THE FORMATION OF A DEAF VARIETY OF TIIK HUMAN RACE. 221 



plan to sell a iiortioii of tlu' land for tlic benefit of the institution and retain the remainder as 

 head-tptarfcrs for the deaf and duiiil), to which they could emigrate after being educated.* This 

 idea took root in the minds of the pupils of the American As.ylum, and afterwards develoi)ed 

 into a number of independent and eccentric schemes for the formation of a deaf-mute community. 

 Some of the i)ui)ils before their graduation formed an agreement to emigrate to the West and 

 settle in a common place.* 



Then a number of years afterwards a deaf-mute publicly urged the formation of a deaf-mute 

 commonwealth. Congress was to be petitioned to form a deaf-mute state or territory, &c. The 

 details, though quite impi'acticable, brought forward the fact that a number of schemes of some- 

 what similar character were in the minds of deaf-mutes in different parts of the country. One 

 deaf-mute publicly offered to contribute $5,000 towards such a scheme if others could be found to 

 join him. It was urged that the natural affection of the parents would lead to the distribution of 

 the land among their children, and that as the majority of their children could hear and speak the 

 laud would soon pass out of the control of the deaf-mutes themselves. This was to be remedied in 

 various ways — as, for instance, by legislation — so as to secure descent in the deaf mute line alone. 

 The American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb became the channel of communication between 

 the various thinkers. t The scheme that received most apjirobation was the purchase of a tract of 

 land by a few of the wealthy deaf-mute-', who were to agree to sell out the land in small blocks 

 to other deaf-mutes. The whole scheme was afterwards discussed at a convention of the deaf- 

 mutes of New England, and was overthrown by the influence of the Rev. W. W. Turner, Mr. Lau- 

 rent Clerc, and other teachers, in conjunction with the most intelligent of the deaf-mutes them- 

 ■selves. Since then the subject has not been publicly discussed, to my knowledge; but such a 

 scheme is still favored by individual deaf-mutes, and may therefore be revived in organized shape 

 at any time.f 



CONCLUSION. 



I think all will agree that the evidence shows a tendency to the formation of a deaf variety of 

 the human race in America. What I'emedial measures cau be taken to lessen or check this ten- 

 dency ? We shall consider the subject under two heads: (1) repressive, (2) preventive measures. 



(1.) Repressive measures. — The first thought that occurs in this connection is that the intermar- 

 riage of deaf-mutes might be forbidden by legislative enactment. So long, however, as deaf-mutes 

 of both sexes coutinue to associate together in adult life, legislative interference with marriage might 

 only promote immorality. But, without entirely prohibiting intermarriage, might not the mar- 

 riages of the deaf be so regulated as to reduce the probabilities of the production of deaf offspring 

 to a minimum"? For instance, a law forbidding congenitally deaf persons from intermarrying 

 would go a long way towards checking the evil. Such a law might, however, become inoperative 

 ou account of the imi)ossibility of proving that a person had been born deaf. 



Legislation forbidding the intermarriage of persons belonging to families containing more 

 than one deaf mute would be more practicable. This would cover the intermarriage of hearing- 

 persons belonging to such families, and also the case of a consanguineous marriage in a deaf-mute 

 family. 



In order to justify the i)assagc of such an act, however, the results of intermarriages of this 

 kind should be more fully investigated than is possible at the present time on account of limited 



" See "Amerieau Atinals of tin^ Dfaf and Duiiili," vol. x, p. 73. 



t See vol. X, j)}!. 72-30 ; l:56-UiO ; 212-21.5. 



t Since this paper was read, a Europcau philanthropist has comnieuced the colonization of a tract of land in 

 Manitoba by deaf-mutes. I am iufornipd by a friend who resides iu 'VViuuipet; that about 24 deaf-mutes, with their 

 families, have already arrived from Europe anil have settled upon the land. More are expected next year. 



