Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-04
APPENDIX

Note \. lit would be matter OF curious in
quiry to ascertain how il has come to pass that
i'll proportion as we, in Virc mia, ha c prescribed
or abandoned the cheerful exercises and amuse-
ments OF our fathers, we have become less amia5ie
and moral, people When was Young man
no gentleman was ashamed of playing game of
billiards, or of cards There was much less gam
ing then than now Men then played and drank
in pubck, from a spirit of society, as well as the
love for both, inherent in human nature. Publici-
y is the great restraint upon individuals as we as
government. The "IIells'' OF London, and the
Styes Of Capre@, and the Pare 0ur CeIfS. attest
this Publicity represses excess, until the man is
sunk in the beast, and every restraint of shame
thrown off. Formerly, friends had il in their pow
or 10 restrain the votaries of chance or of the
bottle; but now their incurable ruin in mind body
and estate, gives the first notice of their devotion
TO play or to drink Solitary intoxication or ardent
spirits IS the substitute for the wine table; and in
some den OF thieves, some cellar some garrett,
the unhappy youth is stripped of his property with
no witness OF the fairness of the game but his des
perate and profigate undoers.
In Virginia we are, and trust shall ever ne a.
live to State rights. But have the people no RIGHTS
asagainst the Assembly, All oppression commences
under specious pretexts. 1 have wondered that no
rural, or rather rustick Hampton has been found
10 Withstand the petty tyranny which has as good
a right TO take away his wiie's lookinp-pIass or
rying-pan, as his billiard table. BY what authority
is this done? Under colour of law, know; bu. a
law in the teeth Of all the principles of free govern
ment.
The principle of what is called the duelIing.law
lit ought TO be called the perjury laws vet
more detestable. am no advocate for duelling---
but it may be putdown by something worse. Bad
it's 1t is better than drinking and gougi ig-and
they are hardly worse than calling names and ban
dying insults, if so bad. The oath prescribed by
the buckingham is in the teeth of every prncipie
OF free government of the act for establishing re-
liCious freedom, and would Justify any test reli-
gous or political, even oath of beliefn transub-
sanitation.
We were a merry-makng kind-harted hospita-
bic people; fond Of "jtutketGng," Gas the old presi-
dent Of the Court OF Appeals used 10 say y and no
one, as the men Of Caroline county and Essex can
testify, liked 'junkettng," (''sobeTfy,'' as Lady
Grace says) better than Edmund Pendleton Yes.
the Mansfield Of Virginia, whom he resembled in
the polished suavty Of his manners, his unrivaled
professional learning and abilities, and thc reten-
zion Of his faculties, unmpaired, 10 a very advanc-
ed old age. There Is another splendid example of
the same rare qualities ia the first judicial officer
Of the United States Who is fonder of a game of
billiards, OF any other innocent amusement, than
the Chief Justico' Yes, regret. nay deplore the
change from our old aud innocent pastrncs and
holidays, 10 the present state Of istess eunu or
/ preached puridnical preciscncss aud gloomy aus
/ terity, we have refrigerated in morals.
! do not indeed carry The matter quite so lar
as an acquaintance Of mine, who has a knack
of"hitching into rhine" AMI who, among other
good advice, says
! Hence, r yoa bavso ,cn would a3si.e.-
lLeti tt faif prospects you pei chance, may spuii)
II YOU woald w.h him m lie Stale 20 rise.
/ infcsi Of Gyotia', L., bim Hudy Hoyls.
/ Tho soraglio # louis w IN bis Deer PARK