnst, upon some of the more repulsive doctrines of Calvinism. To guard against the conquest that such a mind as Mrs. Packard's was making In the congregation over which he was called to preside, he conceived and carried intoexe -cation the fiendish idea of silencing her influence by declaring her insane, and upon his own ipc dixit shut her up in a mad house. There, however, the cogency of her arguments and the Bweet serenity of her mind convinced tbe o liciala that she was not insane, and just here comes in a chapter of her history well calculated to make men doubt as to the possibility of fathoming the depths of human depravity; for rather than let this victim of cruelty go free, the officials of the Illinois Insane Asylum placed Mrs. Packard incompany and incontast with persons who were raving maniacs, and where she was hourly in danger of being killed. Mrs. Packard is of the opinion that if the inmates of insane asylums ere permitted to write letters to friends and relatives it will in a great measure relieve asylums of the cusstody of persons improperly incarcerated, and Ds a means of comfort and solace to those whose minds are sick. Every word she utters upon the subject is full of interest and meaning, and the work in which she is engaged bas no purpose whatever except the amelioration of tbe oppressed and afflicted, and we are glad to believe that here in Indiana she will find the representatives of the people ready to hear and realy to act in consonance with her beneficent schemes. THE JOURNAL S SOFT SOAP. In the face of an infamous apportionment of the Stats designed . by the Republican party to disfranchise, if possible, through all time, the Democratic party of Indiana, and also in spite of all the schemes and devices of the Republican party.the Democracy of the Stata gained a signal victory at tbe polls in October last. Tbe Journal, and papers of its ilk, ceaselessly denounced the Democratic party. Democratic candidates. Democratic principles and the Democratic policy. But these dennnciationsabsoluteiy helped the Democratic party to gain its victory. Within a few days past the Journal bas changed its tactics, a'nd dismissing the use of billingsgate, is trying in its stead the use of Republican soft soap. It has discovered that the Democratic legislature is composed of a remarkably fine body of men, above the average of Legislatures for twenty years past, in business capacity and legislative integrity. This Is evidently true, but the Journal is deserving of no credit whatever for its confession, since the purpose it bas in view is to arrest legislation demanded by tbe Democratic party, and promotive of the welfare of the State. The Journal places such a low estimate upon the business capacity and political integrity of tbe Democratic members of the Legislature that it believes, by a plentiful use of Republican soft soap, cheap flatulent gush, that it can deflect them from their allegiance to principle and duty to the extent of favoring Republican measures of the most objectionable character. We conclude, however, that the Journal has over estimated the efficiency of its soft soap, and under-estimated the character of the Democratic majority in the Legislature, and that it will find, before the session closes, that the demands of the Democratic party of the State will be carried out in spirit and letter. We believe that the infamous apportionment of the Republican party for legislative and congressional purposes will be corrected, the benevolent institutions and the prisons of the State placed under the control cf Democrats eminently qualified for their positions, and that such legislation will be had with regard to the constitutional amendments as will be satisfactory to the Democratic party. This being the -case, the Journal might as well husband its soft soap resources and recommence uncorking the phials ot its partisan vituperation. . UICH4.ED HENRI" DANA. The telegraph announces the death of Richard Henry Dana, at Boston, on Sunday last, at the ripe old age of 92. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 15, 1787." He was educated at Harvard university, and Newport, R. I.; studied law in Baltimore, Md., in the office of Robert Goodloe Harper, a distinguished barrister of Maryland, and admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1811. He took up his residence in Cambridge, where beengaged in the practice of his profession and also engaged warm; ly in tbe politics of the day on the federal side. He was elected to tbe Legislature of his native State, but his tastes being in a literary direction, he forsook active politics and soon found employment more iu conso nance with his inclinations and tastes in tbe projection of the famous North American Review. In this literary venture he was joined by a club of gentlemen of Boston and Cambridge. He and Professor E. T. Canning were the editors of the Review during the years 1S18-19, daring which time his literary efforts attracted considerable attention. His first poemn, "The Dying "Raven" and the "Husband and Wife's Grave" appeared in the New York Review in 1S25, edited by William Culltu Bryant These with "The Buccaneer''- and other poems attracted considerable attention. In 1830 he published, in two volumes, his 'Poems and Prose Writings," which included the poems alluded to, with many others, and sIbo the essays 'and reviews formerly published in the North American Review, and others of a more recent data. These two volumes included all of his writings, except a series of eight lectures on Shakespeare, delivered in New York and Boston in 1810. In bis earlier lif i he was a member of the Unitarian church, but for many years past be has been a member of

the Episcopal church. He was the son of Chief Justice Dana, and the father of Eichard Henry Dana, Jr., a distinguished author and lawyer of Massachusetts. We hive no particulars cf Mr. Dana's death, and no information concerning it, other than a brief telegram announcing his demise on Sunday last. " ' COXSTIMJTIoaiAl. AMENDMENTS.

