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Yeas: Mr. Speaker (Hon. Hiram Cassidy) of Franklin county, Messrs. Austell, Anderson, Burt, Brown, Barksdale, Botters, Bernard, Beasly, :Buck, Burrus, Covington. Downs, Duckworth, Dubisson, Gilleland, Huntley, Harper of Rinds, Holder, Helm, Foot, Liddell, Lewis, Mc- Lauren, Magee, Owen, Philips, Powe, Rozelle, Rawls, Rankin, Rhodes of Jackson, Regan, Shannon, Sharpe, Saddler, Stark, Strong, Swearingen, Thomas, Ward, and Wayne -- 43.

Nays: Messrs. Abbott, Autry, Boren, Bardin, Buckley, Dean, Dickens, Elzy, Garrett, Gordon, Henderson, Hindman, Hamer, Jayne, Lott, McQueen, Mitchell, Monet, Newman, Rives, and Siddall -- 20.

This bill was immediately reported to the Senate. At the afternoon session the next day, March 1st, Mr. Webb, senator from Pontotoc, called up the bill and it passed its second reading. At this juncture Mr. D. W. Adams, an energetic senator from Hinds county, got the floor and called up several other bills, which were passed. Mr. J.M. Ackerman, of Monroe county, moved a reconsideration of the bill and it was finally passed by the following vote:

Ayes: Messrs. Adams, Arthur, Berry, Cobb. Farrar, Graves, Hemingway, Johnston, McWillie, Nelson, Pegues, West, and Webb -- 13. Nays: Mr. President (John J. Pettus), Messrs. Beene, Banks, Ellett, Greer, Keger, Oliver, Ram say, and Stewart -- 9.

The bill was reported back to the House at the night session of this same day. Time was short; the legislature, by a resolution already adopted by both houses, was to adjourn the next day. Mr. Siddall, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the joint committee had found the bill correctly enrolled. It was then to be signed by the presiding officers of both houses, and be sent to the Governor for his approval before it could become a law. It was reported to the Governor that evening, signed or approved by him that and reported back to the House on the morning of March 2.

Thus was born, March 1, 1854, the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb of Mississippi. Those who are familiar with the workings of legislative bodies know that, with the opposition to this bill, there must have been some interested, watchful, experienced, and influential friend to engineer it, when it was carried through so rapidly and skillfully, and so near the end of the session, the legislature having adjourned in less than twelve hours after it was reported back by the Governor. There being no other way of finding out who this friend was than from the journals of the House and Senate, the honor must be attributed to Col. E. R. Burt.

Col. Burt was auditor of State at the breaking out of the war. He gave up his office, raised a company, and tendered his services to the Confederate Government. For his gallant conduct he was soon promoted to the colonelcy, and laid down his life in 1862, at the battle of Leesburg. The fortunes of war left no time or money to mark the graves of its heroes. Miss Cabaniss, who is and has been for so many years matron of the Institution, was an intimate friend of the daughters of this good man. In the absence of the tender, loved ones, at her own expense, she marked the spot where he was laid, and from that day to this she has, unconscious of the fact that he was the real founder of the Institution, watched over the tomb of a friend whose name will always be honored by the deaf of Mississippi. It behooves Mississippians to honor and revere the memory of such a friend of her institutions, such a distinguished statesman and brave soldier.

Col. Burt did not and could not have dreamed of the possibilities of this Institution, and he certainly legislated wiser than he knew. During the years 1890 and 1891 the superintendent attempted to gather the statistics as to occupations and annual earnings of those who had gone out from the Institution since its foundation.

These efforts resulted in showing that out of about three hundred who had been in the Institution, returns were received from only sixty-two, aggregating twenty-two different employments, annual earnings of $13,158, and the total for the whole time, $131,257. Referring to this matter, the superintendent says in his report:

With two exceptions, these have all left the Institution since the war. The buildings, with all the records, were burned at that time, and there is no data from which to gather the facts previous to that period. I have been exceedingly careful to prevent an exaggerated showing in the way of annual incomes. From these facts I have no hesitancy in stating that the pupils who have left the Institution since 1871 are now producing annually more than the legislature appropriates for the maintenance of the Institution. What better argument can be presented for the liberal support of this branch of public education? Since that date (1871) about two hundred pupils have gone out into the world. Some of these have died, some have moved and cannot now be located, and some report that "they are making a living;" many of the young ladies have married, and while they are not working for wages, they are filling the noble missions of wives and mothers, and reflecting credit upon their State and alma mater. This list is being constantly increased, for there is not a year passes but some intelligent boys and girls, who have been receiving the State's bounty under the fostering care of the Institution, decline to be further assisted, join the busy throng, and take their places as good citizens and begin to bear their share of the burdens of government.