Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-18
CITY COUNCIL.

TAFT Jos NJ. Darlington. John Dove, r. o. Haskiua. r.
W. Hax.ll. D: sl.ds kianiard. J. N. wickham, W.
.Goddin. and L. w. Chsmbersyne. IN
report sabmued from the Port wardcss for this
City, stating that they have held Tor tho past twelve
ing to S33S 81.
And the said report having been read aud received tho
Council proceeded the election Port wardens for IN,
year commencing ls inst and William Burk Luther Lib
by and John Lester were reelected.
report was submitted from Thomas Loo, msa.ursr Of
grain aud other articles for ak months ending 3st May
last showing that he has during that period
eS73ai bushels Of corn 81 ssi bushels oats; 1854 bush
| els potatoes, and ass bushels peas
And that his fees amounted S467 60.
And the report was received and approved.
Present. Messrs. JOS. Mayo and J. s. Caske.
The Chamberans Of debts and balances due TO
the City, required by resolution Of tho Council 29h
June last having been laid before Council and read
On motion OF Mr. Heath, it referred to tho Commit
tee Of Finance.
The bond Of N. B. and E. b. Hill, as Auctoascr. for
the sale OF slaves only having been submitted 1, sp
and license granted accordingly provided the bond
| be rc-scknowledged aud aiissied
memorial was presented q large number of citi-
zens asking tho improvement Of Shoekoe Hill Market by
the erection OF sheds the lot Marshall street
Tor the accommodation OF persons attending tho market
| from the country.
| the committee OF Shoekoe Hill Market
petition presented from sundry citizens, for the
construction OF euvert Grace street. western
line OF Union street to the line Of 18th street. to
prevent the overflow Of water.
On motion Of Mr.. kinniad, it was referred TO the conn.,
mssicncu OF streets for jefferson Ward with
to report on the expectancy and tho improve
menL
The following presented from the select COM
mittce the subject
The committee to whom referred the petition OF
Edward {. Mayo ESQ., concerning the street lately con-
demned between lith and 18th had the same
under and opinion that further action
on the subject entirely unnecessary They respectfully
submit the following resolution the Council Tor m adop
| ton:
Resolved, That the Committee to which was referred
the petition OF Ed C. Mayo ESQ., be discharged from the
! further consideration thereof
| And the resolution o the com mittee was adopted
| On motion of Mr.. Crane,
Resolved. That the commissioners streets for hadi-
son Ward be directed nodly Mr. Ed e. Mayo to re-
move the building from the ground condemned extend
Dock street TO l4h within dave from the time
OF giving said aud hs the order directing the sale
! o said building made the llth day OF NAV be- and
the same is hereby reseinded.
Resolved, That the commissioner streets for Madi-
son ward be- and they are hereby authorized
Tor tue hng up aud grading OF Dock street. from 4h 10
| $50.
petition presented from owners of furniture VS.,
gons Tor reduction Of the tax their licenses; which
was read, and on motion OF Mr. Caske. referred TO
select committee, with leave report by ordinance or
| otherwise
Commee-Messrs. csskie, Darlington and Chamber
| layne.
memorial presented from j. NJ Patton and otber.,
complaining OF nuisance existing 9Th street between
the Washington Tavern and Main street, and suggesting
| remedies therefor.
On motion OF Mr.. caskie the said memorial wa. refer
red to the Commissioners OF Streets generally TO report
| thereupon.
| Mr.. Mayo presented the following report:
The committee to whom referred the subject OF an
ordinance Tor the eectua suppre ssion OF Sabbath
breaking, passed on the Ilh day of August Is45 with
leave 10 report by ordinance otherwise beg leave to re-
| port:
That though the ordinance under consideration nj ay be
liable 10 the construction that placed on IL n.
