The Nevada journal., 1852-07-24
Congressional Habits. 1.-The Hon. Edward
Hanncgan. rr

Indiana. fesI III y
The facts as to the killing Of hi
brother-in-law, Capt Duncan, by M
Hanncgan, are already widely know
Mr.. Hannegan had been q member
the Legislature, both houses of Congress
Ambassador to Prussia, and might has
been honored and useful in every reli
tion of life, but for his fearful devotio
to liquor, which has long rendered hiE
a terror and disgrace to his friends, AM
has at length probably led himhto
felon's doom. John Wentworths swh
served with him in Congress, thus com
meuts on his case in his Chicago Dcmd
craft AW 81 wFl
Every man who has seen Mr.. Hannd
gan when under the influence of liqu0j
as we have, can believe the above AMI
every one who has seen him, and livsI
at the same house with him and h1
family, MS we have, when he has bec|
q total abstinence man for months I'd
gethor, will indeed pity him. WhcI
sober he is as pure, as upright, as kind
and as generous u man us there is in It'd
country. With him there can bc Il
middle state. lie is II brute when drunu
When sober, he will compare in all til
elements of goodness with any man lii
ing. But he cannot drink without cej
ting drunk.
MIR. Hanncgan entered the lowd
House of Congress many years ago,
perfectly temperate man; and in poir
of talents integrity, and popularity, h
prospects were rs fattering as those
any young man in the United State
But Washington fashions and habi
sero too much for him. Dissipati
drove him to private life. He reforme,
became temperance. lecturer, aud. q
exemplary member of the church. H
exhortations In times Of great revivn
are said to have cqualled those of tl
most eloquent divincs living. At lengt|
the old habits werc forgotten, and Il
was sent TO the Senate. lie took h
seat an exemplary son OF Temperance
and a Christian. But again the tenn
tations were too great for him. H
struggles with himself were gisanti}
and the assistance Of one of nature
noblsst of women--his wife secured "a
him the sympathies OF every body. Bd
he would have his sprocs, and he lol
his recollection. Like most politician
he left Office miserably poor. At IN
close Of his term, and Of Mr. Polk's ad
ministration, to keep SO popular and
good man from despair and ruin, q
though it came out of General Taylor
the Senators unanimously-whigs am
democrats-signed q call for MIR. Poll
to send him to Prussia, and he was ap|
pointed to that mission. His unfurtunatd
career there is we'll known. Since hii
return, we have heard nothin. Of him
until tnis melancholy affair.
We have seen many young man
enter Congress perfectly temperate, and
leave it totally ruined; but we never
knew one who had 30 many efforts 70
save him, so Intellectually, us Mr.. Han.
negan. We now have in our mind three
in our own term who killed themselves.
Mr.. Hannegan has tried to do so seve-
raj times bu: he lived to kill his wife's
brother, the best friend, savo bis wife,
he had in tho world. That he wishes
he was in poor Duncan's place, We have
no doubt. What an awful commen.
this is upon the evil effects of intempe-
rance 1t was the first step that ruined
flanagan. He is now about the middle
age of man, and may yet live to bo q
very useful man; but there is great pro
bability that he will commit suicide. q
This tragedy will do much towards
enacting the Maine liquor law in Indi.
ana, and we can almost predict it will
he enacted ut the next session Of tho
Legislature.
Mr. Hannegan is only one of hun
dreds who have fallen victims to the ex-
citing and irregular life Of politics.
There must be something in the legis-
lative career peculiarly calculated to
induce habits of intempcr ince and dis
sipation. 1t is full of excitement--it
causes irregular hours; it banishes tho
wholesome restraints of home; 1t leads
to idleness; and firm r.solu tion is re-.
quircd to resist tho allurements which
cards and liquor hold out to the unoc-
cupied votary Of pleasure. As % gene
raj rule, most Of those who spend 4 few
winters in Congress, if they escape be-
coming sots, and are not ruined ut tho
gaming table, acquire habits which rem
dr. them discontented with, and dis.
qualify them for. the dull pnrsuits Of
ordinary life. More commonly, they
become regular topers and inveterato
gamesters 1t is not rare occurrence
to find pious elders at home the frequent
attendants Of the tippliRg shops gaming
tables, and bawdy houses at Washing.
ton.
The effects of this kind of life are oot
confined to Washington = though they
may be more conspicuous than else
where. They are more or loss visible in
every legislative assemblage, and many
promising men fall victims to tho seduc-
tions Of city life.
Doctor, do you think tight lacing
= 4 ~ A