President Franklin Pierce: Insane Case Analysis
In May 1854, President Franklin Pierce wrote the bill entitled “An act making a grant to the public lands to the several States for the benefit of the indigent insane persons.” The bill was addressed to the Senate of the United States. The document was written in response to a petition that requested that the Federal Government provide ten million acres of land. The land would be sold in order to build establishments that would provide care for the mentally disabled. President Pierce ultimately vetoed the petition, stating that it shouldn’t be the Federal Government’s responsibility to care for the indigent insane. He felt as if the responsibility should remain with the states. He feared that if the federal government stepped in to care for
people with psychiatric disabilities then they would have to eventually care for all impoverished Americans. With writing this document, I feel like President Franklin Pierce was letting the people know that he actually agreed with the plan to help the mentally disabled but because of the bigger issues that could be imposed on the federal government, like providing for the needy; he could not support the bill. He was so successful in setting forth guidelines for the federal government’s roles in influencing social welfare policies that they have remained well into the twentieth century. Although I know this document was written from the presidents point of view and he has to ultimately think about the country as a whole, me being a responsible adult living during the time that the document was written, would most definitely have to disagree. I understand his concerns but I feel like everyone should take part in caring for the indigent insane, needy, and elderly. I think it is more than the states responsibility to give care for these individuals and since the federal government has more power and resources, he should have signed the bill. Most of the people, especially the mentally disabled, had no control of their situation and deserve undivided help and any and everyone.
people with psychiatric disabilities then they would have to eventually care for all impoverished Americans. With writing this document, I feel like President Franklin Pierce was letting the people know that he actually agreed with the plan to help the mentally disabled but because of the bigger issues that could be imposed on the federal government, like providing for the needy; he could not support the bill. He was so successful in setting forth guidelines for the federal government’s roles in influencing social welfare policies that they have remained well into the twentieth century. Although I know this document was written from the presidents point of view and he has to ultimately think about the country as a whole, me being a responsible adult living during the time that the document was written, would most definitely have to disagree. I understand his concerns but I feel like everyone should take part in caring for the indigent insane, needy, and elderly. I think it is more than the states responsibility to give care for these individuals and since the federal government has more power and resources, he should have signed the bill. Most of the people, especially the mentally disabled, had no control of their situation and deserve undivided help and any and everyone.