Library Collections: Document: Full Text

A brief history of the earliest attempts at legislation in this country in behalf of idiots seems not out of place, and such history will enable me to accord a just tribute of acknowledgment to the disinterested zeal and philanthrophy of those gentlemen who may be called the pioneers in such benevolent efforts in this country.

Only a week after the meeting of the Legislature of New-York in the winter of 1845 & the Hon. Frederick Backus of Rochester, then a member of the Senate, made the first step towards any legislation in this country in behalf of idiots, by moving that that portion of the last previous State census relating to the number and condition of idiots be referred to the committee on medical societies of which he was chairman. On the following day he made a lengthy and able report containing a statement of the probable number of idiots in the State; a brief history of the European schools for idiots; the proofs of the very favorable and practical results of those schools, furnished by the testimony of scientific gentlemen of extensive reputation both in Europe and this country, and in addition the opinions of well known Superintendents of insane asylums in this country: that asylums for idiots were a want of the age, from their number, present condition, and undoubted susceptibility of instruction. Among other evidence he introduced a letter from the late Dr. Woodward of Massachusetts, which from its date indicated that Dr. Backus had prepared his materials for a report before the commencement of the session and that he had regarded it as the object of all others to be promoted by his membership.

At the proper time, he introduced a bill for the establishment of an asylum for idiots, and which finally passed the Senate by a vote of 11 to 10. This bill, at first concurred in by the Assembly, was finally rejected by a vote of 58 to 47. During the same session, the late Dr. Brigham, in the annual report of the State Lunatic Asylum, dated Nov. 30th, 1845, gave it 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 special improvement.

During the interval, between the session of '45 and '46 the succeeding one, Dr. Backus pushed his labors with indefatigable zeal. He collected additional testimony upon the subject. He put himself in communication with M. Saegert, Instructor of the Royal Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Berlin, who had organized a school for idiots, and translated portions of his reports to be embodied in his second one to the Legislature. At his suggestion, also, memorials were presented from several societies for the same end.

In this second year of Dr. Backus' connection with the Senate, a bill establishing an asylum for idiots passed that body by a vote of 17 to 7. This was finally defeated in the House, by the want of time at the close of the adjourned session.

Unsuccessful as was the result of this attempt at legislation for so worthy an object, it was not labor entirely thrown away. The impulse was felt in Massachusetts, for in the April following this public effort in New-York, a resolution was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature appointing commissioners to make inquiries as to the number and conditions of idiots in Massachusetts, and report at their next annual meeting. These commissioners were two years in preparing their final report, which resulted in an appropriation for an experimental school for idiots in that State.

To continue the history in our own State, 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 who felt any particular interest in the subject, and who would continually urge it upon their attention, no action resulted from the recommendation.

The history of the legislation to establish our asylum is well known to you. The present Governor not only recommended the measure in his first message, but brought his personal influence with the members of both houses to secure the passage of the bill which founded it.

Now while the friends and supporters of this latter legislative action were entirely satisfied, as I have before intimated, of the practicability, expediency, and duty of educating idiots; and, consequently, of a permanent State provision for the object they were yet not unwilling to commence on a limited scale; in some degree commensurate with the public faith and sense of duty upon the subject; and also that the enterprise should, on the face of it, have something of an experimental character. Nor were even they aware, probably, of the great number of young idiots for whose necessities relief was to be provided. Now were our asylum to be regarded only in the light of a custodial institution, we should have reason to be satisfied with its practical and favorable operation. I rejoice to say, in general terms, what you have had abundant opportunity of verifying in your character as trustees, that it has already brought relief, from support, much care and anxiety to families where such support and care were particularly burdensome, from their very moderate pecuniary means.