Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-26

respects the equal rights Of others, he cannot
be held amenable to any human triounai TOT
his conclusions.
Extensive religious combinations. 10 effect
politica al object, are, in the opinion Of the com
mi,tee, always dangerous. This hrst ehorto'
the kind, calls for the establishment OF pr'n-
ciple, which, in the opinion Of the committee,
would lay the foundation for dangerous innosa.
tons upon the spin, Of the Constitution, and
upon the religious rights Ct the ci,izens. IL
admitted, il may be justly apprehendsd, tha'
the future measures Of government will De
STRONGLY marked. il not eventually controlled,
BY the same influence. All religious despo-
tism commences by combination and influence;
and when tina, influence begins to operate up
on the political institutions Of a country, the
civil power soon bends under il, and the ca.
| tastrophe of other nations furnishes an awful
warning Of the consequence.
Under the present regulations OF the Post
Office Department, the rights OF conscience
are not invaded. Every agent enters volun'a>
rily, and il is presumed conscienliously, into
the discharge Of hi. duties, without intermed-
ding with the conscience OF another. Post
Offices are 90 regulated, as that but small
proportion Of the first day OF the week is re-
| ouired TO be occupied in official business. In
| the Transportation Of the mail on ,ba, day, no
one agent is employed many hours. Religious
ne, sons enter into the business wi,hoat violat-
ing their own consciences, or imposing any
restraints upon others. Passengers in the mail
stage, are free 10 rest during the hrst day OF
the week, or to pursue their journeys a, their
own pleasure. While the mail is transported
on Saturday, the Jew and the Sabba,arian may
abstain from any agency in carrying 1t, from
conscientious scruples. While IL is transport
ed on the first day Of the week, another class
may abstain, from the same religious scrupies.
The obligation Of governmen, is The same 10
both Of these classes, and the committee can
discover no principle on which the claims OF
one should be more respected Than those oil the
other, unless i, should be admitted that the
consciences of the minority are less sacred
than those OF the majority.
II is The opinion of The committee, that the
subjec, should be regarded simply as ques-
ton of expediency, irrespective Of its religious
bearing. In ibis light, i, has hitherto been con.
siderrd Congress have never legislsted upon
the subject. It rests, as il ever has done, IN
the legal discretion of the Postmaster Genes
raj, under the rope s,ed refLsas Of Congress TO
discontinue the Sabbath mails. His knowledge
and iudgp,en, in al the concerns OF that de-
| partmeht, will not BE- Qus STONED. His intense
labors and assidui,y nave resulted in the high
est improvement, OF every branch OF his depart
men,. II is practised only Oh the great lead
ing mail routes, and such Others as are neces-
I sary Ia maintain their connexions. 10 prevent
this, would, in The opinion Of the committee,
be productive Of immense injury, both in its
commercial, political, and in its moral bearings.
The variou. departments Of government re-
quire, frequently in peace, always IN war, the
.aL L. %
! Of the country; ann one Important ooject Of the
mail establishment is, TO furnish The greatest
and mos, economical facilities for such inter
course The delay Of the mails one day in Sc
ven, would require the employment Of special
expresses, al great expense, and sometimes
with great uncertainty.
The commercial, manufacturing, and agri-
cultural interests Of our country are so in,i-
ma,ely connected, as to require a constant and
the most expeditions correspondence beiwixt
all our sea-ports, and betwixt them and The
most interior settlements. The delay OF the
mails during the Sunday, would give occasion
TO the employment Of private expresses, 10
such an amount, that probably ten riders would
| be employed where one mail stage is now run :
ming on that day; thus diverting The revenue OF
that department into another channel, and sink
ing the establishment: into a stale Of pusilani-
nifty incompatible with The dignity Of The gov
ernn,ent Of which i, is department.
Passengers in The mail stages, il The mails are
| not permited 10 proceed on Sunday, will BE-
expected to spend that day at a ta"ern upon
the road, generally under circumstances no,
friendly to devotion, and a, an expense which
many are but poorly able TO encounter. To
o5via,e these difficulties. many will employ ex'
ira carriages for their convey ance, and become
the bearers Of correspondence, as more expe-
dilious than the mail. The stage proprietors
will themselves often furnish the travellers with
those means Of conveyance; So that The efec,
will ultimately be on only TO stop the mail,
while the vehicle which conveys it will CONT.
nue., and its passengers become the special
messengers for conveying considerable pro-
portion Of what would otherwise constitute the
contents of The mail.
Nor can the committee discover where the
. system could consistently end. If the observ-
ance Of holyday becomes incorporated in our
institutions, shall we no, forbid the movement
Of an army; prohibit an assault, in time oi
war; and lay an injunction upon our naval Off
GERS 10 lie in the wind while upon the OCEAN On
,k,, dav3 (nnsisfe nrv would seem 10 reouire