Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-12-17
CONGREGATIONAL Gamblers.

Rev. DR.. Hawks, in his THANKSGIVING
late sermon thus referred to a subiec
| which has awakened fresh interest in the
public mind since the late reports of the
auction at Pendleton's Congressional gamb.
ling house in Washington:
'Within the last few weeks only we have
had appalling evidence of the downward ten
dency of that course on which we are tray-
| cling, and it requires but chld's foresight
to see the certain end. In the high places
of the land-aye, and even among those
who sit in the highest councils, almost un>
der the caves of the very Capital, and in @
city bearing name which of itself alone,
one might think, was sufficient to kindle the
warmest glow of patriotism, what have we
not seen! The revelations of a gambling
hell have told fearful story There were
found the obligations, unpaid, of some of cur
highest legislators, for debts contracted at
the gaming table; aud the intimation of
sonic OF the public prints is no obscure one
that on important questions of the deepes
national interest, votes have been controlled
by means of the power which a professed
gambler has welded in the possession of
these moneyed obligation of so-calIcd hon.
orables''
We have no doubt OF the accuracy oe the
picture here presented. The gambling helis
Of Pennsylvania avenue are the standing at
fractions OF the national capital. The halls
Of ofPendleton and others have been for years
constantly attended by Senators and Rep
resentatives, whose success or ill success in
fighting the tiger, as it is called, would,
account for not few Of the eccentricities
of federal legislation.
About two years ago, when allegations
OF corruption against members OF Congress
were the subjects of investigation, we re-
membered hearing il stated that the mem
bers whose votes on land grants and olher
schemes were most suspected we're the most
assiduous attendants at the faro table,
Some of them were heads OF families, and
held respectable posi- e MS in society and in
the church; but the temptations of the gam
bier were too strong for the virtue of men
living away from the restraining influences
OF home.
Ofcourse men who have been plucked
to the last penny by sharpers, aud who see
ruin and degradation staring them in the
face, are in just the condition to be tamper-
ed with. Their personal independence and
sell~res2ect are gone, and their official In
tegrity necessarily follows, Forgetting
their accountability 10 their constituents,
they became the retained attorneys and
lobby agents of spectators and iobbers in
public corruption, and sell their votes to
the highest bidder. II was recently stated
by Washington correspondent that the
Kansas bill was settled over the tables of
Pendleton, and not wi,hou; a certain de gree
of probability, for great many measures of
less moment have undoubtedly beer thus
determined. We have always questioned
the efficacy of laws against gambling houses
as nusances to the community.
When, however, these establishments are
able to corrupt the sources of public law,
and to interfere with momentous public in
terests, the nuisance altuins magnitude de-
mandirg the aravesl attention. There is
not virtue enough in a Congress, some Of
whose most infiuen ntial members are so deep |
ly implicated, nor in their plant and be-
Bighted serviters, the mob, of the District Of
to suppress the disgrace, and per-
haps the only resource is in holding the more |
distinguished gamblers up to apprehension
by name--in other words, to make rogues' !
gallery OF Congressional poE,raits.-N Y |
EJe. Post,