The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-07-07
Sabbath Convention.
NORTHUMBERLAND, June 90, lS49.

y" ~ WV 9S'Sl"l PdPClS vi ulls region, the
friends oflhe Sabbath met in General Con-
yendon at 10 o'clock A. NJ, in the Pres
bytcrian church old school of this place.
On motion Mr.. Castor was elected
Chairman and J. ]. A.MytgaO, Secretary.
The Convention being organized was
then opened with prayer by Rev. George
FOote,
On motion, it was resolved, that each
person in attendance whether dclegate
or not be invited to take part in the Con.
vCntion.
On motion a committee of six, consist
ing of Rev. Footc, Riuenhouse, Crawford
and Mcssrs. Durham, Shannon and We'll
rick were appointed to prepare business
for the Convention.
After some desuliory discussion the
Convention adjourned for recess until Q
o'clock Pm
2 o'clock p. NJ.
Convention met and proceeded to busi-
ness. The com. appointed to prepare
business for Convention reported the fol-
lowing memorial.
TothG Honorable Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania in Legislature assembled.
The subscribers, citizens of the common
wealth Of Pennsylvania, would respect,
fully represent that they regard the right
Of petition as sacred md inuiOlate in every
free governments and that while it is the
duty of the egovemed to preserve due re-
speCt for the constituted authorities in the
matter and manner of their petitions. they
may claim II as a sacred right growing
out their inviolable right of petition, that
their petitions should be heard and acted
'pOn as their importance demands. 1t is
not enough that their petitions be read and
referred, or laid on the table. The right
of petition implies corresponding right
to expect that their wrongs should be re-
dressed, in all matters affecting their per-
sons, their interest, and their conscience.
The reception of petitions, and giving them
respectful hearing merely, while no ap-
propriate action is had on The matter of
these petitions, is an admission of the in
volatility ofthe right ofpetition in theory
but denial of lin practicc. 1t was one
of the grounds of complaint of the colonies
against the king of Great Britain, and one
of the reasons why they took up arms to
free themselves from despotic power, that
he had refused to pass laws "or immediate
and pressing importance, wholesome and
necessary to the public good" That is
Of a free government in which the rea-
GOnaJSe re0l0nStranCe Of the people, how
ever small may be their number is not ac-
and their wrongs speedily redress
5cd.
Your Petitioners would represent that
hey are aggrieved by those regulations of
hcgovornmcntundcr which they iye,which
allow the public works to be used on the
Lords day. That they have right to re-
yard thts regulation as grievance, is evid-
2nt from the fact, that while men who are
Engaged in the ordinary avoca,ions of !
he farm and Of the shop on the Sabbath
lay, are liable to prosecution and fine, 9TH
}r men employed On the public works arc
required by the agents of the common
wealth TO perform their ordinary avocations
IN said day under penalry of dismission
rom the public employment. We are
1rolcssedly people, claiming, and entitled
10 enjoy equal rights. This claim is in
lercnt in the structure of a free govern.
mcnt, such as that under which we live
Now if the agents of the government do
require the collectors and those who have
charge Of the locks, and the officers and
their subordinates on our other public
works to perform their ordinary duties on
the Lords day, they will thus exclude all
hose who wish conscientlously to observe
he Sabbath from public employment An
odous monopoly is thus established, and
he emoluments Of public employment are
made the reward of disregard of the laws
Of God and Of the commonwealth.
In addition to this the violators of these
avs are furnished with facilities in busi-
ness, by using the Sabbath-day which
others connot enjoy, because that by rea.
'on of existing usageS, they are subjected