Full Text of Important Provisions to be ' Submitted to tne People. , We give below the constitutional amendments as they have passed the Legislature, and as they will be submitted to tbe people at some election, either special or general, as may be determined upon in the future. Those amendments which refer to the negro and mulatto, as also that which confers the ballot upon "while" citizens, there Is no controversy about, nor is there any diversity of opinion with regard to doing away with the October election, making tbe first Tuesday after the first Monday in November the day for all general elections. Tbe objectionable amendments the Sentinel has heretofore pointed out. and will have more to say when the time is fixed to pass upon them. Our object in giving them place here is that our readers may be informed as to the character and scope of the entire list, and it may be well for them to preserve them for future reference. They are as follows: AMENDMENT SO. 1. Joint Resolution No.' 1, (Senate): Senate joint resolution amending section 2 of artie'e a nt theconstiliuion, and prescribing the qualifications of voters. Resolved, Dy the Senate, the House of Representatives concnrritie, That the following amendment b and ts hereby proposed to the constitution of the Slate i f ludiaiiu, to wit : Amend section 2 of article 2, no as to read as follows: Section 2. In all elections, not otherwise provided lor bv this constitution, every male citizen of tbe Unittd States of the aire of tweuty-one years and upwards, who shall have revideu in the State during the nix months, and in the township Klxty days, and in the ward or p e inct thitty days, immediately preceding such election, and every male of foreign birth, of the ago of lw-nty-one years and upwaidn. who shall have resided in the I'ntUMt States one year, and shall have resided in this state daring the six months, and in the townshlp sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thlity days immediately preceding sucn election, and shall have dectared his intention to become a citizen of the United cSlais, conformably to the laws of the United Slates on the subject of catnmli.ation, shall be entitled to vote in the township or precinct where he may resioe. n no snail nave oeeu duly regls'ered according to law. Resolved. Tht in submitting this proposi tion to the electors to be voted upon it shall be designated as amendment "2o. i." AMESDMENT ISO. 2. Joint Resolution No. 2. (Senate): A joint resolution, proposing amendment to tseclion 5 of article 24 'of the constitution. Resolved, by the Senute. the Honse of Rep resentatives concurring, mat tne cousin tuion of the i ale of Indiana be- amended as follows By stri King out the words, "No negro or mulat to shall have the right of suifragi," contained in section o of the second article of the consti tution. R-jsolved. That in submitting this amend ment. to the electovsof tbe Stale to be voted on, it shall be designated as "Amendment No. 2." AMENDMENT NO. 3. Joint Resolution No. , (Henafel: A joint resolution proposing amendment to section 11 of arlicle2 oi the constitution. Iiesol ved, by the Senate, the House of Representative concurring. That the following amendment to the constitution of-he Slate of Indiana, be and tbe same is hereby propr-wvl to-wit: Amend section 14 of the second arUc'n to read: Section 14. A 11 general elections shall be held on the llrst Tu-aday alter the flrt Monday In November, but township elections may be held at Mich tlm- ns may be provided by law: Provided, That the General Assembly may provide by law lor the election of all Judges or courts or general ana appellate juris diction, by an election to be hld for such olli certs only, at which tune no olher ntti-r shall be votd for; and shall also provide for the registration of all persons entitled to voto. Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of Hie State to be voted on, it shall be designated at "Amendment n o. J." AMENDMENT HO. 4. Joint, Resolution No. 4. (Senate!: A Joint resolution proposing amendment to sections 4 and o oi article 1 oi me consiunt on. Rs 'lved. bv the Swnate. the House of Rep resenta'ives concurring. That the constitution of the State of Indiana be amended as follows: Strike the word "while" from sections Mid S of article 4th. Resolved, Thnt in snbmlttlng this amendment to the elector of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as "Ameudment JNO. 4." AMENDMENT NO. 5. Joint Resolution No. 5, (aonste: A Joint resolution proposing amendment 10 tne i-ttn clause of section 22 oi article 4 of the constitu tion. Resolved, by tho Senate, the House of Repsentattves concurring. That the following amendment to the constitntl -n cf the State of Indiana is proposed, to-wit: Amend the 14th clause of section 22 of article 4, lo read s follows: I n relation to fees or salaries; except that the laws may be so made as to grade the compensation of officer in pro. portion to the population, and the necesuiry services required. Resolved, Thnt in the submission of this amendment to the electors ot the State to be voted on. It shall be desifnated as "Amendment Mo. 5." TBE BEGlSTKY 11W, Nwewttity or Harmony Anions; Democratic Meoiberaofthel.eKlsIalnre. To the Editor of the Sentinel: Sie Eyery thinking Democrat will thank you for the editorials in your paper, urging union and harmony among the members of the present General Assembly. The vote upon the passage of the constitutional amendments, tho other day, was no just occasion for any bad feeling or division. In the very nature of things, such a question could not be made a political question, and the Democratic caucus acted wisely in not making it such. There is, too, a great deal of unmeaning talk about a registry law, which, when sifted to the bottom, is really nothing about which Democrats are at all likely to divide. In fact, the absurdity" of very much of the talk will be realized at once if we try to define what a registry law is. Any law providing for the registration of voters by authorized persons is a registry law, no matter whether made weeks or months before tbe election, or on the very day of the election, or at the very time of voting. In fact, the election officers now decide whether persons offering to vote are legal voters, and if (recognized to be such, their names are registered as legal voters, and their votes' received. Even this can be construed to be a registry law. How utterly absured, therefore, (o talk about making a registry law a political issue in advance of knowing what kind of a law is proposed. It is not known that any registry law. more than we have now, will ever be urged in any future Legislature, and until that is attempted no one, without knowing what it proposes, could intelligently determine whether it would be a good thing or not. "'Sufhcient unto the day is the evil thereof." The members of this General Assembly of tbe Democratic faith were not sent hereto tquabble over any such questions, and if tuey can:t get alorg without it they will prove recreant to the trust confided to them, and the sooner they get borne and work off their spleen and surplus gas in some debating society tbe better it will be for the country. There are great matters of legislation which are essentially political in their character, known everywhere and by everybody as such, and made tbe basis of the last political contest in this Stale, which need prompt action and the united support of every Dem"crat, foremost among which are tbe apportionment bills. Democratic members will haye quite as much as they can do in getting through these and other measures of pressing need to their constituents without borrowing trouble over imaginary issues that may never arise, and certainly will not in this Legislature. Vi.o Democbat.

INSANE A8TLUMS.

Arguments of Mrs. E. P. W. Packard Befors the Committee on Benevolent Institutions. Following are the arguments in brief, made by Mrs. E. P. W. Packard, of Chicago, before tbe committee on benevolent institu tion of the Indiana Legislature. Mrs. Packard bas devoted the remainder of her life to the cause of ameliorating the condition of tbe inmates of insane asylums, and having herself experienced tbe wrongs to which such persons e.