Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MARCH 5. 1890.
SUNDAY MAIL.

Mr. JOHNSON of Kentucky, from the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads, to whom had been
referred petitions and remonstrauces against the trans
Portation 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 referred for prohibiting
the transportation of the Mails and the OPENING ot
Post Offices, on Sunday, report
That the memoralists regard the first day of the
week as day set apart by the Creator for religious
exercises and consider the transportation of the mail
and the opening Of the post Offices on that dav the w
olation Of religious duty and call Tor a su1nression
OF the practice. Others, by counter memorials are
known to entertain different sentiment believing
that no one day Of the week is holier than another
Others, holding the universally and immutabIitv NJ
the Jewish decaogue believe in the sanctity of the
seventh day OF the week as day of religious dey o.
ton; and by their memorial before The commit
tee, they also request that it may be set apart for
religious purposes Each has hitherto been left IN
the exercise Of his own opinions and il has been re-
garded as the proper business Of Government to bro.
tect ALL and determine for none But the atternnt is
now made to bring about greater uniformity, Of
least, IN practice; and, argument has failed the
Government has been called upon to intcrposc its au
thorty to settle the controversy.
Congress acts under q constitution of dclepated and
limited powers The committee look in vain TO that
instrument for delegation of power authorship this
body to inqu8e and determine what part ortlrnc ar
whether any has been apart by the Almighty for
religious exercises. On the contrary among the few
prohlptOns which II contains, is that prohibits
religious test; and another, which declares that Con
grcss shall pass no law respecting an establishment
OF religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
The committee might here rest the argument upon
the ground that the question referred to them does
not come within the cognzance Of Congress- but the
perseverance and zeal with which the rnemoriuligs
pursue their object seems TO require further eluc,
datIon OF the subject. And the opposers Of Sun
day mails disca all intention TO unite church and
state, the committee do not feel disposed to
their motives; and whatever may be advanced in on.
position to the measure, will arise from the fears on
ertane9 OF its fatal tendency to tho peace and hap
pincss of the nation. The catastrophe of other mn
tons furnished the trainers ofiho constitution bea
con OF awiul warniDg, and they have cyinccd the
greatest possible care IN guarding against the samci
evil
Ihe law a. il now exists makes no distinction ne
70 the days Of The week, bot it is imperative TINT Tho
Posmasiers fhaD attend al all reasonable hours in
every day topcTorm the duties Of their Offices: and
t9e Pcstmastcf Scnefaf has given bis Instructions TO
al Fossmastcs7, that at post Offices where the mail
arrives on Sunday, the office IS to DO hept open
W" hour or more, of,c' the arrival and asserting c