The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-07-03
From the Boston PatriOt.l
PlvmOuth Beach L0tterv.

II
The report of committee upon this
subject. presents a glaring instance of
speculation for private emoIument I'M
der colour of law. If any thing were
wanting to evince the bad tendency of
lotteries, this would place it beyond
doubt. We have in the report the fol-
lowing facts, viz.-That the managers
of this lottery have been empowered to
sell tickets, to the amount of S883,OO0;
that they have actually sold to the a
mount of S793, 1853, which amount
has been paid by the people of Massa-
chusetts; that in return, S63l,87 IL
have been received for prizes drawn in
the lottery-leaving a balance of Ssl,-
sol 89 cts. to be divided among the
managers of the lottery, the town of
Plymouth, ticket vendors, sc. &C. and
which has been an actual tax paid by the
State to these several persons. The
lottery was originally granted for the
term of FIVE years, to raise the sum of
$4,000, of which SIG, 900 were to be
paid for repairs, upon Plymouth Beach.
1t has now been in operation for ten
years; and the town of Plymouth have
obtained from it the enormous sum of
S9,876 Is, while the managers have
received, for their services, for the,
same period, $37, 543 90, and the tick
ct vendors, $4,000 80. From these
facts, it appears, that the, operation of
the lottery has been, ina few words,
this THAT three or four individuals,
managers, have been for ten years in
the annual reception of $4,000 or $4,000,
which, with various sums to ticket ven
ders, sc. has been paid them by the
people of our State, while the object
of the grant Of the lottery has been
but partially accomplished, although
the amount of tickets offered for sale
has been nearly one million of dollars.
We would also observe that the mana
gers credit themselves with S162,976
amount OF tickets unsold, but that no
account is given of any prizes which
these tickets might have drawn. That
they should have all been blanks, would
be contrary to any reasonable calcula-
ton. The inevitable inference, then,
from the statement as given, is, that
the managers have received and APP
propriated to their own use, the prizes
which these tickets have drawn. We
have heard it said in conversation, that
in one class, tickets thus returned, drew
over $4,000 but we are not disposed
upon such authority, to give credit to
such reports. As, however, this fact of
the return of unsold tickets, and of no a
mount being given of the prizes, which,
according to all reasonable calculation,
they must have drawn, looks very dark,
we hope, that for the satisfaction of
the publick, the managers will be able
to throw some light upon it, and clear
up their own characters. Till this is
1~-~7 nervE % VIII DC III CIrCuIaIlOD, and.
whether true OF false, will be believed.
If any thing were wanting to prove
the pernicious effects of lotteries, we
have here cumulative proof.
We consider the refusal by our Leg
stature to extend the grant of lotteries
TO the Springfield Bridge and Union
Canal, evidence of the diffusion of cor
rect opinions upon this subject. It re-
quires some self-denial to refuse to
grant aid, which costs the granters
nothing, for the promotion of objects
confessedly useful; and no doubt our
Legislature experienced this difficulty.
But there is maxim in very good
book, which applies to this case, and
which is true, both of individuals and
governments, that evil never should
be done, that good may come there
from"