Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-29

that committee a report, which might, with
out granting the prayer Of the petition, sat
isfy the petitioners themselves with the rea-
son why the refusal was made. There had
been heretofore presented to this House,
and there would be again at this session,
numerous petitions, he had no doubt, against
the transmission Of the mail upon the Lords
day. There were very large portion of
this community who were under some sort
of conviction that the practice was contra
ry to the laws Of God Mr.. A. did not con
cur in that opinion with them. He thought
it exceedingly doubtful whether, if this sub
ect should be brought before the House, as
he presumed ii would be, he should be brot
himself to vote for the exclusion of the
transportation of the mail upon the Sabbath.
But if objection was made to this petition
that il called for the acknowledgment of
the authority Of God, and was an insult to
this House, he was very confident that the
next thing would be that, if a petition
against the transportation ofthe mail on the
Sabbath should be presented, the same OBJ
lection would be made-that it was an in
sui to this House There was but one
modification Of the prayer of this petition
TO acknowledge the authority of God; and
the understanding Of these petitioners was
that they did believe that the authority of
God was against the transmission OF the
mail upon the Sabbath day, because the Ho-
ly Scriptures themselves had declared the
law that the Sabbath should be day of rest
and not of labor.
Mr. A. observed that he had been limited
very much in the course of his argument
upon this petition by the refusal of this
House TO have the petition read. He hoped
it would be read, and be read upon the
ground that these people, the petitioners,
were perhaps mistaken, perhaps requiring
some counter argument, some eXpostulaton,
some report of a committee at least,
I showing that the acknowledgement Of the au-
thority of God and of the Christian religion
was not part of the duty of this House.
Perhaps it was not constitutional! He was
willing to see an argument upon that sub
lect in the way Of report of committee,
assuming the ground that the acknowledge
ment Of God and the acknowledg Of
the Christian religion would not be consti-
tutional that the constitution of the United
o'"tGS IDfOW WIS AAOuSC W
the authority of God or of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He was willing to see the report
OF Committee upon it; but TO say that the
prayer itself was an insult to this House
Sir, hope, (said Mr.. Az this House will
not disgrace itself by any such determine
! ton.
Mr.. A. wished not 10 occupy the time of
the House more than was necessary. He
wished to God he could present all these
petitions, and that they would receive and
refer them 20 committee without a word
of comment from any body, aud hear re-
ports upon them, showing that they were
improper and unconstitutional and have
these persons who came with these griev-
ances answered in a satisfactory manner, if
not TO them, at least to the rest Of the COM
munity. The petition, in Mr.. AS opinion,
deserved the most attentive consideration of
the House if it was improper let it be
shown by report Ii bore testimony on
its face. not of coming from persons of any
factious motives whatever, but from persons
under strong religious conscientious convic-
ton He hoped, therefore, that the House
would permit it TO be received and referred
to the Judiciary Committee; as an amend
ment to the Constitution was requested, it
would perhaps go TO the Judiciary Commit
tee most properly The whole of it, he
hoped, would be referred in this manner, il
the Speaker thought the fourth prayer did
not come within the rule if so, that those
parts which did not come within the rule
would be referred TO the Committee on the
Judiciary.