Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-10
GAMBLING.

One of the most common infrmities Of human ma.
ture is its propensity to gamble One of the great
est evils that have cursed the world is gambling
And general is it in society that is less preached
against by mOralists, and less restrained by law,
than any of the Ofenses to which communities are
subjected. True, s'goOd society" everywhere alb
hOrs petty gsmbling-the hazard of the die or tn,
vulgar chance Of cards. Christian people justly re
gard the good order of society endangered when.
ever petty gambling is encouraged or allowed The
proftless fellow who, unwilling to follow the pur
suits of honest toll, CANDLES by the small AMI thus
lches support from other peoples labor, is an OBJ
ject of such general dislike as to be mathematical by
church and State, as an enemy to good morals and
social order.
But the weaknesses of human nature as often
manifest themselves in those who govern the world
as the less fortunate who are governed in it, And
thus it is that both Church and State while abhor-
ing small crimes have often been made to smile ap-
provingly upon large Thousands of vulgar
criminals have hung upon the jibbet for numbering
by the small who would have been cauonized as
public benefactors if they had murdered by the
large So with Offenses of different degree SOcie-
ty often makes examples of those Who from great
necessity, steal sv of the comforts of life; while
it pstronizes the scoundrel whose genius, rising
superior to small things, enables him by fraud TO
enrich himself upon the poverty of others.
We see this principle illustrated in every relation
Of life The humble farmer or mechanic who I'M
worthily approprates TO himself small proportion
of his neighbours goods, justly fOrfeits the esteem
and respect of the community in which he lives;
while the gambling banker Spectator, who fails
for thousands may still enjoy the smiles of The pub
lie, if he is only dishonest enough TO feather well
his own nest before he impoverishes others.
All that the Bible has said of the snfulness Of
man and the wickedness of the world is constantly
being proven The best of are struggling inces
sanity against temptations, and ever ready to
listen to the whisperings of deceitful conscience,
striving with US to coniound right and wrong Hence
the extent TO which the world has given approval OF
the spirit and practice of gambling until pervades
every nook and corner in society. Commerce,
Trade and Finance have given way to it, and the
laws ofthe country have sanctionedt that we have
now fastened upon society, one grand and splendid
system of gambling; demOralizing people, per
verting the officers of the church, and corrupting
and destroying the very vitals Of republican in
situations.
Unwilling as we may be to admit it, unpleasant as
it may be to reflect upon, large proportion Of the
business OF the country is conducted upon princi-
pies of gambling, aud mere gambling, and cannot
be changed in its effects upon public morals, from
being called by names les, offensive to the ear.
The labor Of One-half the world supports the IA
illness Of the other half 1t will be so; and though
not approved may be tolerated. But, when the uu-
productive classes of society not satisfied with
8 support, and seek to enrich themselves by mpov-
ershing labor, it becomes important matter with
the guardians of society to how far the laws of
the country sanction and encourage them.
The banking system is the main source Of all the
gambling in the country It creates false ideas in the
minds of the people, as to what real money is, and
the laws that govern it. 1t ncucates false ideas as
to what the real wealth of the country is. 1t de-
ranges exchanges by its cOnlractions and expau-
sons, to keep the value Of property constantly
huctusting and thereby produces brOOde ofspecu-
lEtors whose business is to gamble upon society 1t
creates false and perniciOus system of credit; loan
ing, not value, nor its real representative, but
mere promise TO pay, based upon confidence, and
thereby encourages men without capital to gamble
and speculate upon the products of the country, ap
propriating the larger share without labor, to their
Ii does away with that rigid integrity :
between men in business transactions, which should |
be sn essential part Of every mans capital 1t en-
courages men 10 be observers Of the letter, in
stead Of the spirit of the law 1t stimulates hazards
and risks in business with the hope of large gains
instead Of relying upon correct principles with
tainty and small gains. 1t gives deceptive view to
the apparent increase of wealth, thereby encoura-
ging extravaganza, idleness and bankruptcies. 1t
tempts to dishonesty, fraud and falsehood, Of
fering larger prizes to adysu urers, than it
does to straightforward integrity. 1t corupts the
merchant, commercial men and tradesmen, bringing
revulsiOns aud panics upon society at times when
everything should be prosperous and healthy.
1t is for the better portion of the public deter
mine how long they will cOuntenance and encourage
this gambling spirit of the times, and multiply the
sources from which it springs. Unless looked to at
an early day. the evils of the present sre trifing in
comparison with what they will be in the future.