The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-05
Ccngrc ssional Habits-The Hon. Edward A.
Hannegon.

| We find in exchange paper the subjoincd notice
| Of Mr.. flanagan, of Indiana -
The facts to the killing of his brothernlaw, Capt
Duncan, by Mr.. flanagan, are already widely known.
Mr. flanagan had been member Of the Legislature.
might have been bonorcd and useful in every relation
life but for his fearful devotion to liquor which has long
rendered him terror and disgrace to his friends and has
% length probably led him to fcions DOOM John Went
worth, who served 18th him in Congress thus comments
on his case, in his Chicago Democrat
Every who has Mr.. flanagan when under the
influence Of liquor as VIC have can believe the above
And every who has bin. and lived at the same
house with him and bis famy, We have, when he has
been total abstinence for months together will in
deed pity him. When sober he Is pure upright.
kind and as generous man there is in this country
With him there can be middle state lilo l. brute
when drunk. When sober, he will compare in all the
clements OF goodness with any man living. But he can
not drink without getting drunk.
MIR. flanagan entered the lower House of Congress
many years ago. perfectly temperate man. and in point
talents integrity and popularity, his prospects were
ilatcring those Of any young man in the United
States But Washington fashions and habits We're too
much for HIM Dissipation drove him Co private life lie
reformed became temperance lecturer and an exon-
rlaIy member of the church Ills cxhortations In times
oigreat rcyivals said to have oluaed those Of the
most eloquent diyncs living At length the old habits
were forgotten and he sent TO the lie took
his scat an exemplary Of temperance aud Christian
But again the temptations too great for him. His
ruusGics Wh himself We're gigantic, and the assistance
OF one q natures noblest OF woncn-ds wiie-securcd
for him The vTpatbicS of elybudv But lie would have
his sprees ard he lost his recollection Like pot-
Clans he left ONCE miebly poor AZ the close OF his
term aud OF Mr. Polk administration to keep 50 popular
and 50 good man from despair and ruin, although It
ont of General Taylors term the Senators upani-
mouslywh2s and acknowledgement call for Mr. Polk
10 send him to Prussia and lac appointed to that mis-
sion His unfortunate there i well known Since
ms retfn we have heard nothing Of him until this
lancholy affair
We have many young man enter Congtess vcr.
fectly temperate and leave IL totally ruincd but we
never knew who had many efforts TO save him so
Intellectually MIR flanagan We nov 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 witcs brother the best friend, his wife,
he had in the world. That he wishes he was in poor
Duncan place, we have no doubt What awful com.
ment this Is upon the evil effects Of intempcrance IL
was the first drop that ruined Hannegan lie is now
about the middle age of man. and may yet live 10 be
very useful mani but there is great probability that he
This tragedy will do much toward cnactine the Maine
liquor law In Indiana, and almost predict il will
be enacted at the next session of the Legislature.
MT. flanagan Is only one Of hundreds who have
fallen victims to the exciting and irregular life of
poiltics. There must be something in the logisa
tive career peculiarly calculated to induce habits of
mtempcrance and dissipation. 1t is full of excite
Hent--it causes irregular hours; it banshes the
wholesome restraints Of home: il leads to idlcncss;
and firm resolution i required to resist the allure
ments which cards and liquor hold out to the unoc-
cupied votary OF pleasure. AS general rule, most
OF those who spend a few winters in Congress, if
they escape becoming sots. and are NOT ruined at
The gaming table, acquire habits which render them
disconnected with, and disqualify them for tho dull
pursuits OF ordinary life. More commonly, they
become regular topers and nyeterato gamescrs. II
i not rare occurrence TO find pious elders at home
the frequent attendants Of the tipplne shops gam.
ing tables, and bawdy- houses Of Washington
The effects Of this kind Of life are not confined 10
Washington-shough there they may be more con-
spicuous than elsewhere. They arc more or less
visible IN every, legislative assemblage. Even on
the contracted theatre Of Richmond, within our own
time We hare seen those who were called promising
men, fall victims 20 the seduction Of city life
Richmond Hing, tlh inst.