New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-01-08

y I
party to the WAGER, they are al controlling. His
ear and his mind, from the moment his money is
stsked, are closed against argument, or reason,
or examination, either as to the questions in.
volved, or the candidates presented for his SUI
rage. He must SO vote and so act as TO win his
/ bet, and the welfare OF the country becomes an
entirely secondary consideration He appeals
to all ovcs whom he may hope to exert al intiu-
ence, are to save himself from l2ss and help MIN
to w;n the money Of ms oppcaent, not 10 exam
inc and inq4irs how ,hey may best serve thor
county by their Yo:cs
The manner in which this evil Practice ex-
tends itself, presents another aud even stronge.
reason 10. It's more eiiectual suppression II op-
crates as Il positive coercion upon many who are
really unwilling 10 make bets, because It IS made
test, by the nemhsfs OF the coatcudIug parties.
of the confidence of each other in the strength
OF their cause and ihsr cand!daGs, and their f.
nal party success. The offer OF ne bet is often
the consequence OF heated discussion and strong
paltZan feeling, made By one who without ex.
element, would neither offer nor accept z oct up
on an election, and yet once made aid reluctant
II accepted, the same coercion prerentS el-he7
party from rtcedIDg: the wager remains, aud
they become parties 10 a bet upon tie pending
election, ana subject 10 ali the selfish and cot
r1pting infuencss which have been described,
though bOta feeling Tepugnance toths p-ac
tice. To avert these evil Influences from
such parties, and save them from the coercion OF
so enificlsl and imaginary { test Of political SIN
CERT; and confidence, II i. can be done without
violation of principle, is certainly most desira-
BILE. and would be t valuable improvement in our
legislation.
Many have suggested disfranch se-lont SIS the
penalty Of becoming patty to BET, upon he
very rational ground that he should not he peg
milted to vote al I'll, whose vote Is 10 be governed
by his private Interests and not WITH reference TO
the public guod. TINS suggestion, however pau.
sl5ly urged, we nave hot The constitutions! plwer
10 adopt The Constitution OF cur State declares
the qualifications and Disqualification OF The
voter, and does no. give II the Legislature the
right 10 subtract from the one or add 10 the other
lis whole rover III the matter Is 20 pass laws for
ascertaining tire constitutional qualifications =
The suggestion which strikes me with most force,
and as most likely 10 arrest the practice of bet
ting, is to makeit punishable c1mlEally; TO sub
ect the parties II every De- msde upon the result
OF an election, 10 indictment, and upon convlc
ton, 10 punishment by fine, 10 be graduated BY
tbs amour. of the wager, and - sil the costs Of
the prosecution II The fac be given entirely TO
the complainant, the probability OF prosecution.
and consequently OF arresiing The evil, will be
strengthened.
no valid objection in principle against such
law has occurred to ne Tne deeterious infu-
ence of this species Of gambling upon iha public
morals alone, would, 1t appears to me, Justify the
passage of a law which should make il criminal
And when its corrupt and c0rruptIng tendencies
upon our Elections, upon the free and proper ex
ercisc of the elective franchise; when It's intiu
ence to bring the improper expenditure OF money
into political canvass, and 10 apply II under
the desperate impulse of t. gambling splrlt, are
considered, cannot doubt that the moral and
political aspect of the evil viii fully JUST is
classification as crime, and It's punishment as
such
submit the suggestion, however with great
Difference, and in The full conviction that It vii
no. receive your saacton urless you deem 1t
sound in pr .ncipic and likely to prove sau,ary IN
practice. such law cannot 90 less than re-
iieye from coe.cioa those who do not make bets
from voluntary choice; as no state of public opln-
ion vii! be likely TO require of the citizen that he
should violate the law, and subject himself to m
d;ctment, to manifest his confidence in the cor
rectncss Of his political opinions, Or the success
of his political party; and if any should be rcck-
irs1 enough to c,irngc iiiin 10 cg II, !i!s refusal,
p!accd upon this ground, will admit of none Of
the differences, which constitute the COERCION at
present felt.
The use OF money at our elections, not con
necied with wagors, has become d subject l unl-
yersa complaint. The provisions of our law are
very rigid, and expressly confne the lawful use
of money upon these occasions TO =" deiraying tie
expenses OF printing and the circulation OF votes,
hand.bils, and other papers, previous 10 any such
election, or for conveying SICK, poor, or lGhrm
electors to tho polls - and any candidate ior any
elective office, or any other person. VINO shall,
with intent to promote the election OF any par;lc-
ular candidate or ticket, contribute money l"r
unv other purpose, is guilty Of misdemean' !.
punishable by fine not exceeding two hundred
and fifty dollars, or by Imprisonment not c2cccd-
ing six months. 1t Is difficult to see how Prov-
sions of law can bc more rl5ld, aud not restrict
the free publication and circulation OF political
matter, or prohibit Offices Of kindness to The SICK,
poor or infrm; and yet 1t Is manifest that The
evils md mischefs intended to be prevented by
the present law, vet exist, and arc rapidly ana
alarmipqly augmeating. 1t is impossible to pre-
sumo that the contributors expect, or intend, 10
keep within their own contEol, or even to retain
personal knowledge Of the uses 10 "nich tlisIf
money is applied, as vast purses are frequently
made up for the avowed purpose OF wlce oistHou-
ton throughout The Counties of The State, aud
no, u meet the lawful expenses of he election in
the County whe the contributors reside, anu are
voters. The forms OF the law may be observed
in the subscription papers, but tie spirit OF The
llws disrcgarded, if not expressly departed fon''
when the application and use OF the ii0n:y is; IS
placed beyond the power and knowledge OF him
who gives it,
1t is worthy of consideration whether con'rl-
buttons in money, for any purpose OF e&pendI-
tu.e, even within HE terms OF the present law,
may not be safely confined to the county. If the
object is publication, let the contributions be IN
publications and not in money, and the e1Pandl-
ture is brought within the terms and provisions
of the law, by the act of him VINO contributes
the money It viii scarcely be contended that
the sick, or poor, or intirn, Of any one OF our
counties, will be kept from the poll, II money is
not contributed from another county TO deiray
the expense OF conveying them to 1t. Every
county has citizens enough, able and willing to
i n