-e too often subjected, speaks knowingly, and no doubt thoughtfully, of the chief causes of complaint and the man ner in which they can best be averted. Her remarks have reference to two bills which she bas caused to be presented for tbe con sideration of the Legislature. Mr. Chairman akd Uektlemkx of the Committee As men of intelligence, you can not be ignorant of tbe fact that the age bas arrived at that period when the reform of insane asylums has become .an imperative necessity. It is now a well known fact that these humanitarian Institutions are beiBg diverted from tbeir avowed use as curative homes for tbe msane, and are sometimes made horrible prisons, where the innocent sane victims of cupidity or malice are hidden, where they are rendered almost as pow erless to thwart bare and wicked designs as if they were placed in tbeir graves. Gentlemen, our imane ayluuis are all prisons, and no patient can be received ex cept as a prisoner, or at tbe price of personal liberty; and the imprisonment oi a sane person in an insaoe nsylam is a greater calami v than im prisonment in a penlieatia.-y. And yet a candidate for the penitentiary is allowed a fair trial hetore imprisonment, while a candidate for the insane asylum is allowed no trial at all, so far as self defense isconcerned. It is entirely ex parte in the application of the law, the presenca of the accused not be lrg required, nor is any advocate or defender of his right to liberty provided as his dt-f-nder iu his absence. And ths principal evidence for his fitness for etyluiu imprisonment consists in the certificates of tvro expert physicians that, in tbeir opinion, the party is insane. Now, if certificates are a sufficient safeguard for personal liberty in the one cara, why not in the other, also? To imprison one in the penitentiary simply on the certificate of two individuals that, in their opinion, the party accused is a thief or a murderer, would not seem to meet tbe demands of justice: and yet your present laws allow tbe unfortunate victims oi cupidity, envy, jealousy, bigotry or malice to be thus imprisoned in insane asylums for life on this treacherous and very uncertain bans. Are you, gentlemen, willing to trust your own p rsonal lib erty any longer ou tbis frail bavla u y0u would desire trial belore imprisonment. wby not provide odo by securing the psusiig oi tbis bill, the provisions of which are of personal interest to every individual in this State? Besides, (.ent'emnn, tbe wretched victims of this unjust legislation, if any there are in your Insane Asylum, do now appeal to you for deliverance from the luacbinatioui of tbe unscrupulous by allowing tbem the trial bilberto so un justly denied them, es ts provided for in tbe fourth provision of tbis bill. In rtadiDg tbe statutes of Indiana, end finding that a jury trial is cow demanded where property qualifications are tested, I could not but wonder tht Indiana legislators bad not allowed personal liberty as good a protection as they have accorded to property lights; f ir, to me, personal libeity eeems of paramount Importance. As proof that your present laws of committal do not afford adequate protection of per Fonal liberty, I will first give the opinion of Superintendent Everts, as he give utterance to it on my visit to the institution the day after my arrival in this city. Said he, "Mrs. I'ackard, I am very glad you have come to secure such legislation for this State, for it is greatly needed. Many are brought here as insane, who never ought to have been sent, and for a long time 1 have fc'.t that additional safeguards were needed to prevent theee mistakes. Indeed, I had thought of presenting my views on this subject to tbe Legislature myself, and should probab'y have done ro, had not your timely efforts superseded it." Gentlemen, you are indebted to tbis wise man, whom I cannot but regard as a prince among superintendents, and of whom Indiana has reason to be justly praud, for having so meritorious a bill to consider: for his j wisdom bas perfected both of my bills, as in I his judgment the rights ot huiiiani:y de manded, that every provision of each blii has been indorsed by htm. As another proof that this bill ia needed, I will state the case cf a bright, invsll'getiiaTjd energetic young man of this pity, of biuf. 2d years of age, who has several times called upon me since I have been in tbis city, to know what are the prospects of tbis bid becoming a law; for he claims his personal liberty is daily imperiled by members of a secret society, who have become his enemies, and he fears to live in any State where his personal liberty can be taken from him without atrial. A few days since I assured him that, in my opinion, in one week hia personal liberty would be as securely shielded from legal kidnapping in Indiana, his native State, as in any other State in tbe Union. Gentlemen I might pursue this argument much farther by showing tbe fallacy of expert testimony on this subject and contrasting it with that of facts and actions as indications of mental condition. This lstr evidence this bill contemplated, since it requires tbe tame safeguards for personal liberty that is accorded to property namely, the test of a civil suit With men of your intelligence, however, I deem it unnecessary to prolong tbta argument to insure your approval of tbis bill, and your prompt recommendation that it may, forthwith, become a law of Indiana. