Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-11-16

Billiards were interdlctcd because the fascination
Of the game Withdrew people. from employment, No
body pretends that inttinsicay, billiards crim
nal--,hat they vitate the mind, or lead to loss of
money, character, or weah--or that in fact, they
do not promote Inc latter. Billiard tables large
things, and cannot be hidden in corner. Hence
the Legislature has succeeded IN suppresslng them,
whilst Faro has fourished more vigorously upon every
fresh penalty demo ed against exhibition. Bill
lizards extinct, but there ten Faro Banks now
for one formerly. Can that system Of Legislation
be wise which ~upprcsses the less, and encourages
the greater evil? Is It worth while to Danish Bill
lizards, when Faro lourishes in every street, Is it
Just to deprive those who respect tie laws, Of an
innocent and elegant amusement, while those who
set the laws at Defiance not deprived Of the pow
or of prosecuting Practices ia more injurious to The
morals of the commsnity? Does morality gain any
thing by the suppression of Billiards. when games
Of chance are not and cannot be suppressed Ii
must be obvious every observer, that the removal
OF the temptation 10 ideness held out by Billiards. has
been attended by evils infinitely overbalancing that
benefit. If that elegant game were tolerated, those
hours which hang heavy would be passed at the Bill
lard table, instead of the Faro. Sociabity, and
not the love of gaming, the great cause which in
position could be grat6ed by finding Billiard Room.
it would rarely seek for Faro Bank. As long
human nature requires, or Mt least will have, amuse
ments and relaxation, long will it continue true
wisdom in Leglsla ures and communities, to encour-
age instead of suppress Billiards, the least PERM
cious of all games. The question ought to be, not
whether youth land age too) shall indulge in
:nent-for that is question which nature has already
se,tied-but what sort of amusement is least detri
mental to the purse, the health, and the moralsr-
Whether Billiards, or the Faro and Cards? Whcth-
or the secrecy made necessary by the severity of The
laws and Its train of deep betting, fraudulent pract
Gee, and ruin, or that pubic exposure which imposes
restraints upon the conduct of the players. prees
BILE. We assert, what will be confirmed by every
observer, that the suppression of Billiards has
direct and necessary tendency increase that kind
of gambling which cannot survive the light. Let
the conscences of those who fear that the federation
of Billiards would operate encouragement MT of
vice ard ideness, be assured that their Introduction
much more powerfully encourages them.
While no man can doubt the patriotic in
tentions of former Legislatures, every man we
think must see, not less from positive and unde-
niabe effects, than from reasoning, tina the sys-
TEN of penal Legislation directed against gaming is
radically and that il has increased and az
gravated the mischief When Faro was publicly ex-
hbited there less of it, and far less ruinous bet
ting than ha it has been driven by the severi-
ty of the Legislature, into holes and recesses, barr
cadoed by tho fear Of justice, and penetrated
by the light ofday Observation acted as restraint
and the whole class which depended upon public opin-
ion. fed from indulgence which that public wit
messed and condemned. Not now, when the bad
policy ofthe Legislature in the attempt to extrpate
mischief far beyond the power of any an horty, has
merely forced it into dangerous secrecy. Screened
from observation and censure, the very class whose
safety moved the denuncations of the Legislature,
can now with comparative lmpunity, indulge in those
fotal amusemcnts and ruin themselves before they
are known TO be in danger.
We understand with pleasure, that the attention of
the Legislature will be called to these now obvious
and universally lin the nolghborhoods of the mischef
admitted truths; and we hope that i, will result in
change system, which by openly toIerating fare and
its kindred games, offers the only possible chance of
suppressing it, by exposing it to the action of public
observation and opinion There is not an exhibitor Of
Faro, who will not admit this conclusion, or deny
that legislation has contributed more than all other
causes, to his success.
We invite our Editorial brethren to consider these
Subjects especially that ofbilIards, and to AID the
circulation Of petitions for signatures.
The Election Lnrs.-We have received from
Winchester, for signatures,) the draft of a memoir
al addressed to the next General Assembly, praying
certain alterations in the election laws, which we
rcpublish below, and to which solicit the attentive
consideration of the Public.
The first change suggested, of having the elections
on the same day throughout the Commonwealth, has
long appeared to important for the speedy res
oraton Of social harmony after it has been disturb
cd by such contests, and to defeat the combinations
manouverIng and intrigue alwoye put IN motion to
controul the spontaneous expression Of popular will
when elections for the officer fall on successive
and % ant days, that nothing but absence prevented
us from getting friend in the Convention to urge It