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public taxes they would pay, if worth twenty thousand dollars! There is little danger of such a tax bringing any better return than a debased taste, a beclouded intellect, a diseased body and poverty. In those nations where the taxes are wrung from the reluctant masses, to aggrandize the few, the people are necessarily impoverished thereby. But in this free land, so called, we the people, tax ourselves for our own benefit; and we are our own judges how our revenues can be best applied. When the tax gatherer makes his appearance, he is not always a welcome visitor; but he comes only for that which we have probably voted to pay, and it is seldom that any one would have a single object for which the money is to be raised, abandoned. Who would have a dollar less expended for the support of Schools? Doubly benighted must the man be, who would lessen one cent, the means for educating his children! Who would have a dollar less appropriated for the enforcement of the laws of the land? Surely, our persons and property are even now, none too safe from the assassin and thief! Thus we might go through the long list of objects for which we tax ourselves; and though the aggregate may appear large, and at times onerous, there is seldom a single object we would be willing to see relinquished, merely on the ground of an enlightened economy.

We owe the security of all our rights, and the protection to our persons and property which we enjoy more than that possessed by barbarous nations, entirely to our social compact, sustained in its influences by the virtue and intelligence of the people. To carry out the designs of this compact, while there is so much evil and selfishness in the world, requires all the machinery of government; and the more perfect it is in its operations and results-as a general rule, and perhaps always, if in the hands of honest agents-the more expensive it is. We might elect one or two men to make our laws, at one-fiftieth of the expense incurred by a Legislature. As far as any necessity in the

case is involved, this would be the best economy; are aware that the history of the world shows, th matter of fact, the "one man power" is the most sive that can be devised; and that not only financia as regards justice and equal rights. Few men ca the temptation of power, to use it for their own dizement; and the most perfect wisdom and virt ever united in mere mortal man, cannot be safely with supreme power. Our fathers who followe God-like commander through the Revolution, migh trusted Washington, but Washington would no trusted himself. The possession of power is perh severest trial to which a man's integrity is ever sul We often see this illustrated in those who, in ob power, or even in the hope of obtaining it, forfeit acter which they have labored many years to acqu

Hence we perceive the true policy in free insti in retaining the power as directly as practicable, hands of the people. And as the people must nec employ agents to transact their public business, t elected for short terms; so that, if they fail to refl will of the people, they can be displaced before th time to do extensive injury. Thus the men-the of a party-who fail for any length of time to exec will of the masses, will be hurled from power, an places bestowed upon new parties and new men. judicial tribunals-the strongest holds of civil powe be overthrown if they continue to outrage united sentiment. If one Legislature makes laws in opp to the will of the people, mea will be elected to th to repeal them. It is therefore impossible for a legislators long to misrepresent the will of their uents, by taxation or otherwise.

When we see successive Legislatures making the lishment of our humane institutions a marked fea their policy, with no remonstrance, it is fairly to be i

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-were other proof wanting-that they are executing the public will. Even the strife of political partizanship has not reached the ground of our Asylums and Schools. So well are politicians aware that they are founded in reason, justice, humanity, and the hearts of the people, that they dare not avow opposition to them. The most they dare do, is to appeal to men's passions in reference to some of the details of their management. Such appeals go for about what they are worth, with an intelligent people. The unearthly wail of the Maniac, the sightless look of the Blind, and the mute speech of the Dumb, utter a more impressive voice than ever went up from the hosts of a political battle field. The man who would sacrifice the claims of suffering humanity for party or political considerations, would be likely to commit any crime that seemed to promise him benefit, if he could do it with impunity.

The enlightened and benevolent hearts of the citizens of Michigan who have thus far cordially sustained their public servants in establishing their Asylums, will hardly take a step backward in the noble works now half completed, and thus incur the stigma of going downward in the scale of civilization and humanity. Michigan has no cause to be ashamed of her institutions. She has set an example for her sister States in her Agricultural College-her University ranks among the first in the land-her Normal School is raising still higher the standard of education in the Primary Schools, which, with her local Colleges and Seminaries, will compare favorably with those of older States. Her public debt is insignificant, compared with that of several other States, and her resources are abundant to meet all the demands of an enlightened State policy. Her general tax is but about half a mill upon the dollar of her property, as assessed at less than two-thirds its value, and the heavier taxes for local objects, are only such as her citizens voluntarily impose upon themselves, as they deem best for their highest prosperity. With all her past

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134

ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.

acts of enterprise, intelligence and benevolence, hardly be ever said that her reformatory and hum stitutions are not sustained with all the promptitu liberality that is warranted by her ability, demand her Christianity, and by the obligations of the socia pact, whose Constitution-which demands their sup is but the written recognition of the mutual obligat dependent humanity.

ND.

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ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.

The Asylum for the Insane being classed among the educational institutions of the State, by the Constitution, the Superintendent of Public Instruction has deemed it fit and desirable that some notice of it should be given in connection with other kindred institutions, in this work. Having consulted with the officers of the Asylum, who entertain like views, the following article prepared by the Medical Superintendent, is here submitted.

The discovery and settlement of Michigan date far back in our national history, and yet only half a century has passed since its constiution as a territory, and but twentytwo years since its admission into the Union as a separate and independent State. Though Detroit was founded as early as 1670, in 1810, one hundred and forty years afterward, the population of the entire State was only four thousand seven hundred and sixty-two. The occurrence of the last war with Great Britain, and the unsettled state of the country consequent thereon, so far interrupted immigration, that in ten succeeding years the population was scarcely doubled. The growth of the State was thenceforward more rapid; the census returns showing a popu lation in 1830 of 31,639, and in 1840 of 212,267.

The statistics of nativity, occupation, education, and other points more or less directly connected, etiologically or otherwise, with the subject of insanity, are presented as follows, in the United States Census of 1850. In an entire population of 397 654 341 596 were born in the

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