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

and Post Roads, TO whom had been referred
petitions and rcmonstrances against The trans.
portation and opening of the public mail on
the Sabbath day, made the following
REPORT 4
The Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, to whom the Memorials were referred
for prohibiting the transportation Of Mails,
and the opening of Post. Offices, on Sunday,
report
That tho memorialsts regard the first day
OF the week as 4 day set apart by the Creator
for religious exercises; and consider the trans.
portaton of the mail, and the opening Of the
post-ofices on that day, the violation Of re-
lgious duty, and call for suppression of the
practice. Others, by counter 6lemorials, are
known TO entertain a different sentiment be.
iievlng that no ono day Of tho week is holier
than another Others, holding the univer.
salty and immutablity Of the Jewish deca-
logue, believe in the sanctity Of the seventh
day OF the week as day ofregious devotion,
and by their memorial now before the commit
tee, they also request that it may be set apart
for religious purposes. Each has hitherto
been left to the exercise Of his own opinion
and it has been regarded as the proper bust
ness OF Government To protect all, and deter
mine for none. But the attempt is now made
E
in practice; and, as argument has failed, the
Government has boen called upon 10 inter
poso its authority to settle tho controversy
Congress acts under Constitution Of dele
gated and limited powers. The committee
looked in vain to that instrument for a dele
cation Of power authorizing this body to in
quiro and determine what part Of timo or
whether any, has been set apart by the 81.
mighty for religious exc rcises On the con.
trary, among tho few prohibitions which it
contains, is one that prohibits religious test;
and another, which declares that Congress
shall pass no law respecting an establishment
OF religion, or prohibiting the FREQ exercise
thereof The committee might here rest the
argument, upon tho ground that tho question
referred TO them, does not como within tho
cogniZance of Congress; but tho perseverance,
and zeal with which the memoralists pursue
their object, scoms 10 require further euc-
dation Of the subject And as the opposors
Of Sunday mails disclaim all intention 10 II.
mite church and state, the committee do not
feel disposed to impugn their motives; and
whatevor may be advanced in opposition 10
tho measure, will arise from tho fears enter.
tanned of its fatal tendency 20 tho peace and
happiness Of the nation. Tho catastrophe of
othor nations, furnished tho trainers of the
constitution a beacon of awful warning, and
in guarding against the same evil
The law, as IL now exists makes no dis
tinction as to the DAYS OF tho week, but is i'm.
peratvo that the Postmasters, shall attend at
all reasonable hours, in every day, to perform
tho duties Of their Offices; and tho Postmaster
General has given his instructions to all Post
masters, that, at post. Offices, wero tho mai
arrives on Sunday, the Office is to be kept o.
pom ono hour, or more, after tho arrival and
asserting tho mail; but in caso that would in.
toricre with the hours of public worship, the |
Office is to be kept open for ono hour after the |
usual time of dssolving tho meetings This
liberal construction Of the law does not satisfy |
the momoralsts.
But the committee believe that there is not
iust ground of comp laint, unless il be concod |
ed that thoy have a controlling power over
the conscienccs of others. Ir Congress shall, |
by the authority of law, sanction tho measure
recommended ii would constitute legislative
decision of religious controversy, in which
even Christians themselves, are at issue
However suited such a decision may be to an
ecclesiastical council, it is incompatible with
republican legislature, which is purely for
political, and not religious purposes.
In our individual character, VIC all entertain |
opinions, and pursue corresponding practice |
upon the subject ofreigion. However diver |
zens, while each is willing that tho other sha Il |
enjoy the same liberty which he claims for
himself But in our representative charac |
ter, our individual character is lost Tho in |
dividual acts for himsolf-- the representative |
for his constituents He is chosen to repre- |
sent their political, and not their religious
views to guard The rights Of man not TO re
strict tho right of conscience. Despots NAV
regard their subjects as their property, aud
usurp the Divine prorogative Of prescribing
their religious faith. But the history of the
world furnishes tho melancholy dcmonstra.
ton, that the disposition ofono man to coerce
tho religious homage ofanothcr, springs from
an unchastened ambition, rather than n sin.
ccre devotion 10 any religion. The principles
OF our Government do not recognize in the
majority, any authority over tho minority, OK
cept in matters which regard tho conduct of
man TO his fellow man. A Jewish monarch, by
graspng tho holy ccnsor, lost both his scoptre |
and his freedom; destiny as little TO be en-
We'd may be tho lot Of tho American people,
who hold tho sovereignty Of power, If they, |
in the person Of their representatives, shall
attempt to unite, in tho remotost degree,
Church and State.
From the earliest period Of time, religious
teachers havo attained great nscondancy ovor
the minds of the people; and in every nation,
ancient or modern, w''Hther fagan, Mahomc-
dan, or Christian, have succeeded ~ the in.
corporation of thoir religious tcnets with the
political institutions Of their country. The
Persian idols, the German oraclcs, tho Ro.
man augurics, and the modern priesthood of
Europe, have oil, in their turn, been tho sub.
ject Of popular adulalion, and the agents of
political deception, If the measure recon.
mended should be adopted, it wouldbc difficult
for human sagacity to iorscc how rapid would
bo the succession, or how numerous the train
of measures which might follow. involving the
dearest rights ofall--the rights ofconycicncc
IL is perhaps fortunate for our country. that |