The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder.

  • Turner, J. Edward, 1822-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    contract which the legislature of the State of New York could not abrogate or impair. Under this bill the trustees of the “New York State Inebriate Asylum/’ are absolutely empowered to fill the free beds in said Asylum with poor patients Avhen the donor and legator fail to name the said patients to fill the said free beds. This is the condition of every gift made for the endow- ment of free beds in said Hospital. Hence the charter of tlie institution could not be repealed, or its board of trustees abolished without violating the tenth section of the first article of the Constitution of the United States, which declares that no State shall pass any ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of con- tracts. Another serious objection made against the bill by its opponents was that the law would repeal the twelfth section of its charter, thus surrendering forever all rights which the State of New York would have to its estate at the expiration of its charter. The twelfth section of its charter reads thus: ‘‘This act shall continue in force for the period of fifty years, subject, however, to amendment and repeal by the leg- islature. At the dissolution of said institution, the Asylum and the gTonnds attached thereto, shall beceded to the State of New York for some benevolent institution.” Chancellor AValworth stated to Governor Morgan before he signed the bill, that no intelligent ])erson would give, or leave by legacy to the “New York State Inebriate Asylum ” the sum of five thousand dollars for the endowment of a free bed, unless the twelfth section of its charter w'ere repealed. The chancellor also stated to the governor, that by this bill the Hospital would receive a large nund)er of endowmients from wealthy men to establish free beds to provide an asylum for their inebriate sons. “Several such men have already spoken