Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-20

however, Thought there was distinction betwee
raising money In this way, and the ordinar
modes OF gambling The one involved no loss Z
time. no sacrifice Of health. or destruction of
man . substance He consendea that there wa
no way OF prev ening our citizens from participa
ing IN lotteries Our sister states authorised tb
"awinS OF lotteries for q great variety of pGr
pose. In all these schemes, the people of Viz
g'hia had contributed most largely; il in fact
tney mad not borne the burden Of all the splend
monuments and improvements in those states
w"n0ut the credi. Of having contributed to them
re mentioned the Monument at Baltimore, to tn
'"eno:y oil Washington, and certain improve
men's Y Pennsylvania and New York, as havins
oeen enacted by the contribution Of our citizens
nau been found mpracticabet 10 prevent them from
| enoarking In such schemes, Why not enlist thai
spirit OF adventure in the improvement Of our own
S'ate! MIR. w. then pointed out the great impor.
pottance OF the proposed turnpike, and ended
,hat u the principle to be adopted, il could no,
oe employed to accomplish an object more
interesting. lie also pointed out the guards
which had been introduced into the bill. IN
proven, abnse. He could not see why the lottery
principle could not also be applied to the promo,
!oh OF education. Any object, whether of eduea a.
uo" VI improvement, would stand before the
House upon it's own metits
MI ia 40 remarked. that portion OF his con-
s,tuens were interested in thi, que.,ion, and that
'hem' In The absence OF instructions, he should
vote asreeably 10 the dictates of his i'd. ,nent.
not 'hat he dd not respect b,th the interests and
'"e opiaions OF part at those whom lie rep.e.
sented. lie contended that the principle OF lot
.eres was as much gambling that OF faro; and
u ne mad his choice he should chuse the latter, az
me least objectionable, and perhaps the fsire-t-
oar laws were very severe against gambling, aud
he protested sgains, making such Discrimination
as was proposed, between the different sorts Of
Samoiing. Lotteries had therefore been pro-
scribed as gambling; and he could not see why
tey should be now lcgalized. II the efforts of the
Legislature 10 rnt down all lotteries had prov ed
aoortive, ought no, this to be reason fo- stmuia-
ting you 10 new efforts; rather than suffer your
selves IRON being driven from your ground. If the
present bill passed, he should never vote agains,
another lottery bill; because all parts OF the soun-
Try ought 10 be permitted to avail themselves Of
the same p'incipc. 1t an objection that the
contractors who did not live in the state and who
usually took your schemes, carried the profits
from among u.s. This he thought, was an answer
TO the argument that the profits of lotteries were
enjoyed be'oni our limits II under our Iawp,
the sale OF lottery tickets could be prevented
among us, men would be tempted 10 send
their money beyond the state for tickets Temp,a-
ton was common TO all men, and il the tick cts
were exposed around ia. we embarked in the adj
venture of'ener than il the allurement was more
distant. Adopt this system of lotteries, and you
VIII soon literally baS. hawkers and pedars, car
ryins tickets to The Courthouse. He then COM
'nented On the pernicious tendency of lotteries
on the morals and happiness Of our people.
The multiplication of petitions for lotteries
proved the excess to which they would be carried
they would even be resoIted TO build bridges
Sc. which were properly county charges You
had as well give the power to the county courts al
once. The Northern States had ascer,ainei the
pernicious etfet:s of this system, and were now
at,;. .x.;.l IS,
more than any other State, had actually prohibited
them by her constitution. The amount of money
now asked 10 be raised was greater than the pro-
duc'ive labor OF the State would pay in FIVE years
The time of the legislature that would be employ =
e.! In discussing lottery questions would be SO great
as TO form strong objection 10 them The system,
he contended, woul enirap ,he people and i'm
poverish them. We should soon have few men
OF splendid fortunes, and ragged people. I.ol,e
lies were even trap To the conscience. Some oil
The clergy, who would not gamble in any other
way, were fpund to encourage lotteries.
MIR. T'uilace remarked, that the prescription
OF law against lotteries, was levelled esi,st rri-
vhte lotteries, and not such were author.ed be
law. He did not thiak that firro was preferable to
lotteries. In the latter, by adven,uring ten dol
lars you may draw large sum- Ia faro YOU
can only win the amour, you Put down. Mr.
W. appealed to the History of France to illus
trate his opinion tie subject.
vice. you ought to turn il. 10 account. 4 rar, OF
the Literary Fund had been derived from taxing
the vices OF the poole. This system he thought
fair; vice should be taxed in every shape; and
especially if you cannot suppress it.
MIR. w. again recounted the advantages OF the
prof osed road.
Mr.. Mayo replied to Mr.. w. lie was follow
ed by
Mr.. Lochetf, who thought that consistency of
policy requires that Virgins .hould put down lot
teries. II would be seen by reference TO our ram-
ing laws, that had felt the greatest solciiude On
that subject; that hd, in the p, ovi-ons of tbose
laws, encroached upon the provisions of the consi
tu,iou, more than on any other subject. The trial
By jury even dispensed with; aud po;y or TIL,
into the hands OF the judges with which they were
ntrusied, in relation TO other subject What
had been the effect Of these laws. i, was tru.
they had not been able TO erad;ca,a tie vice; But
they had driven il firm the public saze into Sc
cret holes aid corners Taey Lad checked il.
Was this OF good 10 society! That lotteries v as
species OF gambling, detrimental 10 public morals
and individuals and injurious TO domestic happi =
ness, he went into an argument 10 show He
thought il was loss Of time in that House to al,
there engaged in legalizng vice There were
some 60 or 20 lottery bills waiting the fate of this
BILL and involving million or two of dollars
that were 10 be raised, and pass through the
hands OF men, who made trick and cunning their
study. Did gentlemen flatier themselves that they
could restrain those men, and cpniine them 10 cor
rect principles?
Mr. l.. drew picture Of the evils of Lotteries,
the modes Of drawing them, and Of the sureinen,s
resoTted to, 10 induce men TO embark in them.
lie referred TO the argument used 10 induce Virginia
10 adopt the Blinking system, and compared II to
The present in favor of lotteries. The principle oil
ackno~ lodging a vice, and warding il off by
its adoption, was certainly wrong. He comment.