Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-02
For the Phenix Gazette.

when you are to decide upon question which
may be one Of some importance. BY The re.
cues, of the Common Council, the Commission
ers who were appointed TO receive your votes
for Couucilmen, to serve until the Sd OF March
next year, are to take your sense on the subject
of the SUNDAY MARKETS.. For the las, eight or
ten years there have been repea;ed attempts
made by class among you (Which numbers
in its ranks many of the vir,uous and es'imabie
Inhabitants OF our town. to accomplish their
suppression. So far as understand their va
rious efforts, their arguments in the Council
Chamber, and the petitions TO Council which
have been carried round the town for our sig
natures, they base their proceedings upon the
institution Of Sunday as Sabbath 6y d'u'ne o''-
thority. Il is my Intention, in this ADDRESS, 10
show you that they proceed upon mistaken
principle. l shall no, take into consideration
any objections OF civil character 10 the Sum
day Markets, because believe the opposition
TO them is raised upon another ground. Per,
ha2s you may say anu magnifying the imPor-
tance of trivial subject, but they do not consi-
der i, so; and remember, that ait is proper to
take alarm a, the srst experiment on our liber-
ties" "Thc freenen Of America" Cat the time
OF the reyolu,ion) sdid not wait till usurPed
power had strengthened itself by exercise, and
entangled the question in precedenIs.--Th
saw all the conse quenees in the principle, aud
they avoided the consequences by denying the
principle" "Who does not see that The same
authority which can" interdict on Sunday, an
EST R 5ssrse any oilers, or carry its Isgisa
tive powers to the enactment OF statutes which
shall direct all our religious acts; and, in fine,
ifthe people can be brought to submit to it, e.
rect itself into religious despotism. Far be it
from ME TO accuse any Of our fellow>cilizens Of
an intention 10 assume this dominion over US;
but they mus, remember, that the first agrees
sions upon the natural and religious rights Of
Intelligent communities are necessarily small,
and may be made by those who have no idea of
the extent 10 which they will be carried.
I, is no, pretended, believe, by the most in
telgent writer's on the subject, that there is any
q
day efrssi; but viii grant, for the sake of ar
gumenr, that there is divine command TO this
effect. II is, however, unconstitutional for any
civil legislative body to interfere in the business.
This is concern which lies between man and
his Maker; and every a,,empt, by human pow>
er, TO control him, is an invasion OF the domi-
Mons Of The AImigh,y-an attempt to take the
reigns Of government OUT Of his hands. But
let us examine the position, that Sunday is ap>
pointed as day of religious worship by divine
command.
Protestant christians adopt the New Testa-
ment as the basis Of their religion; bu, there is
not in this book single command on the SUBJ
ject. II is inferred by Archdracon Paley and
others, that "the assembling upon the FIRST day Of
the week, for the purpose of public worship
and religiousinstruction, is law of chris,iani,
ty Of divine appointment" and every one who
is convinced Of the same thing, acts properly in
observing it; but his conclusion is an inference
only, and we are no more bound by his infer-
ences than he is by ours. With no more pro,
prieiy can any man insist Upon our obedience
10 laws, which from his inference exist, than
could impose upon him the observance of any
rite of the Jewish law or OF the Alkoran. We
will examine some Of the passages Of scripture
from which this conclusion is drawn Let US
take
First, the 18Th verse Of the goth chapter
of ST. John :-"Theu the same day at evening,
being the frs, day of the week, when the doors
we're shut where the disciples were assembled
for fear OF the Jews, came Jesus and stood in
the midst, aud saith unto them, Peace be unto
you." There is not word said here of any
mention Of the disciples, or the Lord himself,
TO institute this as particular day ofworship
Second. 2s,h Of same chap,er:--"Aud, after
eight days, again his discipleswere within, and
Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the