Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-03

Hon. Edrdrd Il. Hdnnegan.-The facts MS
to the killing OF his brotherin law, Capt Duncan,
by Mr.. Hannegan, are already widely known
Mr.. Hannegan had been member of rho Jeo;s-
lature, both Houses of Congress, Ambassador to
russia and might have been honored and useful
III every relation OF life but for his fearful devo-
ton to Liquor, which has long rendered him n
terror and disgrace to his friends, and has at length
probably led him to felon's doom. John went
worth, who served with him in Congress, TINS
comments Oh his case in his Chicago Democrat:
| Every man who has seen Mr. Hannegan when
under the influence of liquor as we have, can be-
lieve the above. And every one who has seen
| him and lived at the same house with him and his
| family, as we have, when he has been total alb
! stinence man for months together will indeed
1 pity him. When sober he is as pure, as upright
as kind and as generous man as there is in this
! country. With him there can be no middle
| state. lie Is q brute when drunk When
sober he will compare in all the elements of good
ness with any man living. But he cannot drink
without getting drunk.
Mr.. Hannegan entered the lower House ofCop
| gress many years ago, perfectly temperate man:
and, i'll point of talents, integrity and popularity
| his prospects as fattering as those of any
young man in the United States But Washing
| ton fashions and habits were too much for him.
| dissipation drove him to private life. He re-
| formed, became a temperance lecturer and an ex-
emplary member of the Church. His exbortations
IN times ogreat revivals are saidt have equalled
those of the most eloquent divines living. At
length the old habits were forgotten and he was
sent to the Senate. He took his seat an exem-
plary Son of Temperance and Christian But
again the temptations were too great for him. His
struggles with himself were gigantic, and the as
slstance OF one OF natures nobest of women his
wife, secured tor him the sympathies of evelybo-
dy. But he would have his sprecs, and he lost his
recollection. Like most politicians he left office
miserably poor. At the close of his term, and of
Mr. Folks administration, to keep so popular and
so good man from despair and ruin, although it
came out of General Taylor's term the Senators
unanimously, Wings and Democrats, signed call
for MIR. Polk to send him to Russia, and he was
appointed to that mission. His unfortunate career
there is we'll known. Since his return we
have heard nothing of him until this melancholy
affair.
we have seen many young man enter Con-
gress perfectly temperate, and leave it totally ruin
ed; but we never knew who had so many efforts
nnade tosave him, soinefectualy, as Mr.. Hannegan
We now have in our mind three in our own term
who killed themselves Mr.. Hannegan has tried
to dose several tmes but he lived to Kill his wifes
BROTHER the best friend, save his WIFE he had in
the world. ! hat he wishes he was in poor Dun |
cans place, we have no doubt. What an awful |
comment this is upon the evil effects of intern
perance. 1t was the first drop that ruined Han
negan. He IS now about the middle age of man,
and may yet live to be very useful man: but |
there is great probability that he will commit SUI
icide
his tragedy will do much toward enactipg the |
Maine Liquor Law in Indiana and we can almost
predict it will be enacted at the next session of
the Legislature.