Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-05

from the Post lOaices. haze generally acted
from pure motives, and with a reference 10
waa, they consider the best interest Of the
country.
They do not ask Congress 70 impose certain
duties on any portion Of tiiizens which may
interfere with their religious opinion>, but TO
relieve from the prrformsnre of such du'ie,.
The transportation Of the Mail is grea, Co
vernmrntal operation, and the petitioner, be-
lieve il should be- suspended on the So bath,
and the Post Ofi,es closed, GU, nf rrspeci o
the day, as well Is the business OF the Legisla-
tive, Judicial, and Executive brarche, OF the
Government. Thev did no., probably. cons'.
der that greater difficulty puld arts, 10 drsig.
mating the frs, day ct ~ week IS he Chris
tian Sabbath, for this purpose, than had bee"
incurred in the instances referred to. It's not
considered, by the Co'nm,itee, that the peti.
TONERS ask the introduction OF any new princi-
pie into our laws, but The e1Ieosion OF one
" hch has already been recognized In the
policy Of the measure desired, the Committee
believe the petitioners are mistaken, blu, III, y
do not consider hr attempt made by them as
tending tc form thu justly odious combination
Of Church and state.
In The operations Of the mail, EVERY part of
the Union has a dee p interest-our agricultu-
raj, commercial. manufacturing, and political
concerns. are all dependant, more or less, on
this branch Of the Government II is consi-
derrd On objeci Of primary importance to DIS
tribute intelligence through the mail. in less
time than il can be disseminated in any other
manner. From he letter Of the Postmaster
General annexed to this report i, will be seen
thai he has steadily pursued his policy.
On the important lines Of communication,
daily mails are established, and great exp. dition
is required The improvements which have
been made in this respect; the general opera
tons and entire condition Of the d partment
since it was placed under its present head,
have elevated is character, and greatly extend
ell its usefulness. BY The anBsXed leier il will
be seen, that the disconinuanct of The S4bbaih
mail will not only deprive our important COM
mercial towas, Of the seventh mail, but that
great delays musi occur in the other six week
ly mails. The injurious consequences OF these
delays are easily seen.
If al New York, Cor instance, Intelligence be
received on Saturday evening, ola grea, in.
crease Of price in England or elsewhere, Of
-four, cotton or any other staples OF the cuun-
try, the mail will not convey this intelligence
TO the South Or West unIil Monday morning,
after lapse of more than24 hours from The time
i, was received; and duder the most favorable
circumstances, every one of the six mails must
be DELAYED day on rou,e Of a few hundred
miles BY he ,ntervrn,ion of the Sahba'h,
Is il to br believed tina, uren uf enterprise
and capital WILL under such Giro umstances, wait
the ,ardy movements Of the mail! Expresses
will br sent in every direction, and speculations
TO an unlimited amour, will be made IN the
products of.the country. Here is great evil:
r.
OF information 10 The honest holders of this
property, and they become prey to the sre-
culator, who takes The properly for, perhaps,
one half Of us intrinsic value. BY the express
es, the Sabbath is violated, and many citizens
iojured. The commiuee believe, tuai such are
the fluctuations Of prices in many articles Of
commerce, in some parts OF the country, thar a
greater number oil persons as expresses would
often be employed on The Sabbath than are
now engaged in The transportation of the mail
II this imp:e ,sian be correct, The cause Of mo-
rality would not be promoted BY the susper lion
Of h mail on the sabbath. B4l when, IN ad :
dilion TO this consideration, the committee on
slider that the FIST duty Of the Government is
to project its ci,izrns in ,hri- prouer y lar d
under no circumstances can proeC ION Be. more
needed than in tie cases above stately and tht
dus rious citizen whose property is sacrificed,
they cannot hesitate ir coming 10 he cunclu
sion tina, he suspension If ,hr mail on Sunda>
would be deeply injurious to The important in
,tres of tie county, and TIA, The m,asu
wou. d probably produce greaer apoun' Of
moral evil than he presen, system.
Il as suggested bv the Postmaster Geoer !,
all travel on the Sabbath, in accommodating
Stages or rxpre were prohibited, 20 su>-
pend H. Sunday mail would p'oduce an irjiIy
OF more limited .xtent, bul such regula;ior
will not probably TIE adopted by tie States
and, if adopted, could no, be enforced again
public opinion.
The reduction in the revenue Of the De-
partner, is viewed, by he COMMITTEE, as The
smallest Injury ,ha, would be- likely 10 result
from the change I, would, however, 2aralize
the operations Of the Department.; and render
more uucer tain the attainment Of he primary
objects for which il was established
4 well regulated mail establishment is an
indispensable requisite, TO free Government,
and 10 the commercial, agricultural aud msru-
featuring interest OF an enterprisine and grow.
ing people. Every buyer and seller should be-.
: ~. IF