The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-06-10
Association for the Suppression of
Gambling.

N"N'"'iOh 'O' Shc suppression Oh
: Gambling.
= The third anniversary of this Society was
celebrated on Thursday evening at the Tab
. ernacle, before a small audience. K. N. Ha-
vens, Esq President of the Association. cali
ed :he meeting to order at u O'Clock, and
DIR. Beranger, of Jersey City, opened the
meeting with prayer; after which the Chair
man made brief statement Of the present
.. condition ard future prospects of the Socie-
, ty. The expenses Of the Society during the
past year amount to s2,436,l6. Ofthis sum.
there has been received during the same
time, by collections and contributions. ST.
$50 35; leaving a balance of $3.50 81 for
which the Society stands indebted, and it is
hoped will be made up by collections. The
Secretary, Mr.. Burleigh, now read an ab-
stract Of the
Annual REPORT.
: Nearly three years ago a few gentlemen
) seeing, with deep concern, the unrestraped
; gambling practices prevailing in our city and
country generally, met and organized The
Association for the Suppression of Gambling,
which tonight celebrates the third anniversa
ry Of its eXistance.
| This Association has sought no other OBJ
ject than the welfare of society; neither
wealth nor fame lay in their prospect, nor no.
iitcal Prefermcnt-that other grand object of
pursuit with many Of the great and inhue1.-
tial. Their desire was to stay the sweeping
tide OF ruin that flowed from the halls of the
grinbiers, and thrown in the wav of the teme-
ted YOUTH for whose feet the harlot, Chance,
spread her deceptive or concealed snares mo-
tives OF sufficient potency to hold them in
check and turn their steps into the narrow
but strait path of virtue and honesty. They
appealed to the endangered youth TO save him
self from financial and mortal ruin by turning
his back, at once and forever, upon all gamb-
ling associations nor did they appeal in vain.
Very many ofour enterprising young business
men-as themselves admit, or their intimate
friends declare-are to-day better and more
worthy OF public confidence, than when, two
or three years ago, they unthinknr!y, per-
haps, spent much OF their time and money at
the faro banks or at card playing in he.els and
boarding houses.
They have appealed to Constitutional Con-
stitutions and Legislature in several States,
with cheering success; four States having al
ready introduced into their organic laws
clause prohibiting the drawing Of lotteries af-
ter the expiration Of present grants; one
State having adopted an aEti-gambling law,
while FIVE others have had the enactment of
similar law under consideration with encour-
aging prospects OF early success.
Tney have appealed to Judicial authorities
to aid in rescuing society from the crime and
curse of gamJng-houses and the iottery and
policy buSin ss-.or informal concerning this
latter appeal the Executive Committee beg
to refer the public to their last Annual Re.
port, assuring all who may be interested to
know, that many things have led US to expect
} and hope for the better results in the future,
the authorities beginning to be awake to
the evil of gambling in the former In the
more quiet and unobtrusve part of their work,
that of personal efierts to reclaim young men,
and especially those in business, from gam
bling practices. The Association have s-
lently accomplished an amount OF good, upon
= which it is grateful to cok back. 1t is their
past success in this department., rather than
/, in any other, that stimulates them to future
endeavors and nerves them to bear the scorn
of bitter and wicked opposers. and that severe
: iniction the GOODNESS and Indifference of
S pretended friends
: Encouraged by what God has already wrought
i By and through their humble and feeble en-
deavors, the Association has continuted
5 hitherto, and now purposes to go forward
/, while there is a demand for such an organiza-
: ion, and generous public sustain them by
: their pecuniary and moral support.
e The Executive Committee, in presenting their
d third report, find many matters of rejoicing in
e glsncing over the field of retrospecton; and
= although they have been, at times, sadly dis
C heartened by the strengihand formidableness
:, of the gambling vice and the apparent uncon.
j. Germ Of many Of the people, and even of tho
/ sworn conservators of laws and public NOR
: ais they see no sufficient cause for the cessa-
ton of hostilities.
In the execution of existing laws, we re-
e gret to know and feel there is but little occa-
J. sion for congratulaton. Not a few gambling
cases are however in course Of prosecution,
&c and must soon be decided.
% In the prosecution of these cases there has
y been serious difficulty in procuring witness
y es who may be relied upon to testify in all
e stages of the trial. This inConvinience will
T. never be entirely removed until some more
4 speedy course of trial Of criminal cases is a.
" dopted in the State.
j. Those persons whose principles, Cor lack
'e of principle,) allow them to buy lottery tick
~ els or policies habitually, or frequent gamb-
u ling houses, SO possessing themselves Of facts,
ii are not the best witnesses we could desire.
H. Especially is this true when they are actua,sd
or in making complaint, by no higher motive
le thnn retaliation for real or imagined wrongs,
is when shey can be choapIy bought, more
r. oheaply frightened. The trial day comes
st round and they ara missing from the stand
er The inevitable delay, in most instances Of tri
ic ais, renders it impossible for certain witness