The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-05-20
Lottery Contracts - Decision Of th,
United States Supreme Court.
A RECENT Washington dispatch an
nounces the following Supreme Court
6ocision.

A RECENT Washington dispatch an
nounces the following Supreme Court
decision:
The State of Mississippi This was suit
brought by the State for the purpose of sup
pressing the lottery company known as 1.-The
Manufacturing Aid Society,"" This corpora
ton was duly chartered by an act passed by
the Legislature of mississippi on the 10th Of
was passed to give eect to Art. L. Sec. IL Is Of
the State Constitution of 1868, which pro-
hibited the AUTHORIZATION of lotteries
companies already authorized. The Circuit
Court, upon information filed by the Attorney
General, and in view of this prohibiting act,
entered Judgment g;a Of custer aganst tie re-
by the Supreme Court. The case il now
brought here for review upon the ground that
the act Of the State Legislature of July 9. 1870.
making It unlawful to conduct lottery in the
state OF Mississippi is unconstitutional and in
valid, because it impairs the obligation Of q
contract entered into by the State when it
The Court holds: |
!. A contract which a State enters into when
1t grants a charter to private corporation is
undoubtedly under protection of the Federal
2. That the Legislature Of Mississippi did
undoubtedly enter into contract with this
corporation, the condition of which was tho
payment to the State by the Lottery Com
receipts.
3. That. although the Lottery Company was
thus duly chartered, the Legislature which
the no 81 ns 70
the regulation of all matters affecting public
health and public morals. The supervision of
both these subjects Of governmental power is
continuing In its nature, and they are to be
dealt with as the special exigencies OF the
moment may require. The Cove: nment is
Organized with view to their preservation,
and cannot dfvest itself of the power to pro-
vide for them. That lotteries are demoraliz-
ing in their effects, no matter how carefully
regulated, cannot, in the opinion of this Court,
Union where they are tolerated, and Congress
has enacted q special statute, the object Of
which is to close the mails against them. This
lotteries are proper subjects for the exercise
OF the states governmental or police power.
The contracts which the Federal Con tftution
Fights not soss sSss
belong to the latter class. They are species
OF gambling and wrong in their influences.
a society built
such foundation would almost Of necessity
bring forth a population of spectators and
the s OF whss
tons of others. Certainly. the right to stop
them is governmental, and to be exercised at
ell times by those in power at their discretion.
ANY one, therefore, who accepts lottery
charter does 80 with the implied understand
ing that the people in their sovereign capaci-
ty and through the properly-constftuted ari-
thorities may take it back at any time when
the public good shall require, and this whether
It be paid for or not. He gets in legal effect
the terms named for q specified time, unless
sooner abrogated by the sovereign of the
State. It IL q permit, good % against existing
laws but subject to future legislation or Com
stftutiOnal control or withdrawal.
Decree affirmed with costs.