Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-19

the Sabbath. or di,beeves the whole. would not the
same system require that should TO impr,on-
ment Punishment the rack and the faggot, to force
men TO violate their own conscicnce,, compel them
| to listen TO doctrines which they a'hori When the
State Governments shall have yielded 10 these mea
IL will be time enough for Congress to declare
that the ratiing OF the nail coaches shall longer
break the silence OF this de spos Ii 10 the duty OF
this Government TO afford to ALTO Jew Gentle Pa.
gan Chrtans, the prote aud the adv OF
our benignaDt institutions, on Sunday, IA well as cry
day OF the week Although this Government will no,
convert itself into an ecclesiastical tribunal. il will
practice upon the maxim laid down by the founder OF
Christianity is Lawful TO do sod on the Sabbath
day II the Almighty has set apart the frat day Of the
week the time which is bound to keep holy and
devote exclusively TO his worship would not be more
congenia TO the prccep,s Of Christians TO appeal ex
clusvely TO the Great L,wgiver OF the Universe aid
them in making betterin correcting their prac-
tees by purifying their hearts, Government will pro-
tect them in their efforts. When they shall have so in
structed the public mind, and awakened the conscien
of i'm livduals 10 make them believe that il /,
viol ton Of Gods law carry the mall open post Of
fees receive letters on Sunday, the evil of which
they complain will cease OF ITSELF without any exertion
OF the strong arm OF civil power. When man under
takes TO be Gods avenger, he becomes demon Dri-
by the frenzy Of religious zeal, he o,ss every
gentle feeling orgets the most sacred precep,s OF his
creed; and becomes ferocicus and unreenting.
Our fathers did not wait 10 be oppressed, when the
mother country asserted and exercised unconsttu-
tional power them. To have acquiesced in a
tax OF three pence upon pound Of tea would have
led the way 10 the most cruel exactions thcy took
bold stand against the principle aud liberty and indie
pendence was the result. The petitioners have not re-
qu"sted Congress 70 suppress Sunday mails upon the
ground Of political expedency, bit be ausc they vo-
late the 'anct,y Of the frs, day of the week.
Thi. being the fact, and the petitioner. having indig.
nantly dsclamed the wish 10 unite politics and
religion may not the Committee reasonably cherish the
hope that they will feel reconced iis decision in
this ca'e' especially as it i. also fact that the
ter memorials, equally respectable oppose the interer-
ence OF Congress, upon the ground that would be le
g'ating religious subject, and, therefore, un.
| constitutional.
RsscIped That Tho Com p,;,ts. h.. III. f....
the further consideration OF the subject.
MARCH s. 1870
Mr. McCreery, from the Committee on tho Post OF %
ami Post Roads TO which was referred .undry me-
MORALS and petitions on thu subject Of Transporting
AMI opening the public mail on the Sabbath day, sub
mi's the following as hi. view of the subject:
The minority IF The Committee 10 ,rionn ,cere refer
red the memorials reIatipe TO The transporfofon of
me mail, and the deipcring of letters Sc. on the
Sabbath beg ieduc to state the reasons Of their dis
sent from the report made by the Committee on
| that subject
All Christian nations acknowledge the first dav Of the
week TO be the Sabbath. Almost every State in this
Union have, by positive eei.lon, only rccogni.
ell this day sacred bnt has forbidden its profanaton
under penalties imposed by law
IL was never considered, by any of those States as
an encroachmcnt upon the rights Of conscience. or
an improper interference with tho opinions of The few
10 guard the sarrcdness of that PORTION Of time acknow
ledged TO he holy by the many
The petitioners ask not Congress expound the mo-
raj laws they ask not Congress to NEEDLE with theolo
gca controversies, much less to interfere with the
rights OF the Jew the Sabbataran or TO treat with
me least disrespect the religious feelings of any por
ton OF the inhabitants of the Union; they ask the in
PRODUCTION of religious coercion into our civil nsu
lions; no blending of religious and civil affairs but bev
DO ask that the agents of Government employed the
t'ost Once Department, be permitted to cnoy the
same opportunities of attending TO moral and religious
instruction, or intellectual Improvement ON that dav
which is enjoyed by the rest of their fellow citizens
Ihey approach the Government not for personal emo
ment but patriots and Christians TO express their
high sense OF the moral energy and necessity of the
sabbath for the perpetuity of republican institutions
ana respectfully request that Congress will not by e-
gislave enactments, impair those energies.
Among the many reasons which might be advanced
mat is both expedient and duty grant the PRAYER
OF the petitioners, the following are only submitted:
The petitioners ask the enacmento of no law establish.
ing the hrs day OF the week as the Christian Sabbath;
hey only ask the extension and application De-
parment of Government, principle which is recop-
nzed, and has, since the foundation of our
been acknowledged in every other Department The
principle embraced in the petitions, has been recognz-
ed by Congress- by adourning the first day of the
week AT the FIRST session of the first Congress- law
was passed establishing Judicial Courts and in that law
Sunday is excepted from the DAYS which that court
may commence its sessions All the other Executive
departments of Government closed on that day-
Congress has never by this considered itself as cx-
pounding the moral law introducing any religious
coercion into our civil institutions, making any in
novaons on tho religious rights of the citizens or set
Ting by Legislation any theological question that may
exist between Jcws Sabbatarans, and other denomina-
TONS The good OF society requires the strict obser-
vance oil one day in seven Paey, and other writers
men every seventh day; their winding up their Iabors
and concerns once in days; their abstraction from
the affairs OF the world to improve their minds and con-
verse with their Maker their orderly attendance upon
the ordinances of public worship and instruction. have
direct and powerful tendency TO improve the morals and
temporal happiness Of mankind.
he wise and good ruler of the universe made the an
polntmenf, not by arbitrary exercise of authori.
", but Tor our gcod and whatever difference of opin.
ion may exist in respect TO the proper day TO he oh
served, almost all agree tina. day in seven should
he devoted to religions exercises That being admitted
can any thing be more reasonable than the request of
The petitioners, that, at least much fhe law should
be repealed az requires the post offices he kept open
every day OF the week. Does the enactme MT of the
law plainly imply That mankind is under no moral oh.
legation to refrain from secular labor any day of the
week! lie not in direct opposition to the received opr
ION OF almost all protesting Chisians IL 10 that part
OF the law, more particularly, which requires in terms
all the pcsma'ers throughout the United States to
liver letter. packets and papers, every day Of the
week TO which the minority Of your committee object
and which IS most offensive TO the petitioners. In this
statute is at once paipabe encroachment ON the
gh's OF conscience. IL either drives every man. who
feels himself morally bound observe the Sabbath in
religious manner from he service Of his country and
equal participation in her avors subjects him 10 the
hard terms OF remaining in Office at the expense Of his
principles 1T is freely Acknowledged that the works
OF necessity and mercy not forbidden; and IL the
transportation of the mail Sunday. could be jus
fed on that ground, (Which is adme) il cannot he
coniended that the keeping open Offices where no mail
arrives on that day, 10 the work Of necessity.
The arguments VIII c have be en- mr. ed for the franz