Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-28
COMMUNICATIONS.

; u
can hardly force myself TO Seievc that il did in
deed, cmanate from the pen OF an inhabi,ant of on
e"y, nuvocatng, rs does. principles injurious &
us interest, and railing against tribunal. which al
experience has proven 20 be beneficial, whose pow
ets are only sufficient TO lessen evil, which b,
their greater extension, they might eradicate.
inihc outset he arrosates the gTound, "rhat tn
gaming laws are imprnctcebe rs now interpreted
aud sought TO be enafecdihat 10 enforce them will
visor ana severity which must attend their minis
uauon, would be a violation OF taAsc solemn com
pac's and sacred Institutions, which we have beer
taught to regard as ioaning an impassable barrie
alike TO the aggression OF power aud the spirit o
oppression"
Ii the gaming laws are imprletcabe as now in
terpretej, and sought to be enforced. doeJ "A
Ciuzen" wish To make us believe that create,
enieney IN the laws would lead more fully to III,
attainment OF the desired end; that gceater loe.
ration OF this detestable ard DESTROYING yi-e would
deter men from its indulgence: that a niider pu.
nishment would thin the number Of the PLAYER.
around our Faro Tables, and reduce the crowd.
that every night all the numerous bells with which
our city is cursed that because what he term, the
inqus'toual eye Of the Grand Jury cannot nry out
and ornS to punishment every breach OF the ga
ming acis, they should lie prohibited from ,ioirs
what they can; that when the whole cannot b.
done none should: THAI because all capno, bc
brought ACCOMPLISHMENT, those who can be should 90
fee and unsca,hedl This is the obvious meanjns
OF the premises, FIRST laid down. in themselves .
sld!cient teiuiaiion Of the fabric reared thereon.
How the enforcement, OF ihess laws, with III,
risoT and sever which must attend their mni,,ra.
ton, would be a violation ct those solemn contracts
ana sacred institutions, which we have been t,usht
10 regard rs forming an impossible barrier alike to
lbe aggression oi power and the spirit of on
| am no; lawyer enough To understand OF thi.
can only judge by the plain lights OF common
reason and truths, which have come undermy own
observation, and these lead me, as | believe they
20 he mass OF our people, 10 conclusions, different
I Tom those 10 which "a CITIZEN seems 10 have
j some. All know the nature OF the laws. and the
OF the Grand Ju-y.-They know that
samoHnS clearly and expressly forbidden by dis
unct prohibition, and equally well know the manner
IN which evidence is elected. Those who commit
breach OF these laws 10 so with their ewes fully
open TO the consequences of the vice. They know
hat detection will be followed with spsc6ed nun.
ishments, ana the manner in which this detection
may ensue; md ye', with the consequences before
ther1, they rush iato the commission of an ac .
around which the most studied secrecy is throw n
winch, 10 screen from the public eve every means
that ingenuity can inven, is ,uade use o. He who
thus IS m the tace OF his counlrys laws is tn, ast
man 10 claim the protection Of "inyio able comDar,s
and sacred constitutions" The bare idea Of screen
ing man from rited and proper punishment,
winch he has knowingly de6ed, under The nome OF
throwing an impossible barrier between hin, ami
;o nssressIon oil power and the spirit foppression,
IS RIDICULOUS IN the extreme.
And on what Goes "a CiiZ.n" base his premises.
premises as futile and pa'pably srouniless as the
remarks growing out OF them. Simply upon two
extracts from our Bill Of Rights--puo,ing the stb
article, he says, THAT every man his risb, "a he
confronted with his accuser and Witnesses and Dc
mand the cause and nature OF his accusation And
IS ms denied hml Does not the very ch,rac.er Of
the presentation declare once the cause ard ma.
ture OF MS aceusatonl Is he no; aware by whom
ne - accused, and II the accusation can be proven
10 be iase IS the privilege refused hm7 Is no. the
admission that "the greater number ay Their fines
without making any Defence" sufficient pro,f that
men are not accused falsely, TOR here there IS no
iIeeUuVe 10 perjury ard also, Of a former remark
thaI they sinnef knowingly. The Grand jury Is
not, as "a Citize;' seems desi Gus 10 make vou he
heve, second edition Of the Spinish Inouisi,ion
hose justice is Administered in secret and unknown
hais where the accused knows neither his accuscrs
or judges. All s. as fair the crime 20 which ref
renee IS had. fair, open and just
ana the other extract quoted TART. Ky is, "that
excessive bail ought not 10 be required nor ep.