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen or rnt Committee Our present iussne asylum system affords too great a license of an irresponsible power, and furnishes an opportunity for so artfully covering up and concealing the treatment of the patients from public scrutiny as to almost defy the detection of evil practices, if any exist And also the present system deprives all its inmates of every opportunity for self-defence, by not only making every inmate a prisoner for an indefinite period of time, but it also places every inmate outside the pale of justice and beyond the reach of the laws, by depriving them of all commuDication with the outside world, except through the consentof the superintendent And it is tbe acknowledged practice of the superintendents to burn many of tbe letters written by, or sent to, the patients, and thereby levering the only link between them end the laws of this republic, and, therefore, the provisions of this bill an needed for the humane purpose of placing tbe inmates hereafter under the protection of the lairs. Ani why should not the patients of insane asylums be under tbe protection of the lavs as well as ether ci H jns? Thsy are not criminals, and thereby forfeited any rights neither are the iDsine capable of defending their own rights, while in this condition. And a-e not the innocent, the weak, and the deftnsel-es the very class Christian laws are designed to shield aad defend? Verily, the ln-sne hive the same right to be treated with rahsor, justic- ani humanity as the sane. Theiefore, the insane ought to bave the aTie protection of tbe laws as the rane. Under our prttent tytUm, every superintendent of an ii.sane veylum is as -onipletb an autocrat in his realm as the czir of Russia, so far as bis rover over his p .tients is concerned. For tbem there is no appeal from bis decisions, no matter ho v UDjus,t, unreasonable or malign tbey n.-ay b . Kov, gentlemen, we claim that u der our republican government no abrol ite autocracy ought to to allowed to eiis , The

power of these superintendents ought, therefore, to be under tbe same wholesome restriint of statute laws, and be subject to the same penalties for tbe abuse of poser over tbis unfortunate class, in bis realm, as over any other cl&fsof citizens. We claim, also, that superintendents ought to stand just where their own actions place them, as well as our

other public servant", and we also claim that there is no more reason for concealing the actions of cfliclals from public scrutiny than there is for concealing the actions of other public wants. It they can stand on their osvn actions, let the hi stand! If tbey cannot, let them fall! It is self evident that the power which the laws give the superintendent over .the patient needs some restraint to prevent its becoming despotic and tyrannical; for an irrtspon&iole person is always liable to be come arbitrary and cruel, and no human being is good enough to be safely trusted with absolute power over another human being. Therefore, for the interests of the superintendents, as well as for the patients, it is wise and humane to nave this power held in check, by the restraints of ths law. for it is opportunity that niakes villains. neither dois H hurt a good superintendent to be watched, and a bad one ought to be wached. Now, gentlemen, we claim that it is especially due the inmates of insane asylums that their postal rights be protected to tbem for the following reasons: A free and unrestricted communication between the inmates of insane asylums, and tbe outside world will be a restraint npon the exercise of tyranny, and will be to tbe inmates of insane asylums what a police force is to a city a means of preventing crime. It will afford tbem an innocent