case is involved, this would be the best economy; yet all are aware that the history of the world shows, that as a matter of fact, the "one man power" is the most expensive that can be devised; and that not only financially, but as regards justice and equal rights. Few men can resist the temptation of power, to use it for their own aggrandizement; and the most perfect wisdom and virtue that ever united in mere mortal man, cannot be safely trusted with supreme power. Our fathers who followed their God-like commander through the Revolution, might have trusted Washington, but Washington would not have trusted himself. The possession of power is perhaps the severest trial to which a man's integrity is ever subjected. We often see this illustrated in those who, in obtaining power, or even in the hope of obtaining it, forfeit a character which they have labored many years to acquire.

Hence we perceive the true (policy in free institutions, in retaining the power as directly as practicable, in the hands of the people. And as the people must necessarily employ agents to transact their public business, they are elected for short terms; so that, if they fail to reflect the will of the people, they can be displaced before they have time to do extensive injury. Thus the men-the leaders of a party—who fail for any length of time to execute the will of the masses, will be hurled from power, and their places bestowed upon new parties and new men. Even judicial tribunals-the strongest holds of civil power-will be overthrown if they continue to outrage united public sentiment. If one Legislature makes laws in opposition to the will of the people, men will be elected to the next, to repeal them. It is therefore impossible for a body of legislators long to misrepresent the will of their constituents, by taxation or otherwise.

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

4

-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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ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.

acts of enterprise, intelligence and benevolence, it can hardly be ever said that her reformatory and humane institutions are not sustained with all the promptitude and liberality that is warranted by her ability, demanded by her Christianity, and by the obligations of the social com · pact, whose Constitution-which demands their support-is but the written recognition of the mutual obligations of dependent humanity.

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

United States, 54,703 were of foreign birth, and 1295 unknown. About one-half of those of foreign birth were originally from Great Britain. The male adult population of the State was 108,978, of whom 65,709 were farmers, about two thousand professional men, nearly four thousand were engaged in the different branches of mercantile pursuit, and about the same number are classed as laborers. Of the male adult population, 8,000, about three-eighths of whom were of foreign birth, were found entirely destitute of education, and unable to read or write. At the date of the Census Report, June 1st, 1850, the whole number of paapers receiving support was four hundred and twentynine-two hundred and forty-eight of whom are of native and one hundred and eighty-one of foreign birth.

No special attempt seems to have been made to procure * full and reliable enumeration of the Insane in the State of Michigan. The statistics presented, however, it is presumed, are as correct as those usually compiled under similar circumstances, and for purposes of comparison fully as reliable. In 1840 the number of Insane and Idiots, as presented in the United States Census, was but sixty-five, only seven of whom were supported at public charge. In the next decennial census and statistical returns made to the Department of State, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, the whole number of Insane and Idiots, in May, 1854, was found to be four hundred and twenty-eight. The annexed table is a compilation of the foregoing data, and shows the ratio of Insane and Idiotic to the existing population:

Proportion of Insane and Idiots to the entire Population.

212,267

397,654

1 to 3265 1 to 1190

509,374

1 to 1119

In 1850 the ratio of Insanity in the United States was 1 in 1,280. Assuming the population of Michigan to be at