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Modern Persecution, or Married Woman's Liabilities
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2252 | This law well enforced, must necessarily terminate the reign of terror and despotism and introduce the reign of justice and rectitude. I do hope before the next meeting of your Board a concert of action will be instituted, and the law be put into working order, thorough and efficient. | |
2253 | Respectfully yours, for the oppressed, E. P. W. P. | |
2254 | After making a faithful report to the Governor of the disposition the Committee had shown to shirk the responsibilities of the law, and Judge Lowe's subsequent verbal committal in its favor, I received the following reply: | |
2255 | DES MOINES, July 23,1872. | |
2256 |
Mrs. E. P. W. PACKARD, | |
2257 | RESPECTED MADAME -- The Governor was away from the capital and at Mt. Pleasant, when your letter of July 14th, with enclosures, was received. Upon his return it was laid before him. In reply he directs me to say that your statements will receive due and full consideration. | |
2258 | The Governor hopes however that your first impressions of the Visiting Committee, or at least one of its members, you will find to be incorrect, and that their official course will be such as to deserve and receive the highest approval. | |
2259 | Nevertheless, the Governor is determined to the extent of his power and information to secure an enforcement of the Legislative will, as expressed in the "Act to Protect the Insane." | |
2260 | Your articles have been handed to Mr. Clarkson for insertion in the Register, as requested by you. | |
2261 |
Very respectfully, | |
2262 | While superintending the publication of my book in New York city, I wrote to Governor Carpenter for his picture, to form a part of one of my illustrations, and in reply received the following letter, the perusal of which affords me the cheering gratification of finding that the mode of conducting campaign in Iowa Legislature receives the approval of this most highly-esteemed and worthy man and Governor. | |
2263 |
STATE OF IOWA -- EXCUTIVE DEPARTMENT, | |
2264 |
Mrs. E. P. W. PACKARD, | |
2265 | DEAR MADAME -- I enclose you, in compliance with your request, a photograph of myself. | |
2266 | I think you give me entirely too much credit in reference to my connection with the passage of the "Act to Protect the Insane." The success of that measure was entirely due to your persistent advocacy, and the good judgment with which you presented its merits to the members of the General Assembly. | |
2267 | I regret not sending this photograph sooner, as your letter of October 7th would imply some haste, but absence from home, and the fact that I had no photograph at hand, is my apology. | |
2268 | Very truly, yours, G. C. CARPENTER. | |
2269 |
CHAPTER XLV. | |
2270 | SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa: That there shall be a Visiting Committee of three, appointed by the Governor, to visit the Insane Asylums of the State at their discretion, with power to send for persons and papers, and to examine witnesses on oath, to ascertain whether any of the inmates are improperly detained in the hospital, or unjustly placed there, and whether the inmates are humanely and kindly treated, with full power to correct any abuses found to exist; and any injury inflicted upon the insane shall be treated as an offense, misdemeanor, or crime, as the like offense would be regarded when inflicted upon any other citizen outside of the Insane Asylums. They shall have power to discharge any attendant or employee, who is found to have been guilty of misdemeanor, meriting such discharge; and in all their trials for misdemeanor, offense, or crime, the testimony of patients shall be taken and considered for what it is worth, and no employee at the Asylum shall be allowed to sit upon any jury before whom these cases are tried. Said committee shall make an annual report to the Governor of the State. | |
2271 | SEC. 2. The names of this Visiting Committee, and their post-office address shall be kept pasted in every ward in the asylum, and every inmate in the asylum shall be allowed to write, when and what they please to this committee, and to any other person they may choose. Provided, The Superintendent may, if he thinks proper, send letters addressed to other parties, to the Visiting Committee for inspection, before forwarding to the individual addressed. And any member of the committee who shall neglect to heed the calls of the patient to him for protection, when proved to have been needed, shall be deemed unfit for his office and shall be discharged by the Governor. | |
2272 | SEC. 3. Each and every person confined in any Insane Asylum within the State of Iowa, shall be furnished by the superintendent or party having charge of such person, at least once each week while so confined, with suitable materials for writing, enclosing, sealing, and mailing letters. Provided, they request the same, unless otherwise ordered by the Visiting Committee, which order shall continue in force until countermanded by said committee. |