Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-13

Resolved That the Committee be discharged
from the further consideration OF The subjeci.
March 5, ESQ.
Mr.. McCREERY, from the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads, TO which was
referred sundry memorials and petitions on
the subject of Transporting and opening the
public mail on the Sabbath day, submits the
following as his view Of the subject:
The minority of The Committee to Dhom were referred
the memorials relative TO the transportation of he mail
and the delivering of letters, &c on the Sabbath beg
are to state The of their dissent from her.port
made by the Committee on thu subject:
All Christian na'ions acknowledge the first
day of the week to be the Sabbath. Almos,
every State in this Union have, by positive le,
gislaton, no, only recognized this day as sa>
cred but has forbidden its profana. ion, under
penalties imposcJ,b by law.
Ii was never considered, by any OF those
States, as az encroachment upon The rights Of
conscience, or as an improper interference with
the opinions Of the few, 10 guard The sacred
ness of that portion OF time acknowledged to
be holy by The many.
The petitioners ask not Congress 10 expound
the moral law; they ask not Congress To med
die with theological controversies, much less
TO interfere with the rights Of the Jew or The
Ssbbatarian, or 10 treat with the least disre-
spect ;he religious feelings Of any portion Of
the inhabitants Of the Union; they ask the in
PRODUCTION Of no religio coercion into our CT.
vii institutions; no blending of religion and CT
vii affairs: bur they do ask, that the agents Of
Government, employed in The Post Office De-
partment, may be permitted TO enjoy the same
opportunities Of attending 10 moral and rei.
gious Instruction, or intellectual improvement,
on tina, day, which is enIoyed by The res, OF
their fellow citizens. They approach the Go.
vernment, not for personal .molument, bu, as
Patriots and Christians, to express their high
sense OF the moral energy and necessity Of the
Sabbath for the perpetuIty Of our republican
institutions; and respectfully request that Con-
gress will not, by legislative enactmenIs, i'm.
pair those energies.
Among the many reasons which nigh, be
advanced, that it is both expedient and duty
TO grant the prayer OF the petitioners, the fol-
lowing are only submitted:
The petitioners ask the enactment of no law
establishing The first day Of the week as the
Christian Sabbath; they only ask the extension
and application, 10 one Department of Govern.
men,, principle which i, recognized, and has,
since the foundation of our Government, been
acknowledged in every other Department.
The principle embraced 10 the petitions, has
been recognized by Congress, by adjourning
over The first day OF the week. Al The FIST
session OF the first Congress, law was passed
establishing Judicial Courts, and in tina, law
Sunday is excepted from the days on which
that court may commence its Sc ssions. All The
other Executive Departments Of Government,
rI0Sph on thai Iav k..
by This, considered itself as expounding the
moral law, or as Introducing any religious CO.
ertion into our civil institutions, or making any
innovations on the religious rights Of the ci,i-
Gems, or settling by legislation any theological
question that NAV exis, between Jews, Sab.
batarians, andother denominations. The eoud
day IN seven. Paley, and other writer's on MOS
raj philosophy, have shown. that the resting of
men every seventh day; their winding I'D their
labors add concerns once in seven days, their
abstraction from the affairs Of the world. to
improve tleir minds and converse with their
Maker; their orderly attendance upon The or
dinancfs Of public worship and instruction, |
have direct and powerful tendency to i'm.
prove the morals and temporal happiness of
ne wise and good Ruler Of the universe |
made the appointment, not by mere arbitrary
exercise 1t authoritv, but for our good; and, |
"ha'eTsr difference of opinion may exist 10 re.
spsct IN the proper day 10 be observed, al |
most all agree, that one day in seven should be |
devoted 10 religious exercises. That being ad |
mi'ted, can any thing be more reasonable than |
the request OF the petitioners, that, al least, so
much oil the Law should BE- repealed, as requires
The post Offices TO be kept open every day Of
me week. Does not the enactment OF the law
plainly imply, that mankind is under no moral
obligation 10 refrain from secular labor on auv !
lay Of the week! Is il no, in direct opposition
% The received opinion Of almost all protesting
Christians? 1t is to thai par, Of the law, more
particularly, which requires, in terms, all the
,ostmssters throughout the United States 10 !
deliver letters, packets, and papers, on every