Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-09

lated and grossly evaded. Can il be fully execu-
ted! Will public sentiment require it! Is it not
better to regulate and to license The habit; share
| the great profits which are made by the Lottery
Offices; and to compel them to make q handsome
contribution to the public Treasury Those
who evade the law, refusing 10 take out license,
would then turn the public sentiment agains st them
and the law would be carried into full force:
The Committee of Finance have, according to
order. had under consideration the resolution in
lstructing them to enquire into the expediency OF
repealng the laws which inhbit the sale oil foreign
Hlouery tickets, and OF imposing tax on the ven
yders OF such tickets In the consideration of this
| subject, your committee have adver,ed 10 the orr
| gin, the progress, ami the policy, Of the several
pIohoitory enactmenis in relation to lotteries
The trst oi these prohibitions was, in restraint OF
individual private lotteries. An unres,rained
privilege In respect to such lotteries liable
To be abused Tor the most unworthy purposes.
| by Ingenious contrivances, IN the name and form
OF lottery, the door was open to practices tend
ing directly to promote public idleness and de
bauchery, and 10 be distinguished in their
sequences, from the pernicious vice of gaming.
lhe prohibition of private lotteries was, therefore,
made part OF the act to prevent unlawful gaming
not because lotteries were esteemed to be essen
iially and necessarily immoral, but because the
restrained privilege OF pItcdte lotteries capa-
bic OF being SO abused, to admit of the most
complete devices Tor the evasion of that saiu airy
act; and it against such devices that this
| prohibition levelled. But, whilst wise
policy has thus dictated the restraint OF private
lotteries, the numerous acts authorising public
lotteries scattered through our Statute book from
the foundation OF the government 10 the present
time, that the Legislature have never regard
ell lotteries, under suitable regulations. either
Immoral or unfit means for the Accomplishment of
useful public purposes
The a. = 60
IN the of 1919, enlightened by the &C, of 1924
inhibting the sale of foreign lottery tickets. This
prohibition was dictated by policy alone, under
the peculiar circumstances of the time, and was
particularly designed to counteract an evil affect
| ing the pecuniary interests of the community.
| Some OF our sister states had imposed similar
restriction, and at the same time were engaged in
! system of lotteries, FOR extensive public improve
| ments, i'll which hsd no common interest -
Lotteries, under our limited grants were unable TO
'compe,e with their splendid schemes, and by the
| superior temptations adventure in the latter
| large sums OF money, drawn from the pockets OF
our own citizens, went to construed the canals
roads, and bridges, and to erect the public edhces
OF other states Another, and perhsps the most
serious evil 10 which we were then exposed, re-
suited from peculiar system OF lottery then in
| operation in some of the northern states in con-
neNion with an untavorable state OF the exchange
betw cen them ard us. This system Of lottery
enabled the contractors end agents, some of " HON
resided among W., 10 procrastinate the completion
| oil the schemes Tor very long periods, during
which they received held in their hands and en-
| ployed in speculation on exchange, very large
! sums OF money. The course of this speculation
embracing the purchase of our bank paper, at
discount IN the northern cities, and regular with
drawai, from our banks. of large sums of specie
Tor thai object, producing, a necessary conse-
quence, cur;ailments OF bank accommodation, di-
| t,.,ti<.. IS ,L.
ments IN trade, and depreciation and uusteadness
In the market prices for the products OF Industry,
seemed to call for legislative interposirion. The
Iiaws, prohibiting the sale oil foreign lottery tickets
were designed to counteract these evils The pro-
hibtion dictated by sound policy, and ought
to be risidly enforced whenever the same crcum-
4 stances exist that induced its enactment These
circumstances are, in the nature of things yaria-
BILE, and very material changes have already tax en-
place. new system of lottery, drawn loo ex-
peditio1siy to afford contractors and agents an OPP
portunity OF specializing with its capital, has b,
the preference OF the public, superseded the sys-
tenn just adverted to- and the state of exchange be-
tween US and our sister states, has become more
favourable and steady Some of the states have
repealed their prohibitions, licensed sales OF
foreign tickets; and even where the prohibition is
continued, IL is understood that sales of foreign
tickets are made, to considerable extent with
IMMUNITY. Such prohibltory laws are every where
and at all times, difficult of execution: they can be
made efiecIusl only by severe enactmeats, and
, highly penal sanctions, which wise policy can
never sanction, bur when some important aud vital
interest OF the community demands them Such
necessity does not In the opinion OF your commit
tee, exist at this time. But, as in a change of
circumstances, 1t might become necessary to en-
force the prohibition, your committee would not
recommend absolute repeal of the existing
laws, but only relaxation OF the restraint by IL
cences TO he granted under proper regulations,
leaving the existing laws to operate on all who
fail to enitle themselves the privilege of yend-
ing foreign lottery tickets such terms as it shall
be thought eypedient to impose. The existing
laws would be security for the payment of the
tax under the privilege the more valuable To those
who may take the license, and enable the vendor
OF such tickets 10 pay considerable tax for that
, privilege.
{ Whilst, on this subject, your Committee beg to
be indulgedin some additional remarks as 10 The
morality and the policy of granting lotteries for
useful public purposes. Lotteries are said TO be
games OF chance, and therefore immoral. Your
Committee cannot assent to this proposition. That
lotteries, and especially private lotteries are cspa-
bic OF being used las mos, oIber things which are
In themselves innocent may be) for immoral pur-
poses, will not be denied: But that they have
any inherent vice; that public lotteries grantee
under judicous regulations, for the Accomplishment
OF some useful public purpose, inmoral or i'm
polite, your committee cannot believe. Ii 1t he
said that public lotteries foster an adventurous
spirit, and should, for this alone be restrain
ved; then should the restraint, to be OF any value
be co-extensive with The supposed evil; but this
Is impossible, since we have power 10 suppress
n lotteries in other states. But is il wise or prac-
cable to restrain this spirit of adventure by egisIa
II tive authority? Where should we fix the limit
ITO such principle OF legislation! Tie field OF adj
4 venture is boundess and this spirit of adventure is
\ fosered by some OF the most useful and necessary