eessive hnes imposed, nor cruel and unusual pun
Ishment lnh Does tn s bear upon the gentle
mans Iosltionf Most assuredly not. This he
wisely does not attempt to prove, nor does he SHOW
that theTe IS even intimate connexion between this
extract and his remarks Immediately subseouen,
In no instance, that am aware OF, has "exces-
sve ban" been required; bail that was greater than
OF tho case, not only justified Lu,
absolutely rendered necessary-nor have fines in
commensurate with the offence committed been in
hicted. AS Tor ''the cruel and unusa punishmentp
SPOKEN o. think that Il must exist only in the
mind OF "a Citizen" disiempered by brooJins ov.-
the features OF the lnqusiIion Of bv.gone DDS
"n,ch seems to have presented itself TO his imnei
nauon' glowing IN such coors Of vivid horror tbst
ne actually dreams that it IS again revived under
the name Of a Grand Jury. Under his s,T,roe
perversion or opinion he informs ne Ina, ~, 80
are not limited ito the investigation of rn,tte,s NO
toTious ana public, but embrace even the secrets Of
the social fircside.n ~
Did their powers lint them to matters no,oriou,
ana PUBIC, would not they soon be reduced IN an
unsubsiantial and impoien. shadoyy-,o gar,i,o go,
rec on openly and IN public. Arc the he,ls OF the
canister and tho dens OF his species Of vice oro ~,
me entrance Of every o1c1 Are these things inoto
~ ahi P-Oi'i Humor may ever bubble con.
eernlng them, but the Tuolic see only their d,nnin
effects. The gambling houses are foriiie bv ever
ingenious precauton. -Guardsa are stationed AZ each
one oiths many doors which must lie passed h Z, =
~ Ioach the rambling room, and guards Teconso,
ire the vister through loop holes in each ono ,T,L
before Il opens FIR his admission Tn, ~, a.
~hat "A CITIZEN" honors by the name Of the "soei,l
hresde,' whose secrets are pryed ut: ror do NO,
e"et''ih SO inJurots an opinion of our citizens as
W OeleVe mat they inlrodsce hi IN play such M "a
recognized by the aci, into the bosom Of thei, fam
ies' Tut u so-If u Is the case that men IN a.
uo'om OF their families, not only contemn Tho -.
on when they rely for protection but rear NJ -;
.HI.urch ~ equal DISREGARD Of these laws. should
mere not be some tribunal compe,ent IN -. -
nizlnee e conduct so disgraceGIl sos
nor . u strange that SIN no other s.c,;c, r IL
oinle nave its poVers been so fcotf1ilv ,vb;i,,H
as here;p when here there Is so much nor oc 80
,,y""@ UT 10 restraining hand thar elsetybere
"hen Wc consider tho alarming prcva'e nce OF his
worst OF wee, c'n We Tor a moment hesitate to s,,
ln.t ne must 100 indeed deeply dyed WIN vycni
'akc ~ The gauntlet In ts defence and seek II, no,
sha'h'e u. 10 do 30 would he TO let loose ,,rar
ou, community 4 class Of men the most bea,,ices
and degraded, and TO speed the already too r,,;J
c''ie OF in7ny oil our most promising young men
10 ruin. '''''" "'0"
o.. "a Cr.zln" then vapors away in n Bso,b,,,..
1'".o sort Of Style about what be would do III be
W-e re lf0rnt which most f1uun1tcly be be- moi
/ WIN ihi' Irtailll body then tumbIes b,r,, pno1
.hs - 10 oi Rights nnd social system lni fbeo. In
V' LhIog'9 OF bis heart, offers % instruct the ne
s-.H eh"i'o'm OF tho Legislature, many OF whom
i W' "i ii'c opposed 10 the abrogluon OF anv I,,V
'.,' poses restrictions upon THAR gambling pro.
no f'i'c.'7 them 10 grant no fec in aiI Of f,,,b.
ti"5 'hc nest Ci our Commemorative Auorr,,, .
'' % nm u1descryed bounty, and should no longer
pc a."Wcf. It hes been found NECESSARY 10 ,,,rI,,
~ Ii 'n', pace man ofu high order OF n ent. and
he Ha'cd salary Is NJ ft compensation Tor The dtv
/ gcuo'med' The fees which he receives, when nd
oen 70 his regular pay do not constitute ruicien,
...u'n 'ot hN labor; not unlrequentiy being the
Cls'i V't lawyer receives, Tor oppo sing hin, in n
| his Office '' I''e'o'' %
lie thinks The fno excessive, urgioz as n r...oo
| lnnt " most usually fllis upon young men I'D by
tnoughiIessne'7 70 game, and whom the 6os would
| HHPoFcrlb, or reduce % the revolving alternative
OF in'olvcncY.-As before urged thew sinneJ 80
lhef eyes open nd must bend 10 The pinishmen,-
hoteoverlhc ine is small matter compared 10 tbsi,
9s',a OF the Faro table. Did u impoversh tb,m
they might learn an ueefuf lesoon 81 r.. -