Litchfield enquirer., 1829-02-19
coNGREss.
House of Representatives. RSa. . REPORT

| s~S,SsVNNSeVNNv
 REPORT
 Ofthe Comnsittce on Che POss Otlsce and ! Pusl Raads, t.l whom was FUfsrsrd eestain ] lnpmnrials against the transportation ufthN mails m the Sabbath. and tho delivery of l ies'cfs. Scc. rum Post Ofiicea on that SlAy. ! Tlc men,orials on this suhjrce, on account 0f lhr nNtneFOs,s sources ffWTn which theT have been rpcrived, the number and respect.
 ahilty of the signatures. as well ae the inlrin-
 sic inportance nf the qMeeiiOn involved, Te. I qnire from tlc Committiee and thA fseglslp-
 tnre. the most deliberate and rspectthl con.
 sisicra,ion. It is heleved that the history of
 legislation in this country aitords uN inslancn in which stronger expression has been mlN0e ! if rcgard be had to the nHsnhes. the wealth,
 or the intelligence ofthe petitioners.
 Tairy present subject not entirely clear of tiitficMlty. but 0ne in which tbty feel M dcep intcrrst,nnd which. in Their arininn, intimate. ly concerns the moral character of tle col'n. try. g se5. .tA. N 'Itis not considered tS he lhp duty of tie C0MMittee, nor does it cunpOrt with its in. cinaitos, tn cnirr ai large into the origin Nf the Sabbath, or the sanctlty which helOngs sC E3it. I NJ e4s { In all Christian countries. n is considered not only as day of rest from secular eni-, lpl0yment, hit one that should hn set apart fur religious olseevances. EN intimately b itin. Iaerwnvcn wiihihe dOctrines of Chsistianity, ihas it forms m important part oe ths creed of lrvery Christian deRpStinAsinlh They agree lin thr principle shcagh acme fthem dllIsf 3as
 Y M. IN ars Csnni,,ss h.lleys sbss psopss eh. sesyauce nf she Sabhalh is ealEtlased te ele- sate the lnorAl eSRditl0n af sesieey. In ec.
 cOrglAnce with the recorded example ~ sAS CrcaAnvn nf the Univefsst ma eutOfCeG M
 Scripture ptpcrptss OMe day tn sesen sho9iu
 Dc ahslracied from NrdinaEX hMsinesa ana ue-
 vnicd t0 moral and ge!iSlnts exeseisee..-
 Wherever these duties hase hoon Fegatded in
 the true spirit ot Chtsslanisy, saorss Al.sl. iNnce hna innUeed salutAFg tHsttaints upon ne licnnts0rs nronens;ties of men. ls has made
 ihen, hrtfsy n,en. and better Ctizsnssin all the
 relations uf society, both public and private.
 The institution of the SahhNah ia arespeefsd lln various nnesatinns of our 0Oysrnusene.-- | ln the halls OfleglslAtion. tae eOufta oE ius. ltiee, ansl executive sIcpAvtnaentss except uqnef Incetslinr enaefgcneies, business b suspenaeds mot N leRal provision, hut " the tbFee eE pub. \ lie 0ninissa. Restraints lmpOsed on Slls con- scienres oe oeindlvidnals, by human lasss, sane. Isioned hy seyerG penalties. have ebways islleu to prodNce reformation. They hAve genef.
 nlles if not Hlvhys, made lsarn Mgrse ineaeAn ot Ihrf,er. Under such exercise Of power Chris. N tAni,y ticsenerases into an instTnment Dg 0p.
 nressin. md loses ll its Tnnrnl beauty an4 ex.
 rellence. 1t iuurishes naost uuaided M the I 1lse TN iCinlnmiilra. sherrGare, aa cilissas and \ llrNisiKfhfa. senlla le ready Co Iepnl my At. X N isf N aigIR Tlls cnnseiancea 0f ulAu aindep INks2 f'Fn e6nls6l N tlyis country. afgU. ! hil|6.i t1 ts0 aN eNA never rrNceea nom the \ lrufe prineiples Of Chfiatiauity, Ibe stnnd- Ihva ni moral OblgNitNN should setunlss M the \ HrslptufNs, and all acts which d9 mt interfere N with the tights of Ntheras shuuld fea4 hetWe0n l1 the individual, his cUnsci&nea. and hlA Gad. l The Federal Government was hsstnea for civil and not rellgisus purpcsea. Ihs illnc- Itions which belong tO h VIII hasn been dls- charged within the sphere of lls 0nefaliaA,in lrekniating the civil cOllcerns 0g tha ngllou tt |is very properly inhibited trofa esinhllshIag \ Ircligious srst, 0s ip niay ilaennAy inikrieflag ! lwish tha yighls of ofeonselsnra M w
 uut it hss lae1a F3eeea&'< ss' F,s.- Ipsr ss ss'.y ss..!. :. !. ; '. \: . sz N w: ~ Iii9sl iHu tFslk N avidei|c6; gsNyls hAyS beeis rrssss ~, .s vxI1si6ns purposes. .d snfAiztet3 N N rslIaion haye 6ean employed eS ehapIAins Iso ConRrese, art ao net in R sisnilnf espaGlty Iin she army and nevy. In thus FeeNgnlsing.hy
 Oiicial acts, the duties and obligations of selt- gion, the national g0veFnEneng has acted h conformity to public opinion. und, as was he- IIieved. within the legitimate boundaries ef fits mowers.
 l The Com rnittee entertain no doubt that the numerous petitioners for the disccntinnance Of the Sabbath Mails and che delivery of let | Iters, sxc. from the Post Oifices. have geney- ally acted from pure motives, and with . tef-
 erence to what they consider the best interest
 of the country. ,
 | They do not ask congress to impose eee-
 tain duties on any portion of citiRens which may interfere with their religious opiniUns, ,bue to relieve from the performances sf such du- ties.
 The transportation of ihe Mail is . great governmental operation, sud the petitioners
 believe it should be suspended on the Sabbath and the rOst offices clOsed. out Of respect Co
 the day, as well as the business of ths legislx- ltive, Judicial, and executive branches 0e the government. They did not, probably, con- slider that greater difficulty could arise in
 designating the first day Of the week e the ChristiaD Sabbath. fnr this purpose. than had been incurred in the instances F0lsETea Ito. 1t is not considered, by the commiieees that the petitioners ask the iutroductien 0f n- nv new principle into our laws, but tlys eE- tension s,fone which has already been eee0g-
 nized. In the policy cf the nneasare desired, lthe committee believe the petitioners are suis-
 taken. but they do not csnsidsT She attempt