The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-03-20

not the State Governments possrs. in
fni'ely more power in this respect
Let the petitioners turn ~ Them, and
see il hey can induce the passage Of
Laws to respect the observance Of the
Sabbath: for IL it be sinful for the
mail TO carry letters on Sunday. it
must be equally sinial for individuals
10 write, carry, recciue. or read them.
Il would seem 10 require that these
nets should be made penal, TO complete
the system. Travelling on business
or rec, cation, except TO and from
church 1; all printing, carrying. receiv.
ing. and reading Of newspapers all con
rersattions and social intercourse, ex-
cept upon religious subjects. must nee
e.sarily be published, 10 suppress the
evil.-Would j. not also follow as an
inevitable consequence, that erery
man, women and child, should be com
PEELED 10 attend meeting? And, as on
iy one sect. in the opinion, Of some.
can be deemed orthodox. must it not
be determined, by law, which that i',
and compel all tu hear those teachers,
and contribute to their support! Ii
minor punishments would not restrain
the Jew, or the Sabba'arian. or the
Infdel. who believes Saturday to he
the Slbbnth, or distelicves the whole.
would not the same system req 'ire hat
we should resort 10 imp isonmcnt, ban
ishmen,. the rack, ana the laggot. TO
f,rce men to riol,te their own con-
sciences, or compel them to listen 10
ilocitine. which they abhoi I? When
he State Governments shall have yield
ell to these measures. it will be time
enough for Congress TO declare that the
rafting Of the mail coaches shall no
longer break the siIence.of this desp1
ism 1t is the duty OF this Govern-
ment to afford to all 10 Jew or Gen
tile, Pagan or Chrisii,n, the protection
ard the advantages OF our bsnignant in
slitu,ions. On Sxnday, as well as every
day ofthe werk.-Alihougl. this gov
ernment will NOT convert itself into an
ecclesiastical tribunal, it will practice
upon the maxim laid down by the
founder of;Chri,tiani!y that it is law
ful TO do good OH the Sabbath day.
Ii the Almighty has ses apart the first
day OF the week as time which man
is mound TO keep hoy, and devote ex-
clus;wely to his worship, would it not
be more ccngtniai to the prccepts Of
+. Christians TO appeal exclusively to the
Great Lawgive' ofahe Universe 10
ail them in making .meh better-in cor
rceting their practice By purifying their
hearfs f-OUresnmrut wiH iH-I,rotect
them in their efforts. When they shall
have so instructed the public mind and
awakened the consciences Of indi, id
GALS. as to make them believe that ii j..
violation Of Gods law TO ca,iy the
mail, open post Offices, III receive let
ters on Sunday, the evil of which they
complain will cease Of ITSELF with
out aiy sxertion Of the strong arm
Of civil power. When man undertak-
en- TO be God's aveuger, he becomes a
demon. Driven by the frenzy Of a
religious zeal, he looses every g,htle
feeling. forgets the most sacred pre-.
cep,s Ofhis creed, AMI becomes !ero-
cious and unrelenting.
Our fathers Gid not wait 10 be 0p
pressed, when the mother country as
serted and exercised an unConstitutien
al power over them. Il" .have acqui
escee in The tax Of three pence upon
pound OF tea, would have led the
way to the most cruel exactions they
took bold stand against the principle,
and liberty and independence was the
result. The petitioners have not ie
quested Congress [, suppress Sunday
mails upon the ground O.: political ex
pediency, but because they violate the
sanctity ofthe first day ol the week.
This being fhe fact, and The petition
ers having indignantly disclaimed even
the wish to unite politics and religion,
may not the committee REASONABLE,
cherish the hope. that Il ey will feel
reconciled to il, decision, in the case /;
especially. as t is also IA fact, that the
counter memorials, equally respecta
bic oppose the interference of Con
gress, upon the g'ound that IL would
be legi .lating upon religious subject,
and therefore unconstitutional.
Resolved, That the committee he
discharged from the further consIdera
tion Of the subject.