applying TO Sunday religious Sabbath your commtee
believe that this 10 msapprehenson OF the true meaning
OF the ordnance for however unsuarded the language
used your committee OF opinion that neither the Lee
gsatue City Council, have any power or control over
that day Sabbath, than any other day. The gov
eminent either State city, responsible for
the religion Of tho community except so far ma hcv are
bound 10 protect each and every member thereof peace
ably exercising his religious devotions such manner as
10 him shall seem fit, from being disturbed BY
As TO what day should observe n religious Sab
BATH or what he should do that day. provided his
conddct peaceabe and neither obstructs others in their
religious worship disiuTbs the good order Of society
your committee think should be left to man and his
Creator, without other ordnance than the fourth
| commandment The power regulate Sunday or
other day religious Sabbath so far from BEING con-
erred the City Council by the plain
OF the constitution and genius OF withheld
even from the Legislature who in fact pliedly permit,
the dealing with slaves that day. with the of tbe,
masters: H. Rev. Code c. 305 500 and if the Couneil
have the regulate the men on Sunday
as religious Sabbath they have equally the power TO es
tAbsh day OF altogether And the evil which
gave rise TO the ordinance springs of fact that on
that day the slaves and free negroes which constitute the
larger portion Of labOrng class are out of euovmen,
and therefore much liable commit crime the ar
gument would tend to abolish the Sabbath day of rest
| ~-~6NN'' AIMS nv S'a@eHtV "hAto'N IeuBlon, would
| agree TO.
the Of the Council 10 enforce the oh
servanee OF Sunday as religious Sabbath however
the effort II would have been manly and less liable
TO msconsucon, at have declared that Sunday
should be the only religious Sabbath then to have or
daned, Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day: and an
pointed some officer f such could found) competent 10
have the same fulfilled and observed But your commits
tee satisfied that this is miseonsueton Of the or IL
nance IL conycts the Council OF doing that which thew
bound to prevent, for instead projecting all in the
Peaceable enjoyment OF their Sabbath il hinders
large and respectable portion Of citizens doing it,
Your committee conclude this branch Of their report by
expressing their conviction that dangerous power Of
meddlng with the Sabbath a religious institution vn,
never designed b. christian community to be conferred
either upon the Legislature any body corporate which
| IL might create.
Your committee well that upon the Sabbath
upon every other day OF rest they have before re-
marked, vicious population OF slaves and free negroes
let loose upon the community in dloness; and in the
present state Of our police, with almost unlimited scope
70 indulge their illicit propensies, and that adequate
means should DO adopted by the Concil check them
But your Committee Of opinion that these means
should the enactment Of ordinances on the sub
Jec but 10 efficient Of the statute laws
| Of the Commonwealth, much penal and adequate
than any ordinance which can be Tassed by the Council
The great evil which this ordinance intended 10 reach
IL the Illicit traffic on Sunday with slaves and free negroes
appears by the report Of the who introduced
the ordinances; evil amply provided for by the statute
laws Of Virginia, will appear by consulting the edition
| Of Taie's Digest where they embodied.
Your committee are Of opinion. that guard the city
from violation Of the Law from such sources Sunday
we'll as every day OF holiday the City Police 70.
quires augmentation and that with such augmentation
the Police efficiently perform the duties prescribed by tho
acts Of Assembly referred to- all will be accomplished that
10 necessary.
Although the ordinance force finds its precedent
ia legislative act committee nevertheless OPP
posed 10 ~ not only ss being Unnecessary but because
cOniers the magistrate the arbitrary power Of deciding
upon tho scts Of mon, in defined and prohibited
but which made criminal not according the
cso Of hs discretion TO whit charitable and what
necessary Your conattoe are Of opinion that every pen
al law should clearly and IN terms define. the net be
done omitted, that constitutes the crime that the CT
tzen upon looking OF the statute should clearly Whist
act that he prohibited from doing commanded
do. This ordinance. we'll the statute law upon which
u IS founded. wants this fret element Of penal statute
What citizen may think very necessary or very be.
novOent charitable act and therefore very conscientious
y perform II on Sunday, may Monday morning be
sdofed Al tho Mayors Court, very unnecessary and
one not 81 all benevolent charitable, and he thereby be
mndo unconscious victim 10 difference Of opinion up
on subject Of necessity charity benevoleneo between
cd fha thr