She said, "I have two embroidered waists, which Mrs. Packard wished me to
carry to her daughter, as a present from her mother; but nothing else."
"Let me see those waists," said he.
She took them from her bosom and handed them to him. He saw the penciling.
He read it, and ordered the waists to the laundry to be washed before
sending them, so that no heart communications from the mother to the
child, could go with them. I believe he sent them afterwards by Dr. Eddy.
In regard to Dr. McFarland's individual guilt in relation to his treatment
of me, justice to myself requires me to add, that I cherish no feelings of
resentment towards him, and the worst wish my heart dictates towards him
is, that he may repent, and become the "Model Man" his nobly developed
capacities have fitted him to become; for he is, as I have said, the
greatest man I ever saw, and he would be the best if he wasn't so bad!
And the despotic treatment his patients receive under his government, is
only the natural result of one of the fundamental laws of human nature, in
its present undeveloped state; which is, that the history of our race for
six thousand years demonstrates the fact, that absolute, unlimited power
always tends towards despotism--or an usurpation and abuse of other's
rights. Dr. McFarland has, in a _practical_ sense, a sovereignty delegated
to him, by the insane laws, almost as absolute as the marital power, which
the law delegates to the husband. All of the inalienable rights of his
patients are as completely subject to his single will, in the practical
operation of these laws, as are the rights of a married woman to the will
of her husband. And these despotic superintendents and husbands in the
exercise of this power, are no more guilty, in my opinion, than that power
is which licenses this deleterious element. No Republican government ought
to permit an absolute monarchy to be established under its jurisdiction.
And when it is found to exist, it ought to be destroyed, forthwith. And
where this licensed power is known to have culminated into a despotism,
which is crushing humanity, really and practically, that government is
guilty in this matter, so long as it tolerates this usurpation.
Therefore, while the superintendents are guilty in abusing their power, I
say that government which sustains oppression by its laws, is the first
transgressor. Undoubtedly our insane asylums were originally designed and
established, as humane institutions, and for a very humane and benevolent
purpose; but, on their present basis, they really cover and shield many
wrongs, which ought to be exposed and redressed. It is the _evils_ which
cluster about these institutions, and these alone, which I am intent on
bringing into public view, for the purpose of having them destroyed. All
the good which inheres in these institutions and officers is just as
precious as if not mixed with the alloy; therefore, in destroying the
alloy, great care should be used not to tarnish or destroy the fine gold
with it. As my case demonstrates, they are now sometimes used for
inquisitional purposes, which certainly is a great perversion of their
original intent.