Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-24
Social Corruption at Washington.

We nave seen OF latc Tue ptuPosiii III
more than one quarter, that something
should be done towards reforming the So
eial abuses of the City Of Washington.
The city has been for years so without law,
and abounds SO in temptations to the
grossest and vilest dissipation, that it Is
high time that the matter were taken In
hand by the press. Those familiar with
vice in all the capitals of Europe, say,
that in none does it assume so coarse aud
cynical form, with men Of the same So
cial standing, as in Washington. Among
public men or public deputies gathered
together for the winter, there will be una
voidably much indulgence, or much license.
But the degrading and vulgar form which
vice assumes at the capital of this country,
is almost incredible. ANY one who hears
frequent anecdotes Of the boon compan.
ship of certain gay Senators and Repre-
sentatives, has heard enough in ali con-
science to revolt him and convince him
of the outrageous improperly Of sending
such persons to our national councils.
Much Of this dissipation, and with it
much of the official corruption and out
side pressure rascality which weighs go
heavily on the transaction of public busi-
ness, could be diminished had Washington
GOOD laws we'll administered and were the
attention of the United States drawn to
the temptations to which Hen who have
the lingering Of public money, or who are
beset by bribery, are exposed, Is place
where gambling is so common, that every
broken down black-les regards it as his
,I... .-a L--. -----., - sd .o.1i.ivu ~
receive men most of whom have been
obliged to assume the character of good
fellows and fast men, to ensure their cleo
ton? Hardly. The man who is away
from his family, and who is surrounded BY
temptations, is most apt to yield. And
while on tho subject Of gambling houses,
let the reader take the following relative to
/" Pendleton's" which We find in the Wash
ington correspondence Of the New York
Courier d Enquirer:
"The largest amount ever won from the
proprietor in this house, was ST., 900, from
stake Of 500. The largest amount ev-
er lost BY one person, at one time, was
So, 500, but this was the case of Collec-
tor of the Customs at lake port, who had
lost on previous occasions. over sl00-00n
If that Collector, or many other men,
had not, owing to the cupabls neglect OF
law, found facilities to gamble, he might
not have been thief NJ Representative
at Washington is free from iusiuuating
temptations of bribery. 4 III men are not
naturally contemplate enough to accept
bribes, bu. losses at gambling blind the
eyes and deaden the feelings. No vice
bruializes and degrades, more than gam
bling. 1t draws away the intellect from
all higher exertion, it brings out coarse
and brutal passions and dishonest sbrswd-
ness, and, in short, prepares the soul for
any crime. The idea of q mans passing
from the fever and excitement of gambling
hells to deliberation on the affairs Of the
nation, is monstrous.
If the moral members of the public
wish to produce very great effect at
small outlay, let them investigate this mat
ter at Washington, and circulate the results.
1t may astonish some of the constituents
here and there, to learn what habits and
associates SOME of these gentlemon are.
The subject would not be bad one for a
shrewd writer desirous of producing work
of the most startling sensation kind
possible d!