5 place the eyes of the virtuous, and to temptation in the pathway of the innocent? - %
Is it were of the nature of vice, or to set up finger posts pointing to the localities of its favorite resort? The object of a system of licenses as a measure of police is, I suppose, to place all gaming houses under direct supervision, because professional villains of bad character frequent them, and because gaming is fruitful of disorder and crime. I think that the object will not be attained by these means. The licensed houses would be less reluctant to call in the police in case of disturbance, but the lower classes of gambling shops, where alone serious disturbances are to be apprehended, will probably not be licensed at all.
Thieves and pirates are too wise in their generation to make a needless public exhibition of themselves, and means will not be wanting to them by which their tastes may be gratified as secretly as before.
6. Past experience in regard to gaming houses serves to print to the conclusion that the best policy lies in a middle course between undue severity and open toleration: to refrain from molesting such as show so much respect for the law as to abstain from its open violation, but to punish all such as force themselves upon the public attention or are the occasion of risk or serious disturbance.