Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-12-15


Of the seat Of justice of that county. SO FREE
quently has our Legislature been called upon
10 relocate, or authorize the people to change
county seats, that past experience should dc
tate to the Legislature The necessity Of the pas
sage of a general law On the subject, 80 fra
med as to leave the matter TO the people, and
guarding against it's reference to them, when
once located, except for good reasons shown.
Mr.. Brophy also gave notice .hat.hc would,
on some future day, introduce bill TO repeal
$ an act for the prevention Of certain immoral
practices, . but more generally known as the
Sunday Law" Prior 10 the passage Of this
law, we expressed our opinion. both as to the
justice and propriety Of the passage Of such a
law, and we have as yet seen nothing to in
duce Us to change that opinion. Aside from
what we conceive to be its encroachments up
on the natural rights Of man, we believe the
enactment and enforcement Of such law
would be prod uctive Of greater evils in socie-
~ than those it is intended to suppress. We
would, BY no means. suffer the evil disposed
part of commnnity-to modest, insult or offend
the professed christian in his devotions on the
Sabbath. with impunity, but would be the last
10 excuse or palliase such an outrage. The
law, as il now stands, were it enforced. would
do more injury to the cause Of religion than
its friends can hope for il to accomplish for
morality, by remaining on our statute books.
So far, the law has done no injury. public
opinion being SO strong against it, that, so far
as our knowledge extends, not single COM
plain. has been lodged against any person for
violation of the Sabbath, while they have
been as frequent since its passage as before
Is the question asked, why it has been inope-
ra,ive for whole year! The reason Is plain.
No one whose habits are likely TO subject him
to the penalties Of that law, would be willing
to run the risk Of being made victim himself.
by lodging complaint against his neighbor,
and the protested christian, who looks upon
the violation of the Sabbath as an offence a.
gainss morality and religion, has too high a
feeling of regard for lis religion, to set the Of:
fender against both, him and the religion which
prompts it, by becoming his accuser. If en-.
forced, we should see neighbor arrayed against
neighbor, ready at any and at all times to take
revenge for the injury they supposes TO have
been done them.
As each and every one is to be judged, on
the day of final reckoning, by the deeds done
by them alone, and none are held responsible
for the acts of others, christians should be sat-
is6e6 with their own piety, and if by argu-
ment and reason they cannot convert their
neighbor, why resort to law to restrain the bo-
dy, whae the mind is unchanged! 1t is by
reason, and reason alone, and not by law, that
community can be rendered moral, and not
by legal restrictions and penalties.
II it is not an assumption of legislative pow
er to restrain man from doing that on the Sab
bath day which is not unlawful on other days,
is il not within the province Of the Legislature
to prescribe for US form for religious exer-
cises, and attach penalties TO the non-perform-
ance Of them2 If we are compelled by law
to observe the first day of the week as day
Of rest, we compel protested christians of the
various denominations 10 refrain from labor on
the day we call the Sabbath, while their arti-
cles o. faith compels them to observe another.
Is there any justice in this To regulate the
Sabbath, by Legislation. further than the pro-
lection Of worshipping congregations, is, in
our opinion, an Infringement upon the rights
of the people, as unwise as it is unwarranted,
and we hope that Mr.. Brophy will succeed 10
his efforts 10 wipe it from our statute books.
U NIKE WALSH, for many years an active
customer at elections in the city of N. York,
but BLACKBOARD bully at best, finding that the
Democratic party had toe much respect for it.
self and the people 10 bes.ow Office upon such
a creature as himself, wheeled round, some
time since. and established paper 10 tina,
city. in which he abused the prominent DEM
ocrats at shameful rate, charging them with
divers misdemeanors. No sooner had he "de.
fined his POSITION than he became a great
man among the Wings, and his sayings were
heralded forth by their presses, as matters Of
great importance. AT late term Of Court in
that city. he was convicted Of several ibels,
fined, &c. and for one upon cooper, he was
sentenced to two month Imprisonment in the
penitentiary at Blackwel's Island. The sen.
tence appears to have had serious effect up.
on him, as the following from the Courier will
show:
1.-THE order from the Sheriff for the convey.
ance Of Mike Walsh to Blackwell's Island
was delivered ON Saturday, and he was accor.
| d'ng'y taken from his cell for the purpose Of
being conveyed to the carriage nsad for con.