Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-11-29
F6r the Enquirer
CHANGE OF COURT DAYS FROM
MONDAY.
To Msus anderson and .SomhQu Of The House
Of Delegates.

Of Delegates
Gentlemen VIII you allow an humble citizen
of Virginia UNUSED 10 see his thoughts 'in prnt)
10 address you, and through your respected names,
The General Assembly of Virginia, on subject
deemed. By many, 10 be one Of importancc-as it
certainly is, one OF deep in,eres. TO many OF your
fellow-citizens2 alludc to the proprety OF chang
ing such OF the Court days, OF The County Courts
of Virginia, as now occur on Monday, 10 some
other day in the week. You are aware, that Pc
ttons have been before the Legislature on this
subject. propose, briefly, 10 show, that the prayer
of such petitioners is no; only reasonable bulhat
no candid and liberal-mndca man can refuse 10
see, that the proposed change is in just respect,
due TO the feelings of respectable classes Of cti-
zens and voters in Virginia.
Almost every citizen has some business which
calls him 10 the Courts of his own county, as al
so 10 The Courts often, OF Other counties. This
fact is especially true of lawyers, who represent
the interests Of their many clents-n fact, the
interests OF most Of those whose business con-
meets them with the Courts. Others, not members
OF the bar are often called to Court as jurors wit
nesses, suitors and offic rs Of The CouH, and in
the discharge Of important duties required aiheir
hands BY the laws Of the land. You will readily
reflect that very large number of citizens will
be embraced in these classes. To attend the
Courts, las you we'll know often in the county OF
residence, and more frequently in foreign coun-
les. requires that a part ofthe Sabbath day should
be occupied: and preparation for the Courts
(by officers hotel keepers and others) also re-
quires some to take portion Of this day. This
is fell By many (though, for argument sake, will
grant, BY minority of the people,) 10 5sa serious
syicrancc and int0nrcnicnce-and that, loo, in tic
discharge Of larfa', and sometimes REQUIRED
dutu, ey r,olote ,rt0t they esteem 10 be The lap
Of God, 1ciich they eonseieattonay think they alOnN
obscrrc
Discardng for the present, the religious view,
properly speaking, of this question: sheer .jNstiee
and right appears TO me TO require, that the wish
es of our citizens who desire The change, should
be respected and their petitions granted. That
every one has the right 10 entertain his own OPT
MON of the sacrednesss OF the Sabbath day, no
one will deny You may call j, fanaticism, or
any other unpopular name you please-and the
Virginia Bill OF Rights guarantees 10 every citi-
zen ''Mc FREE czcrcise of Religion according 10
The dictates Of eon0icnee.n Now, Sirs, is there
any "frcc exercise" of your religious opinions
according TO the dictates Of your conscience" in
compelling you TO violate what you religiously
believe is Gods law?-to make it necessary for
you 10 do what You conscientiously disapprove?
1t will not do TO assert, that no one is compelled to
go to Count or 10 attend 10 secular business on
the Sabbath-to say, that the lawyer need not
practise law, or may go the Saturday before
that the grand-juror Tin some counties thirty or