gratification. It will cultiva'e their affection for their relatives, which under the present censorship is most cruelly shaken, if notdestroyed. It will mitigite their mental torture, by sllowing it a natural vent or expression. As the present censorship is regarded by tbem as an outrage upon their rights, its removal will belD to reinstate In their minds tne principle of justice. It will give their friends a test of their mental condition. They now have no opportunity for selfdefence, aDd this will alijrd tbem tbis reasonable right It might prevent the culmination of evils developed in Illinois, New York, Vermont and Ohio, by their investigating committees, by affording each case a chance for settlement when the charges were reported. If the complaints are delusive it could burt no one; if true, they could be corrected without public exposure. Now, in tbe name of the unfortunate inmates of insane asylums, I would inquire, who bas a right to eay that tbe sacred nesa of secrecy, sanctioned and protected bv the postal laws of tMs Govern meet to all tbe citizens of the United Stares, shall be denied to this class, especially when most needed. and most prized, as a mitigition of their real or fancied wrong?? Is their sickui'ssor misfortune a crime, needing this severe penalty? And should the misfortune of insanity outlaw them as witnesses; while the testimony of infants, even, is taken in courts aDd considered for what it is worth? Gentlemen, do cot let the bugbear of "crazy letters" frighten you into a vague suspicion of evil consequences resulting from this coarse. As our honored ex-Pxei-pentGrant sensibly, remarked to me. "crazy letters can hurt no one; and their right to write just such letters as they please should never have been interfered with." "Indeed, he adjel, "the intercepting of their correspondence ought to be treated as a crime against the postal laws of tbe country." And this common sense view of ex-President Grant has has been confined by the effects of tbis law, wbere enforced, and thus tested. It not only does no harm, but is well adapted to remedy existing evils. As proof of this, I will bring the testimony of an eminent lawyer who voted fcr the bill in the Iowa Assembly, where only one voted against it, who said: "That bill is the best bill ever passed iu tbe Iowa Legislature, and is admirably adapted to detect and ferret out and remedy exibliDg evils of our insane asylums, as our practice under the law has demonstrated." Tbis is but a type or specimen of the reports trom all tbe States in this country where the law has been passed, as well as from Belgium, Germany and England, where it has been longer in successful operation. And if you desire it I will show you the letters I now bold from the governors and other prominent individuals of those States where postal rights are allowed, in confirmation of the above testimony. I have also Congress' indorsement of the measure, so far as that the committee of both Houses rave tbe bill, which I defended. their unanimous ?"r"vat and recoramen Ja- .- . 1.1-1. V 1 , i ,.... , .. ... tion, ttitivii uui requires t&o postmasitr gen erai to put up post office boxr s on the ssy'uBis of tho-e States who pas:-ed the bill, thus co-operating with the States in securing postal rights to the inmates of insane asylums. I can show you this bill, also. I have been to 12 different States with my bills, and can show you eight of the twelve I bave bad seme influence in getting pas:ei through 12 different Legislatures. I can also Bhow you the names of over 700 prominent and influential men of this State who desire the passage of these bills. Honorable gentlemen, to the Chris tian philanthropy which I believe is tbe controlling element of your deliberations, as legislators of Indiana, do I cheerfully intrust tbe disposal of these'bills, trmsting that the Christ within you will compel each of you to do for this unfortunate class as you would wish to be done by were you in their circumstances and condition. And, gentlemen, I trust you will pardon me for adding that I ani a self-moved and self-appointed defender of the rights of this defenseless class of human beings. I work under no organization or party. I receive no remuneration for services rendered from any organization or individual. I work without money and without price, and bear my own expenses, which