Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-06-10
Hon. Edward A. Hannegan.

The facts as to the killing of his brother
10 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 Prus-
STA, aud might have been honored and use
ful IN every relation of life, but for his fear.
iul devotion To- Liquor, which has long rem
dered hun a terror and disgrace To his
friends, and has at length probably led him
10 felon's doom. John Wentworth, who
served with him ia Congress, thus cont
ments on his case N The Chicago DemOrrdt.
Every man who has seen Mr. flanagan
when under the influence of liquor as we
have, can believe the above And every
one who has seen hun aud lived Al the same
house with MN aud Is family, as we have,
when he has been total abstinence man
fnr months together, wall indeed piiy hun.
When sober, he is as pure, as upright, as
kid aud as Ienernns MA ~ there Is ia
the country. With hlm there can be no
middle state He l. hrnie when drunk.
When sober, he will compare N all the
ele nens of gnndnes with any man LIVING.
But he cannot drink without geiung drunk.
Mr.. liinneEan entered the lower II use
ot Congress many years ago, a perfectly
temper de man; aud Va pnini If talents,
integrity aud peculiarly, hts prospects we're
a, iiuerlng a. those of an, yOung man IN
the Unued States. But Washington FASH
Ipn- Ihd hipii- were too much t1r hIuI. -
ID -~lpiti "a drove h.m 10 private lite. He
reformed. became Temperance 'rctufer,
t4d an exemplary ne nber If the Gnu CHI.
It's exhnrttIlnns IA times ( great revivals
are sad Ia have eq1alrd those uf the most
cI'qIelt diviie> liyng. Al iehgih his old
hapn> Nere inrgntlen md lie Wds seut Ia
the Senate. lie iunA has seat an exempt -
~ son f Temperance aud Chr stIdu.-
Bat aLdn. the temptations Nere too great
Tor uinr. H., Slruggles with himself were
gigantic aud the assistance of one of ma
lures u,blest of women, ms wife, secured
for N the sympa,h,rs ol everybody. But
he would have his sprees, aud he lost his
reelection. Like most politicians, he left
office mIserahl, poor. Al the close OF his
term, aud of Mr.. Folks administration, TO
keep So popular aud 50 good man from
despair aud rum, although Il came oul of
General Fay l,H's term. the Senate uuanIm-
ously, Wings aud Democrats, s,gned call
{ Mr.. Polk Ia send hun to Russia, and
he vas appointed to that MISSION. HIS uu-
fortunate career there Is well known. Since
bls return, we have heard nothing Of hun
uu;l this melancholy affair.
We have seen many young man enter
Congress perfectly temperate, aud leave II
totally rulred; but we never knew one
who had sn many efforts to save him, SO IN
efecInally, as Mr.. Hanuegan. We now
have IN our mlnd three IN our own term
who killed themselves. MIR. lIannegan has
tried Ia do so several times; but he lived to
kill his wie's brother, the best friend, save
his wife, he had IN the world That he
wishes he was M poor Duncan's place, we
have no doubt. What an awful comment
this Is upon The evil effects of lnlemperaucel
1t was The first drop that ruined Hanuegan
lie is now about the middle aye OF nan
aud may yel live to be very useful man
but there Is greater probablhI, that he val
commit suicide.
Tins tragedy will do much towards en-
acting the Maine Liquor Law IN Indiana
aud we can almost PREDICT II Will he enact
ed al the next session Of l"e Legislature.