The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-22

laws so certain ofadvancing the welfare
of mankind as those enacted by Him
by whom the earth was made, and
under whose Providence all systems
have sprung into existence. Discard.
ing all speculative philosophy, we see
in clear and unequivocel testimony, the
revealed will of God for the govern.
ment of his creatures. His teachings
and his example have made known
the clear expression Of his authority,
that one day in seven is to be set apart
from all secular labors and toll, for
rest fo the minds and bodies of men,
that both may be devoted to his ser
vire. This duty is recognised by all
who live under the Gospel. The only
difference among any such people is in
regard to the day to be set apart. The
first of the week is recognised Us that
day in the faith and practice of the great
body Of the American people. The
exercise Of private, judgment, and tn.
practice of religious faith, are guaran.
tied by the IConstitution. But the
public tribunals have in more than one
instance, recognised us as christian
people. Hence laws have been enact
cd which look to the observance of
Sunday as dny Of rest, with pcnal-
ties attached to their riolatiun.-
While this recognition remains thus
sanctioned by law, und approved by
public opinion, the committee nny be
spared frui,lccs discussion uyon con.
ccdcd and admitted poin s. They
look simply to the facts as they find
them, and dcducc the conclusions,
which, i'll their Judgment, nccessari rilv
flow from them. One Of ,hcs,, and
perhaps it is sufficient for the present
purpose, is that no man can be held
blaneless for pursuing business on the
Sabbath day, (un!css demanded by
necessity or mercy.) The exercise on
that day OF calling by any man or
body CT men, which is not embraced
under on or the other Of these exccp-
tiuns, furnishes to all others of the BODY
polite just CAUSE for objection and
complaint. There is n maxim of the
law which maintains that you are not
t" use Your own, 50 as to injuro iii,
other, : SIC utere tho ut nor aliei,u,a
iedas.' Surely such arule may be ap.
piled with much more force to. the
feelings aitd conscience than to mere
property. There is no sufficient rca.
son known to your mcmorialiSts, why
the shop-kcercr in towns and cities
may not expose his wares ON Sunday.
while Rail Road Companies should be
excepted from similar prohibition.-
The evils is infinitely greater in the
latter case. Violations OF law, either
human or divine, are productive of
evil consequences of greater or less
extent, according to their relative in
iincmc>s. Thus it is held in moral
philosophy that public offences are
E'ore pelnicions than those enacted in
secret. The running Of trains Of cars
on Sunday is obnoxious to the evils
OF examples increased in pcrnicious in
ilnencr by the elevation in society of
those ut the head of affairs. 1t is the
experience of mankind that the habitu
III practice Of even an admitted evil,
begun, though it may have been in ne.
ccssity, removes by familiarity the
repugnance with which it is ut first cn-
cOuntercd.
Rail Road operations on Sunday are
fully liable to this objection. The
evils are not only posiHce but relatire.
There is sin in the thing done, aid
there is much evil in the breaking up
otgood habits of thought and action,
and the introduction of the contrarv.-
The operative or the traveller. sane
toned by the example Of those who
he snpposcs are more wise than he is,
abandons himself to destiny, he ilnag.
ines to be overruling, and which is in
truth, too powerful 10 he often resisted.
The pursuits Of any secular business
on Sunday, must have an especially
pcrnlcious effect Oh those whose opin.
ion and character are uniformed. Rail
Road operations are peculiarly liable
to this objection. The trains traverse
great distances, pass through many 10
calltIes, attracting great attention and
exciting curiosity wherever they 60
Thus tie evils are not confined either
to operatives or travellers; they ex-
tend 10 the eye-witncsses and observ.
crs, to the idlers who are attracted to
the stations, and to others whose atten
ton, whether voluntarily or otherwise,
is disturbed and distracted by the
noise and hustle and business, proper.
ly belonging only to the working days
of the week.
But the evil is more direct and i'm.
mediate, il extends with certain influ.
ence.to The officers, agents and EN-.
pl"yees Of the Company. The insti,u.
ton of one day in seven for rest and
exemption from toll, is not only the
divine command, and therefore entitled
to implicit obedience, but as utili,a.
rIan mrasnre, nothing known to man
can be more necessary and important.
We may well profit by tho experience
OF France in the reign OF terror, when
religion WAS dc,hroncd and reason was
procla med. The experiment of one
Sabbath i'll ten days, speedily proved
to that unhappy people, the FOLLY Of