New-York daily tribune., 1844-09-05
Il. Y. STATE sabba.h Convention,

Rev. Dr. EyoE of New-York, made few very
pertinent and mpressi+e remarks, IN which ne was
fully seconded by Hon. B. F. BUTLEn, specially
urging tie consideration, Tia, the Sabbath was 10
~ Sustained chiefly on the ground of lis Dieiae AZ
hority, ard ia connection with mans immortal IN
tsrests; and not merely matter Of e1pediency,
or Of temporal sdvantsge, however gFc>; te;= rss
acknowledged te be.
rev. Dir. SrlLLxAy OF BuE.Io, who has been en-
ployed as Missionary among boatmen il This STATE,
remarked thar they rery sdresdg desired The rest
o. ,be Lords day-lna; when the Memorial q The
Legislature requesting the Locks TO be closed mat
day wes drawn up last Fall, the Missionaries re-
roiTea no, to ask single individual 10 sIgn IT. ies'
il should be said thst the boairlen cared nothing
aboutthe petition, but influenced BY the siis-
sionares They simply laid a copy OF the Pe;iaon
on the table OF each of the Collectors, and IN slI
weeks eiehteen-twentiaths OF all the Captslns that
came into the Office had sgnedit- number amount
ing TO more than 200, and also every Forwarding
Merchant on the Canal except one.
Dir. Stman said, that in conversing with cap
tains bostm-n and drivers the Erie Canal. durng
his Journey here, Re found oil were looking with H.
tense interest 10 the results of this Convention for
they feel themselves deeply oppressed The FIVE or
SIX thousand canal drivers, large proportion Of
whom orphans, thrown by Providence on the
Z,
TO this un:easing roil 10 their bread, many Of
whom know not when the Sabbath comes with lis
heilowed infuences-they are looking 10 this Con-
veuon for relief: and he would be responsible for
the fact that $4,000 boatmen on canals are now
looking with anxiety and hope 10 the doings OF ;his
body He said, farther, that some had thought il
would be unsafe to dismiss so many men from en-
ployment on the Sabbath, that they would be pub
lie nuisance but these sentiments only show great
ignorance OF the character o watermen facts proved
that il safe trust them with the Sabbath
anv other class. He said some OF ;hem-observinE
the great reformation OF watermen through the infiu
snce Of Temperance Associstions-concludedI that
Sabbuth-keeping Association might also do good.
They accordingly formed such an association which
now numbers 600 persons. Their pledge written
By one of their own number, who had in his child
hood, been taught the Westminster Catechism. After
various specifications which bad been well drawn
up, he added the exception given in the Ca,echism,
"of wOrks Of necessity and mercy" II was upon the
point Of being adop.ed, when old tar in one cor
ner Of the go, up and said, hs did not like the
ecc. ptiOn: i, would cover every vessel in the har
bor. He had sailed many years and always found
it necessary TO labor on Ihe Sabbath He wished
10 get rid OF this "necessity, and would amend IN
exception by the phrase necessary mercy, which
was unanimously adopted
Mr. related several instances Of their strictohsen
aace OF The Sabbath, of which was particularly
striking. A vessel AT Cleveland had been detained
several days by contrary winds. On Sunday the
wind shifted and the Captain gave orders ior sail
ing but net hand obeyed. He asked the meaning
ofit 1t was replied, we have all signed n pledge
mat we will mol leave port on The Sabbath. The
enraged Captain discharged them, and went
shore to ship another crew. The first man he met
he asked if he wished to ship. :" Nor TO-DAY, SIR
"Why moi" said the Captain. The sailors rrply
was, that he did not do bu'taess on the Sabbath -
The Captain asronished but could find none TO
ship on that day. On Monday he re-enIered his old
crew and they with him yet.
Rev Mr. POWELL, Agent Of the Philedep phia
Sabbath Association, remarked, that the Sabbath
was AT the foundation OF our civil as well as rell-
sious institutions. The history Of The world shows
Jaost conclusvely, that national prosperity cannot
be secured wi;hou; It's observance, and that where
il hiss been sacredlv observed civil and religious
liberty have been enjoyed and the people have be-
come great and happv. As striking illustration,
our forefa,hers who fed from oppression and turn
ed the wilderness into fruitful felds-and those who
secured our emancipation irnn foreign yoke, were
tnen that reverence The Sabbath, us exciting laws
plainly show. Our revolutionary patriots would
allow no public vehicle, transporting the mail, TO
disturb the quiet OF those who were worshippipg
tie God Of their fathers. They did not IT quire
n condition on which citizens could hold Office in
the Mail establishment, (which now employs some
twenty thousand persons,) that they should ahjure
obedience TO one OF the commandments OF God
Nor did they require OF the poor laborer, engaged
on canals, roads, other public works, that he
should teny himself tha, sacred IT ST which his
Creator ordained for him. They honorcd the Gsd
OF Heaven, and he blessed them. They reverenced
his law, and he guided them III safely and triumph.
If we would perpetuae these blessings, and rise
above national enbarrass ment and ENJOY union and
peace must initiate their example. But II has
been otherwise. The Government flor which the
people are all responsibility have sanctioned the car
rying aud opening of the mail on the Sabbath; and
thousands cf horses, and stages, and engines and
men TO guide them, have, fearless OF Heaven, been
put in requisiton on that holy day. Racars and
steamboats,, urged along on their iron or watery
paths by the avarice or reckessness OF man, have
proclaimed defiance 10 The God OF the Sabbath. The
canal.boat, freighted with merchandise and drawn
by the palen, horse denied by the rest ordained
for him. has continued its course on holy time.
Even The Church of the living God has been Ia
volved in the guilt of Sabbath desecraton. Multi
tudes Of laborers have been deprived OF the Heaven
appointed rest and the privileges of the Sanctuary.
The moral state Of the thousands denied this rest Is
lamenlabe in the highest degree. They have felt
that, surrounded by temptation and deprived of the
usual means of religious instruction, they have no
encouragement 10 lead sober life; they have in
many cases given loose 10 passion aud appetite, and
OF course been ruined many who, had they en-
loved the instructions OF the Sabbath, might have
risen 10 stations OF honor and happiness, here and
hereafter.
MIR. p. here related some affecting cases that had
fallen under his observation. But were these over
whelmng evils 10 continue lie believed not
The God OF the Sabbath had LAID his hand on the
business affairs OF the nation, and they were involved
in difficulties which could neither account for
nor aver,-diiic TO be terminated only by Wis
dom and blessing from on high. The conductors OF
yery many OF our public conveyances have been made
10 feel, that i, was improbable and dangerous TO
use the Sabbath for secular purposes. The en-
plo,ment of these conveyances on that day has in
nany instances ceased; and the change has been
found entirely satisfactory 70 all concerned. The
friends OF the Sabbath are more active than ever
before, and they meet no opposition worthy OF The
name. he mentioned some Railroads in Penns,l-
yania not used on the SsbbaIh; and one OF great
extent on which such arrangement was about
TO be made.
held in Harrisbureh, attended BY more than 9vV
deee eates-since which several county meetings had
been convened OF most interesting character, me
newspaper press had spoken much more ffeei! 'hsn
formerly and vigorous efforts were making through
GU, the State, 10 bring tie motives 10 sancni. ,ne