Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-03-16
For the Madison Thi< -ffracale-
social ReSpOnsibility.-N >

GAMING.
Having considered the moral obligats0us in
volved in our social responsibilities, eoa=tde-
ration of those principles of social action ia
relation to gaming, viii occupy cur attsnliaa
at present. Gaming Is practice Of very cx-
tensiye social bearing. Its influences, direct
I'D remote, reach the weIl-being OF society -
a great raristv .. modes and degrees % power
Nor are those influences Of a doubtful eharac-
ter They are full of mischief 70 both iELl-
viduals and communities-so obviously - as 60
have called forth 1he Teprobarion Of the wise
and good, IN every age and ever nation, eyen
partially Enlightened S5Ill, even amid the
light and virtue of full blown civilization. e
extensively prevails lit finds patrons eycu
among the more respectable portions Of the
communities Of our own favored countrv-
| This has been matter Of both regECt and suz-
prise to the more considerate aud philanthr5psc-
| To these the eriT tendencies OF gaming are 80
obvious, so appalling, 20 perfectly poisonous 90
all the well springs Of social happiness. Us to
render gambling incapable Of even a shows Of
defence matter Of obvious and uHmeasured
reprobation. Doubtless the reason Wis e -
not viewed in this Iigh- BY every man, nat lost
TO decency and social responsibility. IS she So
phstry, that the evils found resaIr f-om gam
ing, are the abuse not the legitimate fas Of the
principle involved IN gambling Ms object
will be to show, that the PriarlBls - wrong.
and that ali the streams from 50 poisonous
fountain must hence be poisonous also
Bat here, to prevent the apprehension Of
too severe and indiscTiminare censure- 2 may
define more precisely the meaning I attach 90
terms BY the term Gambler. I intend, enc
who plays, or games, OF bets, for the purpose of
winiBg money or something equivalent As
gambling is that in which valuable considers
tions are staked upon the event Of games. or
contests Partaking their nature.
The finished gambler Is one whose entire or
principal means Of a livelihood. l. gambling
To all others, who game for money, the charac-
ter of a gambler Is attributable Just 50 far &
they make that means Of acquiring property
The first viii be considered as filing Up. TO Gar
view, the measure of complete turpituds of
character. The latter only 50 far as 5helr mere
partial indulgence may lay them liable 70 cen
sure This distinction desire NAV D. rezem-
beTed IN all have to say on tins subject. as e.
IS BY no means my wish TO throw over every
mans character and heart. the shades Of neral
turPitude, which, 10 my view, gather IN sueh
gloomy blackness around the flislef Or Brst..s-
sioHai gambler-if with any degree OF pro-
Priety the respected term s-pr5fezsiouaI-- NAV
be thrown into so dark an associatons
The confictioR OF gaming with our social
responsibilities Is First dIrerf-as are rs bear
ings upon others Second, jgdIrcef-as are IFS
bearings upon gamblers themseIvcs- The for
mer viii claim our attention now.
Gambling violates our social obligations by
the evils It entails upon our fellow men
l. All gaming-by which property IS ven o.
lost-is fraud, b. this do not mean shar. il
gaming nomenclature, the game - unfairly
won; bus that the principle, on which property
is won and lost, Is a falsc-dlsaoaest principle
There are but two possible v-avs bv which
we can honestly procure the properly Of others
These are BY free glfI-and by r-faa-nilz a.
eqlaraleat consideration But gaming coufeu1-
plates neither free gift Of what's lost. nor the
return Of an equivalent for what IS Won Gam
ing. therefore, as a means Of acquiring proper
ty, Is dishonest and fraudulent
A gain. Gambling involves c7ref7s.ruea..
which is directly AZ war with our soe-aI resson-
sibilities- Covetousness Is an Inorainate desire
for the property Of others desire which haz
no regard for the rights OF happiness Of cur
neighbor, but an exclusive reference 70 cur
own interests; and Of course az war with al i
our social obligations-is dishonest Tat the q
gambler covets his neighbors property he hiza-
self gives indubitable proof. To win thar pro-
perry, that Is, to get il for nothing, i the sole
object for which he spends his hoars AZ tie
card table, faro bank and the wheel Of for
tune Atthe same tims he sees his antagonist
player suffering, afflicted ruined BIZ the loss OF
the money he wins, without ever ofsering or
thlnking OF offering. to return aay portion Of
that property which be lost. Dsd the gambler
not covet that property. the most vulgar hn-
manly would lead him TO relieve the distress
ses he had himself oeezsioned. BIZ returning
that, the possession Of which, he does not 60
vet Instead OF 50 humane a restitution. re
ind the gambler Boosting OF his winnings. ard
evidently regarding them As acquisitions OF no
small moment 70 his ON happiness. when n
the same time he knoas those winnings isa.s
plunged fellow being info irrecoxerarsse ru7n-
his wife, by whose providence ard Gaze posss-
bly,, that same properly was acquired. reduced
from comfort 70 want and degradar50a-hisf
children 70 poverty and Ignorance ws-a rsesr