Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-23
RICHMOND:
MORNING. FEpnu'Y ss
Gamimx Lsp-Csm1li,r H0u,.s. &c.


These proceedings have tended to direc, the pub
TIC mind to the character of the existing Gaming
Law-the mode Of It's execu,ion-and tho moral
effects OF both upon the community.
We believe il to be the decided opinion Of those
who have rejected most upon the subject, that the
law needs important reforms II the utter failure of
10 remedy the evil for which il intended.
sttne sufficient objection to it. then. beyond all
question, IL requires radical change. For, confess.
eddy, 1t has not arrested samas, and 90 far from il,
has increased il, with circumstances of aggrava-
ton.
The law imposes fines and penalties, dspropor.
toned to the offence leas, in the public es,ima-
ton. This is proved by the difficulty of getting a
jury to inaict the punishment, ex,cted by the law.
IL the penalty less, and more ssrtain the re
NEEDY would be much moro effective. We do no,
wish TO DO understood as saying aught in rslaton
OF this fashionable vice. Although We have set
tied idea, that Faro beat us, and therefore We
never go near tive know the hopes which il
b!asts-ths ruin and desolation, which il Ltins,
upon young men and upon families. But we can
not batfes ard j; more Misfortune than Grim, in
the hapess victim, who tails prey to the passion.
But tls apart.
| The law Is not only too severe, and thereby de-
fcas lis ends-but some of its provisions are i'm.
polite and unwise. That, which awards TO the
prosecuting attorney portion OF the hne, i, parti.
larly obnoxious to censure because Of il, Injurious
| tendency. IL suhjses that officer to painful and
notifying suspicious. Nothing 10 more common
than TO hear evl'dispossd persons insnuains, tina,
his zeal IN ierreitns out violations Of the law,
springs f'om no regard or the sood morals Of the
eommunhy-5ui Is dictated solely by desire 70
feather his nest. Such impuiatiors, whether iu,,
or unjust have the effect Of inhamuS the passion,
and disturbing the peaee and good order Of soei,,y
at the sme time that they take off all the moral
influence which presen,menis should carry with
them. But public ofices-h such iupu,,tion. bs
unjasi-oush not TO be exposed to them: |, cruel
injustice TO him and II they be just, he ought not
to be thus privileged 10 crafty hi, cupisity, and
thu, tempted 10y quasi tssk raziL TO foster vie,
Ia either aspect, The aw should DC changed.
As TO the Gambling Houses, which abound in
all our cities, and which constitute 80 pro.isc
, theme FOR The defamation Of raoralss-w. h.,.
sometime, thought that tbs NOS; feasbl. mode Of
nsa;ra.irus their bad Effects would be 10 lic,n,,
them aad make them public But ,h.r. ar, oh.
j.s'ions 10 this mois-vhieh, for the present, W.
pass by. We hav. mode Of our own. which !,
every body s'se would adopt would speedily eff
ee' The snd des'Fed-ard that is, never to 70 into
ons OF Aeo'--evsn, to eat terrapin sappeh
Rssp,s Ing the Gamblers. themselves. OF who's.
e1is;enee, .saah, We are only advised by general
report, We Saou n'ihin: p.rson.,y, but wha, i, 10
,heir credit. In 81 cur dealings with them. thew
have acted !. scn;.nen-Th.y have never dispu.
ted bal OF ours, and are prOmp; p-y. They NAV.
however, 5e very devils ineain.,e for susb, ~.
know.
Wa ,ahioin Communication on tn. seneralsub.
i.ci:
GANING-TAs Gr-rs jar fer ae H.,ius,
Ger, Guy Of RisilasrG
Pvonls.t, y Communication which appearsd |
10 the WIZ c Saturday, 10 give rov v5evs On a.. |
suelse; Ct 80 Gam-s Laws, more az l,r-,- N nv
nerti vc1 : Low re3een Tint prozlise bu; cir.
curns,srees, Ct peculiar ehirsc,er awe interv.n
q lh- .spsci . tbs cAss "a. besr ra,eri. eh.rs
=, sns go. accordingly eoa's-i ryseH viz
ie" ouei sussess.ons.-P.e-srE, "a before te-
msrket, hat TIE Gsn.ns Lass are irn,raetje.bI.
