Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-21
FoR THE WHIG.
10 The General assembly Of the Commonwealth o,
Firginaa.

10 The General assembly Of the Commonwealth of
Eirginaa.
Inc petition OF the undersigned most respectfnllv
sheweth' that-in the year 1897 the Leoisature sf
Tue commonwealth enacted law imposing heavy
penaites on all persons, who should keen or exhibit
. niiiard Table; or who should suffer the pame of
iiliaros TO be played in his her house. ~or in aDy
mouse 10 ms or her use occupation And further
IN ne same law that it should be lawful for
my justice OF the Pence by his warrant to order any
biard Fable 70 be seized and publicly burnrfIt.s,.
heaVy penalties and this full power to the magistra
W Vi tue otate, TO act IN SO summary and public
mas entirely suppressed in every portion of
the commonwealth an amusement of most or.e
aDie character. Whilst your petitioners do nal m
tehd 10 question the purity of intention in the Gem
eesi Assembly IN enactlDg this law, they mean to
anu nope TO demonstrate that its man purpose
mas been entirely defeated MS has been sbcvn bv n
experience OF thirty years. To suppress amuse-
menus fascinating In their character injurious in their
moral effects and tending to idleness and die.;n,to
to the waste of time, the destruction of heoJ,h ~
the lInpoVershment of the unwary have heen tho
convincing arguments by which all tho statutes
against gaming, IN force IN our Commonwealth have
oeen sustained. To limit smusements to sucb no do
not come immediately within the scope of these oh.
jecu0ns' appears to have been the settled policy of
!sgisiatlon IN Virginia while no one has ever MT
amusement. o" vi oil
The game of Billiards has been, however. conz;d-
ered as one OF those amusemen,s which shouId he
suppressed and if no i'll consequence had been shown
s'op, your petitioners would not now make this an
peal to the Legislature. The game in question ia
necessarily open and public, exempt from its nature
rom ali privacy; 1t has the controlling influence of
PUBIC sentiment, to give 1t proper direction Nam
~ IN Its character it promotes polished IN, ercopr,e
among all who partake in IT. Dree from those de-
oaslng and eneiyatng effects attendant on all other
games, 1t eeVates the character and iunroves 4bo
good health of its votaries
upon the suppression of Bill iards it NAV be triun
phantly asked what followed in its train, ASK anv
one conversant with the condition of onr c,ties
our villages, and he will at once answer Won. Tho
most secret and devastating system of gambling is
now IN full operation and has been enoendered md
advanced by The deprivation Of the less iniurious
amusement of Billiards
fhat mankind will seek for pastime, in the mo.
nents OF leisure, all experncc sheys to he frueto
offer them, by system of just laws the induloence
the least injurious would seem TO be The cou1se of
wisdom Instead of the Billiard Table resorted tn
by tho most reputable of people, we i've subs,,
tuted the Faro Bank; conducted in secret and guard
cd oy sentneis whom no vigilance of officers no
asuteness OF our public prosecutors can crcumvent
Into these haunts of vice and degradation our voutb
are entced and often by the basest arts strpped of
every thing under their coDtrol--tempted TO commit
the meanest actions, and often the most direct feo
nies-ought a Legislature, looking alone to the adj
vancemeDt OF the virtue and happiness of the people
longer TO tolerate this condition of things, Should
they not give new and better direction TO that irra
pressure and inextngulsbable ncna ton for smuse
meni! Statute upon salute has been passed TO mt
Gown FARO Banks the exhibitors have been denoun.
ced by those statutes as worthy the punishment, NJ
eIons ana yet their numbers have increased and tho
evil Is calling aloud for efficient remedv-thot
remedy your Petitioners believe will be fauud y,
permitting the open indulgence the manly annuse
ment OF Billiards TO be no longer on Off nee Thev
pray therefore, Tor the repeating of much Of he
statute against gaming as prohibits the game of Bill