Litchfield enquirer., 1829-02-05


 ing the Mail On fhe Sabbdtk.
 The transportation Ofthe mail on the first day of the week, does not interfere with the right OfcOnscience. The petitioners for dlscon- tinuance appear to be actuated from a relig- ious zeal which may becOEnmeDdablei ifconfn- ed to its proper sphere; but they assume a PO- sitiOn better suited to an ecclesiastical than to civil institution. They appear. in many in- stances, to lay it down as an axiom, the prae- tice is violation of the law of God. Should Congress. in their legislative capacity. adopt the sentiment, it would establish the principle that the Legislature is proper tribunal to de- [, rmine what are the laws of God. It Would involve legislative decision in religious controversy; and on point in which good citizens may honestly differ in UpiniOn, with out disturbing the peace of society, or rndan- gering its liberties. If this principle is once introduced, it will be impossible to define its bounds. Among all the religious persecu- tions with which almost every page of mod ern history is stained, no victim ever suffered hut for the violation of what Government de- nominated the law of God. To prevent sim- liar train of evils iD this country, the C0nsti- tuition has wisely withheld from our Govern mcnt the power of defining the Divine Law. It is a right reserved to each citizen and while he respects the equal rights of others, he cannot be held amenable to any human trbu- nal for his conclusions.
 Extensive religious combinations, to effect aepolitical object, are, in the opinion of the Committee, always dangerous. The first ef- fort of inc kind, calls for the establishment of principle, which in the opinion of the com mittce, would lay the foundation for danger If tuition, ,and upon the religious rights of the cit ixens. If admitted, it may bc justly appre- hcnded, that the future measures of govern. ment will be strongly marked, if not evcnt,,- ally controlled by the same influence. All religious despotism commences by combina- ton and influence; and when that influence begins tO operate upon the political insfitu- tiOns of a country. the civil power soon bands under it; and the catastrophe of other na- tions furnishes an awful warning of the con sequence.
 Under the present regulations Of the Pest Office Department. the rights nf conscience are not ins aded. Every agent enters yoInn- tary, and it IS presumed conscientjOusly. into the discharge of his duties, without intefmed- ding with the conscience of another, Post Offices are SD regulated, as that but a small proportion ofthe first day of the week is re- quired to be occupied in official business. In the transportation Ufthe mail on that day. no one agent is employed many hours. Religious persons enter into the business without viola ting their own consciences, or imposing any restraints upon others. Passengers in the mail stages are free to rest during the first day of the week, or to pursue their journeys at their own pleasure. While the mail is transport ed on Saturday ,the Jew and the Sahbatarian may abstain from any agency in carrying it. from conscientious scriysies. While it is trans ported on the first day Ofthe week, another class may abst;iinifr0m the same religious scruples. The obligation of government is the same to hoth Of these classes and the Committee can discover no principle on which the claims of One should be more respected than those ofthe other unless it should be ad-, ,mitted that the consciences of the minority are less sacred than those of the majority.
 1t is the opinion ofthe committee. that fh. subject should beregarded simply as a qnes- ton of expedirncy .irrespectise of it's religious bearing. In this light, it has hitherto been considered. Congress have never legislate,i upon the subject. It resfs,as it ever has dune in the legal discretion nftl,e Postmaster Gen cral. under the repeated refisals of congress to discOntine the Sabbath mails. His knowledge
 
 ment, will not be questioned. Hts intense labors and assiduity have resulted in the high est improvement of every branch of his de- pertinent. It is practised only an the great leading mail routes, and such others as are necessary to maintain their connexions. To prevent th,s,w ould, in the opinion ofthe com mittee. be productive of immense injury both in it's commercial, political, land its moral bear ings.
 The various departments ofgovernment re- quire. frequently in peace. always in war. the speediest intercourse with the remOtest parts of the country and one important object of the mail establishment is.tO furnish the great est and most economical facilities for such in- tercOurse. The delay of the mails one whole day in seven, would require the employment ofspecial expresses at great expense, ,and some times with great uncertainty.
 The commercial, manufacturing, and agri- cultural interests 0f our country are 80 inti- mately connected, as to require constant & the most expeditions correspondence brtwixt our seaports, and betwixt them and the most interier settlements. The delay offhe mails during the Sunday, would give occasion tO the employment of private expresses. to such an amount that probably ten riders would he employed where one mail stage is running on that day; thus diveriing the revenue of that department into another channel. and sinking the establishment into state of pusillanimity incompatible with the dignity Ofthe Govern ment of which it is a department.
 Passengers in the mail stages, if the mails