Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-02-01
The Sunday Law.

entitled s'An act for the suppression Of
immoral prac,ices.' The law was
very good in its general features, but
owing to the bungIing mistakes OF the
printers, it was almost rendered nuga-
tory, as far as the penalty was concern
ed. An attempt was made the present
session to effect its repeal by Mr. Bro.
phy, an ultra loco foco from Clinton
county. In the early par. Of the ses'
sion he introduced a bill repeating The
law. This repeal bill came before the
House on its merits OIL Tuesday OF last
week and elected one Of The most spir.
tied debates of the present session.
The whole talent of the House was en-
listed in the discussion, and the elo-
quence displayed on the occasion
would have been credi,able to any de-
Lucrative body.
When the repeal bill came up ON Its
second reading, Mr. M'CLEARY, OF
Louisa, moved to amend By striking
out the word years in the 5th line OF
LIST section Of the law as it now stands
on the statute book, and inserting the
word dollars
Mr. BRopHy objected to the amend
ment. He said although he was no
orator, he hoped other gentlemen would
advocate his bill. He viewed all laws
binding the consciences of men as UNI
constitutional, and he looked upon the
presen. law in tina, light He thought
the people would be just as apt to OBJ.
serve the sabbath without law as with
it. He thought religion ought not to
be bolstered up by the laws OF the
land--that it was implous for men to
interfere with the laws Of God--such
laws did not advocate The cause of mo-
rali,y, but have contrary effect. He
wished to see no compulsion, and quo
ted from the Constitution Of the U. s.
He said that Turks, Jews, and As
syrians had each their several days OF
religious observance, and none of them
ought to be intertered with. He look
ed upon this country as the home OF
the oppressed--he lief. Ireland, think
ing tina. it was such, and he hoped his
rights might be respected. In his
whole argument he went upon the
supposi!ion that this law interfered with
conscience, which it cannot do any
more than does the laws against steal
ing. unless men are conscientiousty
disposed to frequent grog shops, ca
rouse, hun, and fish On that day.
MIR Rom of Henry, wished the gen.
tleman had shown what oppression the
law had wrought. He had no. shown
any such thing. We make laws to
restrain men from stealing. This, &C.
cording to the gen,lepan's argument.
shows that feeble man does sometimes,
and with impuni,y too, interfere with
and enforce the law Of God. God
gives law for man to keep; that law
is binding on US all, aud we cannot rid
ourselves Of the oblis alton. All admi.
that the Christian Sabbath when pro-
perly observed. is beneficial to man.
The divine authority Of the Christian
Sabbath is strongly inferred from its
antiquity in the Christian Churches, as
it is evident the early christians assem-
bled on the first day Of the week for
public worship. 1t is further evident
that there was day called, by way Of
eminence, the Lords day. What, he
asked, gave greatness and sublimity to
the Republics of Greece and Rome !!
Was not their religion made part Of
their national education! Were not
their generals, their statesmen and their
orators religious. And while they paid
strict and contentious regard TO the
worship Of the gods, they were pros
porous, and just in proportion as that
regard declined, the liberties Of the peo-
pie became the easy prey Of dema-
gogues and tyrants. tits true their re-
ligion was false and impure; yet it
kept alive in the hearts Of men some
fear Of God. They believed and
thought tina. justice and truth were
pleasing to the Gods. and that their
opposites, injustice and falsehood,
were displeasing to them. There was
enough Of truth in their systems Of re-
ligion to make some great and eminent
examples Of good men even in those
dark times of ignorance which the
king eternal winked at. But now he
has given US bright and glorious sys-
tenn Of pure and unde6led religion,
which, if cherished by US, will exalt US
as nation TO the highest pinnacle Of
human happiness. For just in proper
ton al our holy religion is purer than
the systems Of the heather, in the same
ratio will we, ifguided by its heavenly
light, rise to state of happiness, peace
and prosperity as far excelling theirs
as the broad sun light Of noon day ex.
cells the feeble star light Of midnight
gloom.
Mr. Speaker; lay down the broad
proposition that no nation ever was or
ever will be happy or prosperous with