Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-16
To muI,,,, =, or, coMMUNtcATED.1
~ Iintfse W nEEH1. MEMBER OF THE


Sir: A. the di'sentng minority of the comr;,u,,~, .
whom referred petitions for anil gan-t SON
ping the mails ard closing the Po.'Ofice Sunday
have introduced counter report, concluding with
Resoiu'ion in favor of that measure, will exercise
the right OF citizen, to make few remark; Upon III.
grounds on which your resolution i. rested.
You preface this with observation. upon the ma
ture OF the petition. which You in favor OF granting.
Congress, You say, a.ked expound the moral
law. "to NEEDLE with theological controversies" "to
introduces religious coercion into civil institutions "
or To blend religious and civil af.rs The object of ,le
petitioners is "het the agents Of Government employ
ed in the Post-olfce Department. may be permitted I,
eniov the same opportunities Of attending to moral and
religious instruction. improve m Mt on that
dav which is enjoyed by the rest Of their ielow-citi
zpns"
This disclaimer Of dispo,i ion % blend religious with
civil affairs, is have doubt, perfectly sincere a.
well on your mart that nj a 'ority Of the
petitioners. But, although sincere, You may b, mis-
taken. Although feel such dispo.itior, and
Germ no such tendency in the proposed mpa.Yre il
nevertheless possible that tho tendency may exisr
whether il do or do mt. will see, when
examine the which you deem sufficient for its
adoption.
To Judge from the foregoing Statement of the end
contemplated by the petitioners it has presented itself
to your mind, az doubtless has tn many others in
very specious shape. Thus viewed that end is merely
TO restore certain class of fellow citiZans
equality with the rest in regard to tire disposal OF their
Tim" on the hrs dav OF the week. But how is this
be accomplished? BY removing restrictions imposed
upon them bv institutions, MOI The eIass
is composed Of agents Of the Governments citizens who
become such by voluntary con'rac and who are AT h
erty TO Withdraw from the service whenever they
The end ia 10 be accomplished by modifying the nature
oil the service, in such 10 leave those who
may voluntarily underke IL, al perfect liberty during
the day In question The object then, is not ''per
mtf, one class Of citizens TO enjoy the liberty
as another; but, 10 alter the nature OF an import ant
branch OF The public service adapt il 10 the
gious scruples Of certain portion Of the community
who, consistently with those scruples, cannot now
in IL.
This being, according your own statement, the end
contemplated let us consider your for re.
commenting that Congress should promote it,.
The hrst II, that "every other branch OF the public
service has been modified in ihs way proposed. You
instance the judiciary; and cali tn. other Executive
Departments OF Government" the business Of which
Is suspended on Sunday. To thi, proposition, as n
proposition the objection occurs, that il is com
prehenve than is warranted nv the facts preeDted
the practice Of our Government No such modiira.
ton has been introduced into the Military or tho Ma.
val, the Police service Our soldiers are not re-.
quired 10 suspend their marcheg or the work Of en-
rencbins themselves against enemy; our ships are
not required IN cast anchor; they prohibit
ed from weighing anchor Marshal, and Constable.
are not exempted from the duty pursuing and stcur-
ing culpri's Considered as reason, il appear. ao-
gether vague and unsa.faciory from it's not entering
at all into examination Of the analosies or discrep
anries which may exist between the branch 10 which
u IL proposed TO extend the modification, and those
branches into which il has been introduced or from
which il he's been withheld little further down in.
deed. you besow glance upon Of the important
peculiarities OF the mail service. But you do this
merely $50 pronounce dogmatically that Ito hese peeu.
lariiies, sort OF rPgSrd cam consistently with The
fret principles Of good morals" he paid: because those
principles require the strict observance Of day; and 10
make an exception of the mail on account OF democrat
dement's arising from such exception, il 10 ,acrifics
those principles 10 worldly considerations This infer
snce ls certainly vety sweeping Are you that
II embraces every imaginable public concern? That
" Wouh equally require total disregard Of worldly
considerations. in The regulation Of our Army our Ma
Wy, Police, &c. Sc!
special reason H. that "he good Of society requires
The strict Observance Of day in seven" This rule
you urge upon temporal authority and temporal
grounds u leaves us, therefore al liberty ia decide
upon balance struck between the temporal advantage.
and Disadvantages Of making exception AZ To the
mail, as we make exception in regard 10 other mat.
ters.
Your next proposition IL, that the Wire and GooJ
Ruler OF the Universe has made an appointment Of
which appointment III carriage of the mail on SUNDAY
- fransgression. We hive reached The point
for recurring 10 youc Gisavowai Of any deposition "o
blend religious with cirl sffairs" Does NOT single
mcnenfs reflection sunce tn make manifest. fhat. IL
Congress 10 found any # theirs UPON Ibis pro-
portion, II would involve decision on their part ~ IN
what are the appointments Of the Supreme Beingi
Wonld not imply This train Of thought We are inter