I defray by tbe sale of my own books. For 12 years I bave thus labored, and it is my purpose to pursue this work until every State has been appealed to to place the inmates of their insane asylumns under tbe protection of their laws. Honorable gentlemen, 1 am confident you would not condemn me for this persistency of efTort did you but know tbe sad experiences through which the providence of God has taken me to capacitate me for this work; and I have no hesitancy in giviog yon an outline of this sad drama if you desire it as it furnishes in itself a strong argument in support of these bills. And it may bs your duty, as legislators, to know how an American citizen could be legally imprisoned under oar tlag of religious toleration, as I have been for three years, simply for exercising tbe right of privets judgment in religions belief, that you may enact such laws as may remove the legal liability of its ever being done in the State ot Indiana. Very respectfally submitted in behalf of the unfortunate by Mrs. E. P. W. Packard, Chicago. Indianapolis, Jan. 2i 18714. A LfBlalatnre Nnitahle to Sir. Anthony. Philadelphia- Inquirer. The Rhode Island Legislature bas been advi(l by a witty nieiutier to advertise for something to do. The House bas spent one day in eulogizing a member detained at home by accident, yet it refuses to consider a proposition for an early adjourment. Flying foxes, kangaroos and rabbits are the principal pests with which agriculturist at the antipodes have to contend. Forty men at Milton, N. S. W., celebrated the Prince of Wales' birthday by organizing a battue, at which 200 oounds of shot were discharged and teverr housind foxes killed.

IXSUEAXCE LOSSES.

Three Recant Fires ani What They Have Cost Various Companies. Fire of January 17, IS7. Chicago Times of Jan. 21, LS79.J The following is a list of the amount of policies held by each company on ' the prop erty destroyed by the great fire on Thomas street, New York City: SEW YORK CITY COM ! ASI32S. JKt ua.... ,K0 0 Oi Knlc kerbocker 15.0uS Adriatic American. Aniliy.. Atlantic .. Rroadway. Brooklyn. C'iUzens City Clinton Columbia. I .:,". i;l.a lay rue 20,i J0 I0.O0 1",M) Io.KO . zu .!. Lamaro,otii- Luos. 8S.OA1 Long Ir-l iad - i'),i,il.riilaid MLUOt Manhattan.. ,. - 12,-twii Mechanics.. TmO ati.ww Mecb'ca & lr"u's I3,UU) J'VWW Mercantile 15.WI I Merchants. 1.,OUO 24.0U0 10.000 . :su.ouo Commercial i2.j lont.iul Continental . KJ,mn Nassautjoiunic l .Mutual lo.tou Kaile 111, 01' Kquitable. ... 15,tMj National.... New York.. N. Y. and Boston 10X0 f.iupire city o,u Kniporluin.-. 7 o Sew York clty l i.Vou Niagara lj'JOO Excuaux 25 Pacific. 2.,'J00 Ht.tjOO 5,(40 75,0110 10,'JUt Karragui. O.O.IU run Firemen Iti.uuu; PeoplesFiremen's Fund. o.Oi : Itt:Urf. FrauRlin b.UM; li-uublic tierinan Alu'can 37.i; Kidgewood. 17.0.HI Ulobe ". Hn-K-r.. .i.0tJ (iuardlcn.. Hanover, iloftmau.... Home.-. o.ojo iin-n . 25 JMt l-,t!!SiauUaru 1 V0O o.in) .Mr... :J.iM '.).(,.-terlitig . Iv.tKKI lli.OIXj 1,50W Ilopa. i.'tK'isuii Mutual Howaru lu,ni ,-.i. Mchola.i. nip t rs ol lraa .w,MiSiuyveaut.-, Irving lu.uii.;'friiesiueu'a J-ttVron aw.ioi' Ws!cheler. Pl.OlM 17.50U Kings County 2i,uuuj Vi!liamsbg City &,00O XIV VOHK STATE COX PA NIKS. Albany Sli.tW.tUilenn Falls.. 810,000 Buifa o , llulftdo, ior. Commerce... IS" wo' Xrtliem... Kochesii-r, Uer 6.0JO 10.10l' tytcitou ijvxm ESGLIS1I COMPANIES. Com. Union f.;'JO'iuardlaa f 15,000 Imperial. ai,5i Northern Hiynl Lancashire 7,Koval S5,tiJ Ljv.A J c ilb Vtj.'yt; i-oii. Ass u ranee. :o,uJ . I(rit.& Mer ,"Wiiuetu. 47,5UU ScoUlsllOoui.... S0,0 UEKXIX COMPANIES. Ilam.i Kren tSi.OOO HamMadeb'g f-VhOt North (ieraua. u,uou fraus-AtIituuc x,5utf 1KI.NCH COMPAXT. La f nla-f-n-rnl- fV'" COSSETTICCT COMPAjniCS. -:tn ?I2.5tril onneciieut C2,0o FniriWa ai on- Hartford o,(JJ Mermen 7,5ub. Nulo . 5.'J( Orient- d.ojLj.-vfCurity 15,w CANADIAN COMPANIES. j liriilbh Amcrica.5iy,0 0 Itoyal Cana-Uan. )VJ0 11CMCIU ... t7flWJ MASSAC a VSEVTS COMPANIES. Gloucester $2.i0i)i America rtn.OPO Alii nc .... in.ioi.lS wt 'U liiuVw r ,i00 Boylsion l'l.nu i Manufacturer!). 35,000 Common wealth... 17. V I !- ii-uil n--.il , 7,0(19 Firemen's 6 0 1 Franklin ,, , First Natloual l-, tiet-nlili o.tXO M eon antes lyili -ew Futaud 5.J0t New Hiinp-ililre- Hvirl, North America l'SO. rrvscott .. lo xiiii Il-vere W,t0 Uhawmut .. ftv-ijojj'prlugf'd F.JiM. 6,000 I'ENNST .Htlt COMPAQ 1HH. America J7.5 O tTnion. C,000 Fire Asaociatiuii n.o."Ol Farmer . lo,'W9 Iiih.Co. N America io.ouojiilrard ...... lo.oiO L.ycomiui;. . 