Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-17
MR.. GARLAND's LOTTERY BILL.

We omitted to publish in this paper, the detailed
proceedings on MIR. Garland's Lottery Billn in the
House of Delegates. The object of this hin ISL
prohibit within the limits of this Commonwealth
the vending ofa lottery tickets but such Schemes
las are authorized by an act of the Ieoisl,t,re f
fVngIna To enforce this object the bill contained
certain penal provisions of very novel and extr,
hordinary character, which well worth the notice
OF all classes of society, but more especially the
fraternity of Editors, to which we have the honour
| TO belong.
The end proposed to be effected by the opera,ion
OIL the bill, should pass into act is we suppose
to protect the morality of our citizens bv diminish
ing the temptation to embark in speculations ofth;x
nature, or To compel them to husband the loose
change, which they expend in this way to Law il out
IN ourownlotteries. These ends cannot be ur;,e for
II be immoral to deal in lotteries at all il must o
much immoral to buy themin aschcmeIa authorised bv
thestate of Va. asinone authorisedby Md. That The
trainers OF the bill actuated by anv reo ri
for the preservation of morality or from a gencra,
hostility to the principle of Lotteries we infer from
that clause OF 1t, which excerpts Virginia Lotteries
from the operation of the Law. Taking therefore
as granted, that their object exclusively to os-
ter such Lottery Schemes as now are and hereafter
may be, authorized by the Legislature of Virginia.
lett enquire into the Legitimacy of this object and
the character of the means by which they expect to
| accomplish it.
| This bill is another sample ofthat species oflcgis-
iatIon, so many examples of which arc TO be found
on the statute books OF Virginia, and which by at
tempting 10 regulate the conduct of people c, indif-
ferent subjects, acts in opposition to public opinion
receives from it, aid in its executionapd conse
quently invariably fails to realize its expected adj
vantages What right has the Legislature of Virgil
MIA to prohibit any individual from making what
disposition lie pleases of his property Especially
have they right TO restrain him from embarkjnp in
the specuiations of the Lottery, when they do not
pretend that that object is immoral or destructive of
the general happiness, but when on the contrary.
they are In the continual habit of encouraging sucl,
expenditures, by authorisng such methods of raising
money themselves? Is il consistent with the dipni-
ty of Legislation, to prohibit on one day that as
= Common and public nuisance" when it happens to
contribute nothing in aid of the public Revenue or
to promote the interested views of particular ndivi-
duals, and on the next, when something beneficial 70
the State or TO particular persons is hoped from it.
to authorize and encourage it, by a law of the
land Either let the Legislature act upon enlarged
| and permanent views, and reprobating the Lottery
principles Immoral and gambling, discard il Fore
yer from their own catalogue of legislative expcdi-
ents, or let them refrain from medding with the con-
duct of individuals i'll relation to matter which un-
til they do this, is neither nahum Sc nor NAHUM
Epro'ttb'fun. 1t is narrow and selfish policy, I'M
just and ungcncTous towardsour sister States many
ofwbose objects in accrcdtng their Lottery Schemes
highly laudablc, and will in their execution re-
fleet credit upon the whole American copfcderacv
and whose cxcrtions ought rather to be assisted than
crampcd, and in particular, ii is an impertinent in
reference with the rights and liberties of the citizen
AS to the pains and penalties, bv which tic fra
mcrs OF this bill, proposed to enforce its execution
they exhibit character Of severity and enormi;v,
| unparalleled liz the laws of Virginia. The follow
inc is quotation from the Sd section Of the Bill
" ich insert for the amusement of our readers
for it is too absurd, to provoke their t,sdignofjon-
| " Or If any person PERSONS shall be any ways
concerned in such lottery game, deyice Of chance,
either by printing, Uriig, any other ways, pub
fishing account thereof chat is 70 say, mentioning
| TO friend, that such scheme, is to be drawn at
such time. in New York or PHILADELPHIA or where
tickets may be had or obtained for the same or by
exhibiting publicly orprivateiy, in any form ornan-
ner whatsoever, Chat is TO say, if accidenty find
one enclosed in Baltimore paper, as is frequently
the case, and show ittoa frifnd) any scheme or plan
/ thcreuf-overy person so offending shall on being
convicted iherpof,in the manner before mentioned,
i forfeit and pay, for every such offence the sum of
! THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, ono half for
the benefit of the Literary Fund.- and TIC other noie-
ty for the benefit of the Informant" Chat IS to say
Of the apprentice, who brings the papers from thg
Pos oGace' and IS siandihs by whey d1ld tie GA,