Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-19

the committee reasonably cherish the hope that they viii feel
fact that the memorials equally respectfully oppose
me interference OF Congress, that be
essa'ng upon religious subject, and therefore unconu.
tional
Resolved That the committee discharged from the further
consideration of the subject
| COUNTER REPORT.
Mr.. MCREERY from the same committee, submits
the following as his view of the subject.
fhc minority of the committee, to whom were ro
TERED the memorials relative to the Transportation
| or the mall aud the delivering Of letters, &C. ON
the Sabbath, beg leave to state the reasons Of
their dissent from the report made by the commit
| tee on that subject:
an Christian nations acknowledge the first dav Of
the week, to be the Sabbath. Almost every State in
tins Union has, by positive legsation not only recor
med TINS daya sacred, but has forbidden its proIa-
nation under penalties imposed by law
1t was never considered by any of those states nc
an encroachment upon the rights of conscience. or
as an improper interference with the opinions of the
lew to guard the sacreness Of that portion of time
acknowledged to be holy by the many
| The petitioners ask Congress to cyponnd Tho
nora la "; they ask rot congress to mcddc with the
o"gIea much less to interfere with the
rights OF the Jew or the Sabbatarian or to treat with
the least dfsrespect the religious feelincs of ,n
portion OF the Inhabitants Of the Union thew asI Tie
introduction OF no religious coercion into our civil in
sthutions no blending OF religion and civil affairs
nut tney co ask, that the agents of government en-
ployed in tie Post Office Department. may be hermit
tea 10 ENJOY the same opportunities of ATTENDING 10
moral and religious instruction, or intellectual i'm
pfnveent on that day, which is enjoyed by the rest
/ OF their fellow citizens.-They approach the Gov
eminent, not tor personal enolumen but az natriots
ana Christians, to express their high sense of the
moral energy and necessity of the Sabbath for the
perpetuy OF our republican Institutions IL resnectf,l
request that Congress will not by legislative enact
ments, impair those energies.
Among the many reasons which might be advanc
ed That 1T is both expedent and duty to Grant the
prayer OF the petitioners, the following are onI sub
mitted. SUI
The petitioners ask the enactment of no law osf,-
b!ishing the first day Of Tie week as ic Cbrs,;a,
sabbath; they only ask the extension and application
TO one department of government, Of princinlc
winch is recognized, and has since the foundation NJ
our government, been acknowledged in everS 9th
department. The principle embraced in tho net
tlos, as oeen recognized by Congress, by adjourn
SION or lie irst Congress, law was passed estab
lishIng Judicial Courts and in that law. Srndav l.
excepted from the days on which that court NAV
| commence Its sessions All the other executive do
PaitmehtS OF government are closed on that day-
Congress has never, by this, considered itself
pounding the moral law, or as Introducing or,, ri,
Slous coercion INTO our civil institution or maxine
any innovations on the religious rights of me citizens
or settling by legislation any theolorical cn.stio
that may exist between Jews, Sabbatarians, and a.
Their denominations. "Du u
Phe good Of society requires the strict observance
oi one DAY IN seven Pa!ey and other writer's ON
moral philosophy, have shewn, that the RESTING ~.
men ON every seventh day; that their wipdinG mn
Iiier laoors ana concerns once seven DAYS; their
distractions from the affairs the world tn nnr
their minds and converse with their 1nater.
defy attendance upon the ordinances of puhl;c v,or
snip and instruction. have direct and ,o,verfJ ~,
dency TO improve the morals md temnnr,I -: i
OF mankindS FP'"esS
The wise and good Ruler ofthe universe mod, a.
appointment not by arbitrary exercise of ~,
thofty but Tor our good; and whatever difference f
oPlhoh may exist IN respect to The proper day to bc
observed, almost all agree, that one dav in sevon
should DC devoted to religious exercises tThot ~ |
ing admitted, can any thing be more reasonable finn
te request OF the petitioners that at least 90 mich
OF 'e law should be repealed as requires the post of
fces TO be kept open every day of the Wool noaI
not the enactment Of that law plainly inDv tba,
Hlnu is under no moral obligation to refrain from @
GUAR Iabonr any day of the gecLs r. + nat :; IL
reg opposition tothe received opinion Of almost nil
processing Christians? II is to that mart of Tho 1
more particularly, which requires in terms ali thI
Postmasters throughout the United States 10 JcI;'o
.elleTs PACKETS and papers, on every dav ofthe ,yoc
~ lo,l tic minority OF your committee object and
WHICH is hcst offensive to the petitioners Tn th;s
statute Is at once palpable encroa ol,ocpt IN
t"e rights OF conscience. II either drives ever ma.
VINO iecis himself morally bound to observe the sb
O"..l III rsiiSious manner, from the service of his
country and equal participation in her fyors mr. enb
Jects nm to the hard terms of REMAINING II, orc =,
.he expense OF his principles. Il is freely ac,no,,
leuSeo mat the works of necessity and rnerry oro
~ a.U,uIouen; ana the transportation Of The mail
% sunday could not be jusGed1pn that ground .
twhch Is not admitted) it cannot bdeonendc1 tboi
the keeping open the Offices where no mail arrios ~
that day, is the work of necessity . vi
ne arguments which have been ,rrod g. .,
transportation of the mail, &c on The Sabboth
eIe manly derived from commercial convenience. and
5r0n alleged arrangement of business and
n,5 uocfne initiates against the first principles of
soUu IoIas' IL these are important at all! they arc
paramount to The claims of expodiency but this nos
hases them subservient to the pressure ,f ,,,o1l
business and converts them INTO mere questions f
Granting the prayer Of the petitioners cor,o, =
teleFe WIN me reiGious feelings or congcicncc nr
any portion OF the citizens; because they ask no cor
wee 70 be performed, principle to be D, oessed
certain day Were it imposing any servico ~
curing the profession of any opinions, those whose
IfIigiou5 sentiments different might Justly com
pam. Dut ne who conscientousy believes that hoI
. religious manner, can ba~r ~ ~. az zee, zee IL,