Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-23
Gambling IN Neutrality-suspicious. at
the Faro Table.

The auction at a well known gambling
house, in Washington, attracted large
crowd. among which was liberal proportion
of cripoline.
The house, itself, stands conspicuously on
Pennsy lvsnia avenue, within two squares Of
the Capitol, and on the frequented side of the
street. Ills as we'll known to citizens and
strangers az the White House, and yet has
mysteriouslv escaped the optics Of the police
for years. The furniture, appointment and
tone Of the whole place were without the least
approach to retirement, and not the first
symptom ofluxurious living was visible any
wbere. 1t is impossible that this resort ss
seen, could have presented any temptation
but for those swayed by thu passion Of gam
bling, or that other, and if possible, worse
class, who are willing to be the pimps aud
dependents of these bells. The uutorety
which the house acquired was reflected Ell.
tirely by the character, of its visitors, too
many of whom were in public lie, aud from
the bold which the proprietor necessarily Oh
tanned upon his victims, through the iudul-
gence of his vice The published accounts
concerning the success of the chief character
in this Pandemonium, like the description OF
the concern itself, were exaggerated in every
respect. He is said to have died, leaving
$50, 900 Of other peoples, money as the bulk
Of his fortune. AS artif ,al display was near
ly as much part of the game as cards, his
winnings were appropriated mainly to that
on the avenue which excelled all rivalry in
decoration, and may be said to have dehed
competition. Those who claim to be well in
formed, say thGt bad luck" bad followed
him for several years, and that other "estab-
ments" carried eff the profits. These gam.
bling resorts have Increased fearfully at
Washington, within the last ten years, and
it is notorious that they have done more to
demoralize legislation than ali the other de-
basing and curruptipg Influences which
have been brought to bear upon weak,
venal, or needy members of Congress. was
deeply impressed by the silent but eloquent
witnesses OF this fact, when the drawers Of
Pandleton's desk were opened yesterday, and
numerous bills relating to schemes b,tore
Congress where exposed to pnbllc view
The misery and wretchedpess and degrade
ton inflicted upon men aud families by these
bells, are appalling, and even the imperfect
disclosures which have reached NE acclden-
V,
which would astonish the couDtryif expUsed.
Some Of these gamblers, aud others who are
concerned as capitalists With them, are open
ly employed as lobby agents, from there sup
posed ability to control votes throug b ooli-
cations incurred By members, and the fact
is one of cUtnmon town talk, that their tables
are the daily resort of large class OF such
voters, in preference to the hotels.
Strange as it may seem, the Influence has
30 ramified that it was feared, at one time,
in the early stages OF the Kansas struggle,
last session, when the House was nearly
equally divided, that the scale would be
turned by u turn OF the screw upon particu-
lar members who were known TO ne In the
power Of the gamblers. lsmay well / c ask
ed where are We drifting, when such tnlngs
CO n be, and 20 unrebukec?-PhM North Am.