Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-11-11

LoTrERIEs.-Thel last Vermont Patriot contain
long debate on the subject Of Lotteries. The de-
ate arose in consequence Of petition from Danio
RUSSELL, for q new lottery, to indemnify him fol
osses sustained by him, in consequence of his be.
ng sgent for the University Lottery, granted some
years since. Mr.. Bailey, Of Bennington, was in
avor OF granting the Pettion and in the course Of
ne remarks, observed:
lie was aware that a strong feeling existed
gains lotteries, and that great pains had been a-
Gen to excite prejudice agains: them. But why is
so! II is not long since grants Of this sort were
frequently made by our Legislature, aud he knew
Of no change in the moral aspect Of the community
hat could account for any great change in the pub
&c feeling upon this subject. The preudces of
which he had spoken were not extensve-the peo-
ple at large did not cherish them. In our sister
states lotteries granted for the benefit Of rdi-
vduals, OF private corporations of academies, col
ieSes, and religious-ycs religious societies And
none would contend that the people Of Vermont
were far ahead of all other people in point OF mo-
rality and religious feelings-though person
would contend more earnestly than himself that in
these respects they were not inferior to their neigh
hors. There was, he said great afiectation of
moral purity and religious sensibility the sub
ject of lotteries. We have had lectures from the
pulpit and from the executive chair warning us
against their contamination, and denoupcing them
as the worst species of gambling. They do indeed
involve chance, but in no other respect do they
compare with, and In no other particular can tho
odum OF gambling be attached to them. They do
not carry. with them those habits that dissipation
of thought and money which accompany gam
bling. As to The temptations which they hold out
TO the unwary, to engage in hazardous speculation,
he remarked that the temptation to give three or
tour Collars, for the chance Of receiving three or
tour thousand, with the certainty Of afording re-
lief to an unfortunate and worthy man, was not
very much to be dreaded or very seduously guard
ed against. lie did not believe that the safety Of
the people would be endangered, or their morals
corrupted, by drawing two or three CLASSES Of lot
terry. Nor did he believe tha. the feelings Of the
community would be outraged by making the
grant. lie was justified in this by the experience
of the past year, during which several grants of
lotteries, for the relief of individuals bad been dug
up as from their graves, anI recey cd the breath Of
life. The tickets had been greedily purchased
the people had not suifered-and little COM
plant had been made by the adventures. They
are mistaken who suppose the great body OF our
citizens are IN sentiment opposed to raising money
in this way. the object be such as they approve,
and the managers men in whom they can coniide
the people will cheerially a.quesce in the mea
sure, and the unfortunate will be relieved by the
voluntary contributions oi the community"
Another member, Mr.. Hunt, also advocated the
petition, and closed his speech by remarkng:
g The lottery system had been called species of
ganbng-but if it were lair game, and fairly
played, he could not see much of evil in 1t as
msuy pretended to, who would sell, to their poor
anG ignorant ueighbors,a yard of Calico at double
lts value and groan over the moral turpitude of
buying aucket, or betting dollar on game OF
Whist.
" The Legislature, sail Mr. ii. has heretofore in
corporated sundry banking companies, not because
the banking system as approve OF, but because It
| was established in the country, and could not be
| destroyed, And as paper would circulate instead
OF silver and gold, ii was thought better to circulate
our own rather than the bills Of our neighbors-and
to establish Banks, over which we might have some
authority, and ON which we might receive some
| income, than 10 depend upon other States for our
bills, and pay them .he tax vhich we needed our
selves. Upon the principles, he was in favor
! Of granting a lo,,ery--and he hoped the House
woulG not SO far mistake the Interests of the State
as TO refuse To grant it,"