6,0X,Ii!i. Co. of l'eun- 17,500 Teuiouia 5,'AH'j L'uitcJ Firerueu. 2u.Oj CAUrolUU COMPASY. Firemen's Fund i,00 XAKYL1NU CIIPASIU. American J5,Oio; Firemen's 5,009 Uerioan . lo.oojj issorai companies. Am. Central flO.OOB: Citi sens 10,000 Jecerwu., lo.00ii.-t. Joseph o,000 TEN.NESMEK COMPANY. Kqultable. . t '0,000 VIRGINIA COMPANIES. Granite City flo.OOOj Virginia F.iM, ilbfiM Virginia g(te o.O'Jol SEW JERSEY COMPAXIKS. American !15,ono Firemen's--115,000 5.00ft 5,CW 5,XO lo,uot 12,503 5,UJ0 6,00-1 2,500 5.O0O 5,0X1 sn.ooo 6,000 5,0OO German ia . Home .... Jersey City Merchant' .. leop!e,Ne w'ra ftaudard Washington Mechanics' . Hudson. (rermauia New liruus.rict lo.ooui Humboldt.-. b.nrn.iioivjKen , IO.iui Mauufacturera. 10 Out) Newark Cit v 6." o People', Trcn1i,i0 ton 5,a) Trnde, Trenton. 5,0uo Millviiie . 5,0 Si, ite 2,5O0 Nation al 2,dot j New Jersey RHODE I-LAJCD COMPANIES. Fxjult. F.and M. 5i5 "00' Merchan' Prov., Waih'n- o.OWjRoger Williams. TI.UNOIS COMPANY. Traders".., OHIO COM P ANI K. Home Toledo .... 9" n i"' f .rcsintl'a 10.0011 ...... l'),w MINNESOTA COMPANIES. N W. National g5,0jUjSt. P'l K. and M-. JVXO TEXAS COMPANY. Union F. and M 15,000 Fire f Jaanar IS, 1S79. The following is a list, of the amount of policies held by companies doing an agency business on the property destroyed by the great fire on Broalway, S. Y.: -Etn. Harlford..15.000 Ixrillard. "S. Y-l 7.5U0 American Cent"! &.' I,vcoinin2. Pa 6,000 American, Pnila 5,im;i; American, N. J oOWi Atlantic, N. Y 10,000 li. Am., Toronto. 5,OJiil Butlalo.N. Y o.Oiloj HutlaJoGer.. Bud" 2.4wil Manhattan, N. Y 10,000 XI., f . Ot 11 CM. IIJAKV Mch's, Newai ii 5,(iCK vteriden. Conn 5,00 Nat'i. Hart!ord. 5,000 Nea- Hampshire. 5.009 Ltfi Calsse U'rale 15,0 p0 N'laiara, Ji. Y. 15,000 Citizens N. Y , 5.000 IN. iierman lo.noo Com Union, Kog 20,000j N. W. Nat'l, Mil. 5,000 Com' wealth, llos. 5,0 X. B. 4 Mer Knc 20.000 odd., Hartlord. a.000 Continental, N." lo.ooo Orient, Hartford 5,000 t'mnsyrvania,Pa l'J.'jJO Equitable, Tenn. ln,ooui P-opltw, Trenton 2,500Fairfleld, Conn. 5,0 o Peoples. Newark; 5,i0Faneull Hall, Boa Farmers, Y'ork, Pa - Fire Aiw'n, Pa Fire uieu's F'nd, Cat Franklin, Pa Oerman American. N. Y (iirard. Pa Ulens, Falls, N. IWmb'g itreiul) tier 5M0 rn.Hnix. isr aiyn 30,oov mceuix, Hart 5.000 10,00Uj 5.000 ford 10,000 PreNCOtt, Boston Prov, Washingtoa, Prov , Queen, FngRevere, Bstn. Uoger WUUams, 7.OU0 5,000 25,000 6,000 5.009 5,000 10,000 ZAJOj 6,000 15,000 Roval, F'.n? Koval. Canadi 10,000 an, Mont 10,000 Hamburg Mad., tier .... Hartford, Hartscoi, -o B., 1VJln bench curlty, tf. H- - 15,000! nnawmut, ajsioru ... Ouardlan, KmHome, Newark. Home, N. Y. He ward. J. V... Imperial and North Eng . In. Co. of N.A Pa Ins. Co. of Slate of Pa IocVhire, F.ng. ijimnr, N. Y. Ltv.LdtG, Ea Lon. Af'e Corp. tug 10.003, 5,003 15,oi0 Springfield, o,ik pnngneia.... XKM II Trader. Chi'no. 6,000 6.1.J0 lj,OuojTrun8-Atlantic . lo,oo ICiuterwiitensN IO,UU I .. i 10, I t'nion, pa... .. lO.OTlC, Wateriown. N. 5.0J0 Y. 2,509 5.000 Western Aaa'e Toronto ... Westchester, H. W I il lamsburg City 10,00 ll 500 5,0l 15,000 10 4,0J(i 15,000 Fire r January 1, 187. (Charleston (8. C.) Sew and Courier. The following is the official list furnished by the chief adjuster of insurance. Colonel John JJ. Otey, of tbe amounts loan red by the various companies on property destroyed by tbe recent cotton fire. Stlvags and over intnrance will, however, materially reduce the amounts that will eventually be paid: Com'clal Union. t52.Wni Nat'l.of Hrtrd..H.0D0 London Ass'nce. i.4t.5 Virginia F. SI I ,x,0 Iiupl North'n. 40,'Vnst Paul UOhJ Uv. & L'ntib. 31..ljiteu',ot N. Y. 10,0 K.yal . ;j Fr'naliu.of Phil 8.009 In Co.oi N. A 2i.ol 'ottiMlt Uom'l. 7,2 iQ Fire AsMoclalion. S1.mju' Ki:um'd B dc 1 Co 6,025 Underw's Ais'n'y 2!,' il.V.aa.of Hartfd... 5,0H) Htmb'g-Br'ni'n.. 21 SVil Krtrd,of H'tTd. 5000 Iou.dt Lu'iliire. .i,2J Howard, nf !i. Y. 6,oo0 Home, of N. Y". 3yM Pheulx, or N. Y. 4.00J W'r'n.of Toronto AM 0 Firemen's Fnnd. S.-5JJ Uerman-Am'n 17,2'i PhB:ix,of H'f'd. S,00"J Home.of Ch'les u l,iiWnlt)'gty,.N'.i'. 2,009 N iaara ... 1 t. Nicholas, .Y Connecticut . H.iHO.Lorillard . 2O)0 French Corp'n U,U,jNaUon,of Bait, 1,250-