The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-07-14
The Sabbath Convention.
NORTHUMBERLAND, June 90. 1910

NORTHUMBERLAND, June 20, l8i9.
Al pursuance of notice previously civ.
en- In the several papers of this region, tho
friends of the Sabbath met in Gesq.Y.', I,or..
van'oa at 10 O'clock A. NJ, in the Pres
oyierian church fold school of this place.
on motion Mr.. Castor was elected
Chairman and ]. J. A.Morgap. Secre,,-y
Inc Convention being organized was
,'en opened with prayer by Rev. George
Foote.
on motion, it was resolved, that each
person IN a attendance whether delegate
or not be invited to take part in the Con.
yention.
Oh motion committee Of SIX, consist
ing OF Rev. Foote, Riltenhouse, Crawfori
and Messrs. Durham, Shannon and We'll
rick were appointed to prepare business
for the Convention.
After some d.suI,ory discussion the
Convention adjourned for recess until >
o'clock p. M.
2 o'clock P. NJ.
Convention met and proceeded to bus.
ness Inc com. appointed to prepare
o"Si"cSS lor convention reported the fol-.
lowing memorial.
10 the Honorable Senate and House of
Representatives, of the Commonwealth Of
pennsylvania in Legislature assembled
The subscribers, citizens of,he common.
wealth OF Pennsy Ivania, would respect.
Iuliy represent that they regard the y:gb,
q Pet't'o" as sacred and iaviolute in eyerv
Tree government: and that while it IL tie
duty of thegoyerned to preserve due re-
spect for the constituted authorities i, tba
matter and manner of their petitions tSo,,
may c'@'m " as sacred right, growing
out Their lnylolable right Of petition, that
their petitions should be heard, and ne,sI
upon as their Importance demands. It is
not enough that their petitions be read and
Referred or laid on the table. The rigbt
'l petition implies a corresponding right
10 expect that their wrongs should be re-
lrcssed' IN all matters affecting their Der.
sons their interest, and their conscience
he reception Of petitions, anil giving them
respectful hearing merely, while no an
proPnate action Is had on the matter Of
hese petitions, is an admission of the in
volatility ofthe right Jpetition in theory
'ut deni@ of tin practice. 1t was one
'i the grounds Of complaint of the colonies
against the king of Great Britain, and one
'f the reasons why they took up arms 10
rec themselves from despotic power, that
lo had refused 70 pass laws "of immedat,
md pressing importance, wholesome and
necessary to the public good" That is
y free goUermmcntj in which The yea-
'ona5te remonstrG'ce of the people, how
'ver small NAV be their number, is not ac
ed upon' and their wrongs speedily redress
led.
Your Petitioners would represent that
hey are aggreved by those regulations of
hegoycrnmentunder which they iyc,which
-
lllow the public works to be uscd On the
Lords day; That they have right to re-
yard this regulation as grievance, is cvij-
mt from the fact, that while men who are
engaged in the ordinary avoca'ons Of
he farm and of the shop on the Sabbath.
tay, are liable to prosecution and fine, 9TH
er men employed on the public works arc
required by the agents Of the common
wealth 10 perform their ordinary avocations
on said day under penalry of dsmission
from the public employment. We are
people, claiming and entitled
to enjoy equal rights. This claim is in-
herent in the structure of a free govern,