Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-15


Gus and absorbing employments in the pub
lie service The interest upon his debts una
voidably contracted, whilst thus employed,
had already reached an amount which consum-
ed nearly the whole of his income; and though
translated from the glare of the metropolis OF
the Union to the shades OF Monticello, his ex-
penses were still enormous compared with his
means TO sustain them.S And, Sir, aver that
the veriest churi upon earth, much less.one OF
his noble and generous nature, could not have
managed, by any manner of device or contri-
vance, 10 keep them down. 1t is true. he had
surrendered to another the exalted station he
had so long filled with the distinguished appro-
baton of his country, and all the pomp and cir
cumstance Of which it cannot be dlvested; but
in doing so he was as little able to withdraw
from aciice public employment faculties which had
| become portion ofthe common stock, in ac-
celebrating the great march OF intellect through
out the world, as he was TO screen himself from
the constant, ardent and admiring gaze OF the
| crowds who sought him. isltorS from almost
every spot within the bounds OF this wide spread
Republic-Yes and from beyond the farthest
seas too, was attracted, and still continue to be
attracted to~lhis mountain summit, and, Sir,
unlike the fate Of the pilgrims, who are carried
by their pious deyotions to the Holy Sepulchre,
the visitors TO this enchanting abode OF science
and letters, nourished as they are by all the
sweet charities oflife, depart without payment
Of money or reward. Unless, therefore, he had
been required to close the doors OF his hospita-
| bic mansion, against the thousands who resort
to it from every quarter, and 10 withdraw him
self from Society, which he has so largely con-
| tributel to enlighen and improve, and at no pc
riod Of his lie more than since the rearing OF
that noble Temple Of science which'is now
flourishing and diffusing its light under his pa
ternal Care; the expenses incident to his cha
racter and situation, though from dire necessi-
", at this time contracted, could not have been
kept down 10 any small amount And who,
ask. can wish that they should be SO reduced,
as TO deprive him Of the few enjoyments which
remain to him; or that he should be forced to
seek hiding place in some obscure hollow OF
the mountain, for the brief span he may yet
| iinger amongst US?
| have felt IT my duty 10 present this impcr-
feet view, Sir, TO enable the House to trace al
once the causes Of the embarrassed situation OF
this venerable patriot aggravated as 1t has been
by most heavy loss sustained within the last
few wears, on account Of one to whom he was
bound by the imperious ties Of close friend
ship. And ho,c is il proposed to relieve him?
BY the grant Of privilege which the Legisla-
ture have wisely taken under their control, to
be used whensoever the consideration present
ed should he deemed of sufficient importance
TO warrant the indulgence Let il not be sup
posed, Sir, that this is the first application Of
the kind which has been made TO the General
Assembly Of Virginia, or that the leaS, impede
ment has existed, until of late years, TO the use
Of Lottery for the attainment Of any laudable
or valuable end. An examination of our sta
tutes will show that, within the last forty years,
more than seventy cases have occurred of lotte-
ries authorised by the legislature, for the vari-
Gus purposes of endowing schools; erecting
churches; promoting public charities; con.
structng roads, bridges, canals; Of aiding
individuals in works for the public good, and
for their own adcan!age, under peculiar circum-
cumstances Nearly all OF these cases arc before
me, and | would enumerate them were it ne
cessary Indeed, sir, it was not until the pas
sage Of the act of 1911, which authorised the
president and directors of the Literary Fund to
sell annually, for seven years, to any person. the
privilege of raising by lottery, or lotteries, the
sum Of $4,000, and approprlating the pro-
ceeds to the benefit of the Literary Fund, that
the Legislature ever refused the privilege, when
satisfied from the circumstances OF the case;
that it would be used as an instrument to attain
any salulary purpose. The prohibitory act Of
the same session, was nothing more than re-
cnaction Of the old law of 1859; before which
the right OF lottery was free to all; and had no
other object in view, than TO protect the privl-
legc granted to the Literary Fund Subsequent
to the expiration of tina, privilege, it was, for
some years, the policy of the State to extract
portion of its revenue, from u tax on the sale of
tickets IN foreign lotteries, or lotteries antho-
rsed by other States. At a more recent peri
oG, this policy was substituted by an absolute
prohibition, accompanied by heavy penalties,
Of the sale of tickets in any lottery not au,ho-
rsed by our own laws The utter abor,iveness
of this prohibition, all must acknowledges; and
the cxpcdiency Of again resorting to il as a
source Of revenue, no one, | should imagine,
can entertain doubt. Whilst, Sir, in defiance
Of your penalties and prohibitions, thousands
are daily carried out of The state, to promote
schemes of Improvement in our sister states,
we deny 10 ourselves, as we'll the use Of these
means Of caccting similar impro,eme rs
the benefit OF the laX-Iertainlv not lessNalua-
bic than an imperative prohibition.
But, sir, whatever nay be the will Of this bo-
dy in relation to existing enactments, upon the
subitct-be We disposed or not to place it upon
ground different from that HIGH il at presen,