Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-13
For M. Enquirer

For Hs enquirer.
Having lately witnessed the disclosures Of j.
r. Green, the reformed gambler, and listened al
lcnlively 10 several OF his lectures, am prompt
ed 10 offer Tor publication lew remarks, which
occur 10 me as just, alike to him and 10 others
who have been, or are engaged in exposing The
Nofu vice.
No scheme of fraud which the wicked wit OF
man has praclised, is more cunningly devised or
sedulnusIy concealed. than is tha! which is car
ried on al cards. Ii finds one OF its covers in that
trait Of human nature, which ceigh;s in The belief
which almost every man INDUCES, that though
other men MAJ be dishonest, yetlhey, whom he
has selected as his companions, are Certainly
above reproach The guilty gambler arfuliy
lakes gentle hold on that honorable sentiment oil
his victims, and uses il with affected meekness,
10 stimulate their pride of sagacity, until his VIC
Tins themselves, even in The anguish oil ruin,
will, with zeal, defend their desiroyers. There
is another trait OF human nature 10 which The
DESTROYER appeals with no less success. II IS The
dread o the vic!m 10 become known 10 have
been SO imprudent as 10 have lost his estate al
cards The man who has lost his estate ana
his credit by securilyship or speculation,
will confess il bul, on The agony OF telling thai
he has been ruined al ca ds, how great! Gather
ing The energies Of those traits 10 his assistance
in Silent array, lhr gamblers panoply IS COM
plrie in the mechanical conllivances and impal-
pable dex;erily with which he executes his meta
lIvus schemes. How, then, is his ART 10 be e1-
posed3 OF necessity, il! can only be exposed by
practising Of tfeachery or deception on the part
Of him who succeeds in gaining such knowledge
OF The art as will enable him TO expose il. 10
gel that knowledge, one mus; be taught u, beiEg
by his teacher supposed 10 intend 10 practise
il ior gain as his vocation, proiessediy as
an exhibitor OF games or more secretly al
short games, and iE The lauer character, with
some color of title, claiming the livery OF
a gentleman; or, else, in The only other way,
he who would gain such knowledge oil the
art as will enable him 10 expose il, must acquire
that knowledge by an irksome exercise OF his
wits TO discover the ART without aid OF lessons br
Others ucucaied II one gels the knowledge by
being taught il by others, he canno, disclose
il Tor the public good without being charge
able with reachery 10 his teacher; or, il IN
assisted by Others, he discover il, he must,
willis, maxim. the discovery, have acted The
part OF spy. In either case, when pubic
disclosure is made, an attempt follows 10 put
down The man who has made The effort 10 expose
The vice-an attempt started by The gambler him.
seli bu, acting under cover in which h IS assist
ed b. his deuded victims; and The attempt is
most likely 10 conslS OF all appeal 10 thai nono-
rabie indignation WhicE TtSaby fHH 20 tne 7o'0
NJ mankind attaches TO lreachery and deception
in The ordinary transactions Of society. Now, the
question arises ought not the reachery or he de-
ccp'icn pracliset, in getting the knowledge and
exposing the vice OF card-playing, ard The schemes
0. fraud al other games, 10 he excused-that lrea-
cherry, or that deception, or both, in the eSiraor-
ainary exieencles Of the case, being absolutely
necessary 10 be praclised, in order 10 obtain The
knowledge oil the vices requisite 10 Heir expo
sureq and ought not the conduct Of The man who,
in either way, Cor both combned,) has enabled
himself TO make the exposure, when II can be
effec,ualIy done by no other means, to be applaud.
I'd? Otherwise, the secret scheme Of fraud must
co on, multiplying lis victims, disaslTously 10
domestic happiness, and inlnriously 10 he public
ennnnmY. Y.