984 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 20,

Your Committee visited the Columbian Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb, situated near Washington, in the District
of Columbia, where the deaf and dumb beneficiaries of this
State are now placed, and were most kindly received by the
gentlemanly President of that Institution. Our hearts were
gladdened in observing the thorough manner in which the
unfortunate inmates of the Institution are taught in the
various branches of learning, from the A B C class up to the
ripened scholars who are going through a regular course of
collegiate instruction. The children all appeared cheerful
and happy, expressing to your Committee (by writing on their
large blackboards) their entire satisfaction with everything in
the place, and also their thankfulness to the Legislature of
Maryland for their kindness in placing them in such an
institution.

Your Committee would also state, that with regard to the
alleged commingling of the white and black deaf mutes in
this Institution, they do not find the general reports on the
subject fully substantiated by facts. We found two small
negro boys in a room where white children are being
instructed ; but they had seats reserved in one corner of the
room, so that they receive the same instruction at the same
time, and by the same teacher as the white children. The
President positively states that he does not require the
commingling of the two races in the Institution, but that
the tastes of some of the white children lead them to asso-
ciate with these negro hoys. But, although there are not
two negro boys now there, it is nevertheless true that the
President of the Institution has no power to refuse to receive
all who apply through the authorities having the control of
the Institution. It is the property of, and is supported by
the United States Government, and of course, the officers of
the Institution can have no discretionary powers in receiving
into, or in excluding from it any race or class authorized to
receive its benefits by Congress.

With the great advantages afforded by the Columbian In-
stitution, and its superior excellence of construction and
arrangement in every detail, we would oppose the removal
of our deaf and dumb from this Institution by all means,
if it were not for the fact that Congress may, at anytime,
introduce any number of black mutes into it ; and even as it
is, your Committee would rather not assume the responsi-
bility of advising what course is best to pursue in regard to
this branch of the subject, feeling that it had better be left
to the enlightened judgment of this House.

Your Committee also visited the City of Frederick on the

same day, and were most kindly received by her municipal

officers and citizens. We visited the grounds belonging to

the State, formerly used as barracks, and examined the "build-

ings very carefully. This examination leads us to the con-