Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-03
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.


mt only admirably adapted to the constitution 81
the human mind, but, Is necessarily required BY
the exiyencies OF an advancing period oil society.
Ia the early ages, men had abundance oil holy
DAYS The pastoral life, during fine weather, is Of
itself one holyday; but the more society advances,
and population is increased. the heavier would the
original doom of labor fall upon man, except some
bene, client and positive institution nterfered 10
alleviate the primeva curse. There IS rapid
declivity in human affairs to evil and to misery,
when the supply of labor begins greatly to ex.
coed the demand for it. This Is the condition oi
old states, and long and thickly inhabited coun'
tries, under those institutions which Christianity
has introduced or fostered; the Old World did
not labor to the same extent under the eViIs oi
over. population. Slavery was the disease OF an
cient times. r-populatin OF recent ages. we
have given freedom to the mass Of mankind, but
have not given to them that which would make
freedom ia all things profitable, universal educa-
ton. When the remuneration OF labor begins TO
fall. Il sinks rapidly. The evil reproduces and
multiplies itseIf,-men receiving less wages. anu
willing to give more time, are ready to bring
more labor into a market which is already over
stocked. :,
1t is a Great gain to humanity that they should
be forbidden =, both by religion aud by the state,
(, bring the seventh portion OF their labor also
into the market, and thus increase the sut to the
u,terihost. Ii is a mercy to the workmen mat
they cannot work uninterruptediy during the
twcnty -four hours, otherwise manufacturers, with
out the aid of Circe's wand, would be transform
ed into beasts of burden, or, still lower. inso
mere machines, in perpetual motion, where the
incessant activity of the body would leave the
mind for ever unexrrtrd. in state OF prolonged
chlldhoud, or in the neigbburhood OF idlocy Itself.
But the bOdy's natural need OF re,t prevents
this extreme point from ever being reached.
though, alas! in our own country, we see how
possible il is 10 allow little to the wants OF the DO
DIV. and nothing to the requirements ct the mind;
and how ion, with the highest max'ms of iib-
erty, and the lotiest sentiments OF personal indie
pendence, may yet be bringing back the mass OF
its community at once by its neglect oi education
and bv the 0ver.carc of its provisional enact
ments, to a state, in sumo respects, little superior
to slavery itself
The Sabbath, then. is not only religious du-
ty, butts civil pri,ilese,-the greatest privilege
which the majority of our nation possess, "a prl-
yiIege without which all other privileges would
be vain; for, at this moment, it is the great bar
rier against the degradation of the race; re-
serve, in spite of themselves, al the liberty oil
the community, which, If left unbeiriended 10y
the legislature, pressed as they are by the ap'
preach of famine, and beset by every form OF M
sery, they would be too apt to barter away; though
they would not obtain for it even the bride that
wrought upon Esau,-an additional mess OF pot
ta.c; since the more labor that is brought into
market, the harder are the conditions on which
il will be purchased. 1t is from the want OF at.
tending to this distinction, that the Sabbath is
both religious duty and civil privilege, that
most of the objections against Sabbath protection
proceed. As far as it is religious duty, it must
be enforced by the pulpit, and not by the laws
Religion is a voluntary and reasonable service:
men cannot be compelled by human enactmentS
to give their hearts unto Gud, aud to the great
ends of their being; all that can be done IS To
propose right motives for this voluntary surren'
der of their homage to the King OF kings
When the state interferes in matters OF religion,
its interposition is beth awkward and Intellectual
La such aatters, we neither desire nor require us
aid. But the Sabbath is a civi! privilege, anu so
far is the proper object Of the state protection.
douglas, Of Cdvers'