The Arkansas advocate., 1830-04-28
OFFICIAL PAPERS.
sgyTEgle A A x \ III. 4. .gT..
House Of Representatipes. gNa

Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. to whom had been referred petitions and remonstrances against the transportation and opening of the public mail on the Sab- bath day, made the following REPORT
 The Committee on Post Offices and Post
 Roads, to whom the Memorials were re-
 ferred for prohibiting the transportation
 of Mails, and the opening of Post Offices,
 on Sunday, Report:
 That the memorialists regard the first day of the week as a day set apart by the Creator for religious exercises; and consider the transportation of the mail, andthe opening ofthe post offices on that day, the violation of ofareligious duty, and call for suppression of the practice. Others, by ycountermemorials, arc known toentertain different sentiment, believ- ing that no one day of the week is hoH- CT than another. Others, holding the uniyersality and dimmutability ofthe Jew ish decalegue, believe in the sanctity of the seventh day of the week as 6 day of religions devotion; and by their memo rial, now before the committee, they al- so request that it may be set apart for religious purposes. Each has hitherto been left to the exercise of his own O. plnion; and 1t has been regarded as the proper business of Government to pro- tectall, ,and determine for none. Butthe attempt is now made to bring about a greater uniformity, at least, in practice :; and, as argument has failed, the Govern ment has been called upon to interpose it's authority to settle the controversy.
 Congress acts under a constitution of delegated and limited powers. The committee look in vain to that instru- ment fora delegation of power author Izing this body to inquire and determine what part of time, or whether any, has been set apart by the Almighty for re ligious exercises. On the contrary a. mong the few prohibitions whiehi t con- tains, is one that prohibits a religious test; and another, which declares that Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohib- iting the free exercise thereof. The committee might here rest theargument, upon the ground that the question re- ferred to them does not come within the cognizanee of Congress; but the perse- verance & zeal with which the memori- aIists pursue their object, seems to re- quire standardization of thesubject. And, as the opposers of Sunday mails diselaim all intention to unite church and state, the committee do not feel dis posed to impugn their motives; and whatever may beadvancedin opposition to the measure, will arise from the fears entertained of its fatal tendency to the peace and happiness of the nation. The catastrophe of other nations furnished the framers of the constitution beacon of awful warning, and they have evinced the greatest possible care in guarding against the same evil.
 The law, as it now exists, makes no distinction as to the days of the week, but 1t is imperative that the Postmasters sifiaffii attend at ali reasonable hours, in every day, to perform the duties of their otffces; and the Postmaster General has given his instructions to all postmasters. that, at post offices where the mail ar. rives on Sunday, the office is to be kept open one hour or more, after the arri. val and asserting the mail; but in case that would interfere with the hours oI worship, the office is to be kept open fol one hour after the usual time of dissoly. ing meeting. This liberal construc tion of the law does not satisfy tue me morialists. But the committee believe that there is not just ground Of com plalnt, unless 1t be conceded that they have a controlling power over the con sciences of others. If Congress shall by the authority of law, sanction th, measure recommended, it would consti tute legislative decision of a religiou controversy, in which even Christians themselves, are at issue. Howeversuit ed such decision may be to an eccle siastical council, its incompatiblewith republican legislature, which is purei, forpolitical, and not religious purposes
 In our individual character, we all en tertainopinions,a and pursue acorrespond ingpractice upon the subject of religion However diversified these may be, VI all harmonise as citizens, while each wiling that the other staii enjoy tn same liberty which heclaims for himself