The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-03-18


and the art. Of life, would be confined to
the neighlorhood where it originated.
The more npid and the more frequent this
interchange the more rapid will be the
march Of NEGLECT, and the progress Of i'm.
proyement. The mail is the chief means
by which Intellectual light rradates to the
extremes ofthe Republic. Stop it one day
In seven, and you retard one seventh the
advancement OF our country. So far from
stopping the mail on Sunday, the commit
tee would recommend the use Of all sea-
sonable means to give it a greater expedit-
ion and.a greater extension. What would
be the elevation of our country, IL every
new conception could be made to strike
every mind in the union at the same time?
1t is not the distance ola province or state
from the seat ofgovernment which endan.
gers its separation, but it is the difficulty
and unfrequency of intercourse between
them. Our mails reach Missouri and Ar.
kansas in less time than they reached Ken
lucky and Ohio in the infancy Of their set
Elements; and now when there are three
millions of people extending a thousand
miles west of the Allegheny, we hear less
Of discomfort, than when there were few
thousands scattered along their western
base.
To stop the mails one day inseven would
oe to thrust the whole Western country,
and other distant parts of this Republic,
one days journey from the seat Of Govern
ment. But, were it expedent TO put an
end to the transmission ofletters aud news.
papers on Sunday, because it violates the
law OF God, have not the petitioners begun
wrong in their efforts? If the arm OF Gov.
ernment be necessary TO compel man to
respect and obey the laws of God, do not
the State Governments possess infinitely
more power in this respect? Let the peti
TONERS turn to them, and see if they can
induce the passage Of laws TO respect the
observance ofthe Sabbath; for if il be sin.
iul for the mail to carry letters on Sunday,
it must be equally sinful for individuals to
write, carry, receive, or read them. 1t
would seem 10 require thatthese acts should
be made penal, TO complete the system
Travelling on business or recreation, ex-
cept TO and from church; all printing, car.
rylng, receiving, and reading Of ncwspa-
pers; all conversations and social inter.
course, except upon religious subjects,
mus: necessarily be punished, to suppress
the evil. Would it not also follow, as an
inevitable consequence, that every man,
woman, and child, should be compelled to
attend meeting? and, as only one sect, in
the opinion of some, can be deemed ortho.
doX, must il not be determined, by law,
which that is, and compel all to hear those
teachers, and contribute to their support?
II minor punishments would not restrain
the Jew or the Sabbatarian, or the lnfideI,
who believes Saturday to be the Sabbath,
or dlsbelleVes the whole, would not the
same system require that we should resort
TO Imprisonment, banishment, the rack, and
the iaggot, to force men to violate their
own conscionccs, or compel them to listen
to doctrines which they abhor? When
the State Governments shall have Welded
to these measures, il will be time enough
for Congress to declare that the rattling of
tho mail coaches shal! no longer break the
silence OF this despoiism. 1t is the duty
OF this Govognment to afford TO alto Jew
or Gentle, Pagan or Christian, the pro-
lection and the advantages Of our benig
nant institutions on Sunday, as we'll as eY.
cry DAY OF the week. Although this gov.
ernment will not convert itself ato nm &c.
clesiastical tribunal, it will practice upon
the maxim laid down by the founder OF
Chrislianity-that it is lawful to DO good
on the Sabbath day. 1.-THE Almighty has
set apart the first day of the week as time
which man is bound to keep holy, and de.
vote exclusively TO his worship, would it
not be more tonrenlal to the precepts of
Christians to appeal exclusively to the
Great Lawglver of the Universe TO aid
them IN making men bettcr--in correcting
their practices by purifying their hearts:
Government will protect them in their ef
forts When they shall have so instruc.
ted the public mind, and awakened the
consciences of individuals, as to make them
believe that Il is violation of Gsd's law
to carry the mail, open post Offices, or re 4
ceive letters on Sunday, the evil of which |
they complain will cease Of itself, without |
any exertior ofthe strong arm ofcivil pow. !
er. When man undertakes to be Gods a. |
venger, he becomes a demon. Driven by !
the frenzy ofa religious zeal, he loses ev |
cry gentle feeling, forgets the most sacred |
precepts ofhis creed, and becomes fero
cious and unrelentng.
Our fathers did not witt to be oppress-
ed, when the mother country asserted and |
exercised an unconstitutional power over
them. TO have acquiesced in the tax of
three pence upon a pound Of tea, would |
have led the way TO the most cruel exac. |
tons; thoy took a bold stand against the |
principle, and liberty and independence
was the result. The petitioners have not
requested Congress to suppress Sunday
mails upon the ground of political expedi. |
cncy, but because they violate the sancti-
ty Of the first day Of the week.
This being the fact, and the petitioners
having Indignantly disclaimed even the
wish TO unite politics and religion, may
not the committee reasonably cherish the