Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-05
parsrxrmExr OF HoRsE-RAcISs
Uscsm5zT Term 49,.

December Term 49,.
The Grand Jurors tor the county O.
Washington. in the Distict Of COlum-
bia. feeling that they cannot Otherwise
faithfully dischlrse the trust reposed j.
them, beg leave {" cal the attention ct
the eou-, to the consideration OF great
and g-prin. evil to the cOmmuni y whose
interest they represent. /, would Ill be
came them las they cohceise) TO allow
all their time and deliberation to the de
lection Of ordinary offenders agains:
society. and TO bring down the arm of the
law UPON a crowd Of petty cUlpEi!s,
while the frujt;al parent oi most Of the
vi-e and prof:yac IS not only unt0ueh-
ed, but encouraged.
The Grand Jgro7s ailu5e TO the prac-
lice Of public races in this county, which
they represent as great and unq1es-
ti,alb!e so9rce Of vice ard wretched.
ness. lis eFecs upon every class Of
socsty have long been seriously felt; the
vast, o. none, and of time affect every
elas. and description Of our citizens .
e.en those who are restrained from moral
or religious feelings from cnuntensnciug
these scenes Of iniIuity BY their pre-
seace. vet feel il in their families and
their dependents.
BIT this consideration il small, COM
pared with its effects upon the habits
snd morals Il other classes Of society.
Tie Gambler and the Sharper take pos
session Of every part Of the field during
the dag, and every part 0! the city and
town in the Light, TO impose upon the
weak, and IL allure the thOlghtless and
inexrerieuced, and numbers, every sea-
son, fall a sacrifice to these harPies OF
society. No person is so low as TO be
beneath The practice 81 their arts, and
70 sdm IS too small for their cupidity.-
Numbers whe are led 10 these sports from
curiosity are allared by various arts to
the gambling table, and there stripped
Of all the bard earnings Of the season ;
and are thus drawn to drunkenness and
idleIess thems, ,'es, and their families
to besgery.
1t we'll known fact that gentlemen
who were formerly members have with
drawn in disgust and principally on &C,
count Of gross scenes OF intemperance,
connected with the evil Effects OF gambling.
And although there are still! respectable
persons interested from other motivas,
vet it is equally certain that these ra.
ces are generally kept up By gamblers
and sharpers, Cor collecting people toge-
thcr, the more easily TO reduce them to
ruin. Nor do the evils cease With the
races; a :aste for gambling and dIssi.
patton having been Cnee created, and
facilities afforded for their qualification,
the places for gambling are continued o,
pen Tor months 70 the incaiculable inju-
~ Of the public, eIuding all the penal
ties Of the law and the vigilance OF its
officers. The injqry = 'ulting by the
loss Of time and property, and other ef-
Ects upon the morals Of society, have be-
come too great in the opinion Of the
Grand Ju ,, longer TO be overlooked by
a wise legislature.
Tie Grand Jury therefore hope, that
the homo, able Court will p, esent th, sub.
i?ct t.. CON- ess. in such manner as
lney may deem proper. and that law
will be passe. prohibiting the exhibition
OF race. IN tlc District OF Colunbia.
SAMuED \. SMALLW0OD,
Fireman