.. hey srs coS lnis-P-t;e3 .rj s5-kh, % 3. %
f---sc-ihnt 20 srfor-. hen via tEs rirou- 49,
severity Ehl-h nus .-i.r5 her = -is--z;i 9r vos
o v'2sIoh O ;hoss so.sr,1 eozp.cts ard s.-rtj
eonst:1Sons vhich Ne lave been laugh, 70 rerar5
q. forming N !7pssssb. bsrrier alike 10 ~. A.
grssso-. Of power and Ire soiriI Of opore.sio, =
The language OF the BIZ Of Rights (Ar;. WHY i,
iktI a rsn hsih rikhiso demand the cause and
" Nth
secus.r and wi:neses,' Sc And again (A,t.ISI
" that excessive bail ought rot to &c required 70,
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel end unusu. ng,-
ishrneni inflicted" Tn. iss; article forms on. ofl
the amendmenis 10 The Feder1l Cons;iiuion-so in
estimsbie was the principle therein emboji.j
deemed by the wisest and best men Of the nation |
But these vitality imporian, principles Of social and
political organlzaton, absolutely forming the basi.
upon which rests the fabric Of society, will bsv.
fi.d Their object " the Gaming law. are 10 he
enforced in the manner recently indicated. IfI
We are 70 have an lnquiston tribunal who.,
means OF operation secret, insioious ard
opprs,sive-whose powers arc not limited 10
the investigation OF matters notorious ,nJ ri
lie, but embrace the secret Of The social ffesds
and which NAV be made, as they have been. tho
foundation OF the most vcxai0us and oporessivc
proceeding,-let the question be fairly submitted 10
socetyi .eI be known TO the Virginia public that
such is the character and the operation OF an Ins,
tuiion, 10 whose powers they are nmenable ,sx
let u be known, because although the law row re-
cognzes this Institution, there is no other section Of
The state IN which ITS powers have been so earfuy
exhibited as here, and my life on IT, that snir1
which successfully resisted the insidious tvr,nno
that would have taken from us the trial bv Inv
that would have made US the subm ssye sui ier, n
an impsuous master, will again be seen in the prds
OF us power and iet IN the onnipotenco Of its will.
insis; on II that the character Of those Inoustion,
(Grand Jures) is not known-ihe extent of tbsr
power not being considered for IL is rarely felt II
not seen that with mpoli,ic or oppressive laws las
coIten1 me bamins laws are,) for their guide and
Justification, they may WELD a power which tbe
people Of Virginil would no. lberately ronfde n
the hands Of any man or set OF mon. The DISCERN
ing nd candid render, will not nay cannot. under
stand me rs rejecting on those WHO conpose the
Grand Jury; they are generally taken from
omong the most intelligent and respectable men Of
society. The objection is 10 tie Institution. the
magnitude Of its powers, and the liability To M on
pressys exercise Of those Dowcrs. We ni,ht nnvs
had Washington for our King-thcrc would have
been but few TO object TO ts-but there we're m l.
lions who would have suffered death sooner han
have such an institution as would f,s. hays
been necessary. The q ming laws, / repe,t.
are inconsistent with TIC spirit Of our social
organization; their enforcement incompnti "a
with The inherent rights recognised b. Ito
Bill Of Rights Of tho Contribution; and totally a,
vafancc with the di5po5lions and feelings Of an an
ligh'encd community. Every worthy, honor bic
man viii agree that gaming is attended with evil
consequences, and IS interested 10 obvltc these
con eqn7nces; md yet, no such man would for that
purnosc, oonson: % the adoption Of means the cx.
cfeito Of which mus be attended with cruelty and
oppression. ! ana not preplred at this moment 70
give my views July, II u were practicable thus 10
present them 10 the public, on the subject Of 70
lormng ihe gaming IaVA--it s subject Oh ad-
NUS Of great dysrsify Of views. ] will make some
r." sugses'ions;-ln tic first phce, the Legislature
should modify The aw, 80 as 10 10 sen or take away
leiee 70 the Commonwealth Auoi nsy-it is now
greatly disprop1rionste 10 the service rendered.
nc compensation 10 tho Commemorative Auor-
nty, &c on undesorvcd bounty, and ought no longer
70 be oIlowed and II tho LEGISLATURE should rot
think u advisable 70 lessen the fine, n result de
u | N.tfr H. r.