Washington telegraph., 1852-06-23
Hon. Edward A. Hannegan.

The facts as to the killing of his brother-in-
law, Capt. Duncan, by Mr.. Hannegan are
already widely known. Mr.. Hannegan had
been a member of the Legislature, both
Houses Of Congress, ambassador to Prussia,
and might have been honored, usefulin every
relation of life, but for his fearful devotion
to Liquor. John Wentworth, who served
with him in Congress, thus comments on
his case in his Chicago Democrat.
Every man who has seen Mr.. Hannegan
when under the influence of Liquor as we
have, can believe 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 abstinence man for
months together, will indeed 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. He is brute when drunk
But cannot drink without getting drunk.
Mr.. Hannegan entered the lower House
of Congress many years ago, a perfectly
temperate man; and, in point of talents, n
tegrity and popularity, his prospects were
as fattering as those of any young man in
the United States. But Washington fash
ions and habits were too much for him.
Dissipation drove him to private life. He
reformed, became temperance lecturer and
an exemplary member of the Church. His
exhortations in times of great revivals are
said to have equaled those of the most elo-
quent divines living. AT length his old
habits were forgotten and he was sent to the
Senate. He took his seat an exemplary
son of Temperance and Christian. But
again, the temptations were too great for
him. His struggles with himself we're gi-
gantic, and the assistance of one of nature S
noblest of women, his wife, secured for him
the sympathies of everybody. But he would
have his sprees, and he lost his reelection.
Like most politicians, he left Office misera-
bly, poor. At the close of his term, and of
Mr.. Polk's administration, to keep SO popu.
lar 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 Mr.. Polk to
send him to Russia, and he was appointed
to that mission. His unfortunate career
there is well known Since his return, we
have heard nothing of him until this melan.
choly affair.
We have seen many a young man enter
Congress perfectly temperate, and leave it
totally ruined; but we never knew one who
had so many efforts to save him, so inefect-
ually as Mr. Hannegan We now have in
our mind three in our own term who killed
themselves. Mr.. Hannegan has tried to do
SO several times; but he lived to kill his
wife's brother, the best friend, save his wife,
he had in the world. That he wishes he
was in poor Duncan's place. we have no
doubt What an awful comment this is up
on the evil effect of intemperance 1t was
the first drop that ruined Hannegan. He
is now about the middle age of man, and
may yet live to be very useful man; but
there is greater probability that he will
commit suicide.
This tragedy will do much toward enact
ing the Maine Liquor Law in Indiana; and
we can almost predict it will be enacted at
the next session of the Legislature.