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

'''N''' - w INC otdcT
which providence had ordained for his
guidance, ana the nation who vainly
Imagined themselves wise, speedily
acknowledged their folly and returned
to the system they had vainly en-
deavored to explode. We may wei
pause to enquire whether the French
people with one Sabbath in ten days.
were less wise or less sinful than that
portion Of us who in practice postpone
it indefinitely. The baneiul effects of
Sunday breaking could not be estima-
ted, if it pcrvadcd all classes of suvicty.
1t would not be llnzarding too much
to say that the tendency would be a
relapse into u condition Of imperfect
civilization. If such n state Of society
can be pictured in imagination, the
evils Of it could no, be even cuniectur-
ed.
IL will not be questinned that there
is wisdom rs well as bencvulencc in
that beautiful organization OF man into
the arrangement Of the family. 1t
might well be argued on proper oc-
casicn, that that Society would ap-
proximatc the nearest towards per
lection as it rcscmbled this beautiful
economy Of our system. Perhaps
nothing can bcimagined which is bet
ter calculated to preserve it in its puri
ty than the observance OF the Sabbath.
The Committc, if time permitted,
might well illustrate the beneficial in
hucncc Of this day, in restoring the
wasted powers, soothing and calming
passions agitatcd by contact with men
and business. And just in proportion
to the cXac:iuns of secular duties, with
the warning conflicts to which they
give rise, is the happy influence Of the
day which restores the lost cqualibri-
um i'll the minds OF those compelled to
daily toll. Can any influence be more
pa pablc for evil than that which for
bids the return of the laboring man on
Sunday to the home of his family, his
pleasure and his cnj"ymcnts. The
practice of rail road travelling strikes
at the very root Of all such benefits,
and defeats a Wise and benevolent in
stitutiun. 1t Injuries the head ofthc
family by depr;viny him ut' that rcposc
which is needed for the mind md for
the soul. 1t deprires these commit
ted to the care q his society, his coun.
sci and his Hamplc, und it Injuries ali
who see him violating the Sabbath
himself by recvnciling them to similar
departure.
The committee lcsirons of not tres
passing on your patience have put forth
but one or two OF the leading thoughts
in the consideration Of this important
question: They assume that they adj
dress men acknowledging the laws
and government of the Great and All
wise Ruler Of The universe. Their ar.
guments are prcdielted on the obliga-
tion acknowledged by all, however
i'npeltectly they may be carried out,
to obey Him who has the right to com
mand The service of his creatures. But
they are aware that many who admit
these promises, avoid their conclusions
on otllor grounds. The argument is
that trains could not be stopped on
Sunday without the greatest derange-
mcnt to the profits If the road, the
transportation Of the mails and the
commerce of the country. Ifthis view
was incontrovertiblc, which the Com.
mittee by no means admit-.no sufIi
cicnt reason would bc furnished for the
violation complained Of. The obliga-
ton for the observance Of Sunday he
ing admitted, there can possibly be but
the two grounds already noticed, on
one or the other of which it can alone
be excused. These are either errands
OF mercy or works OF necessity. The
former has no application to the Rail
roads except i'll such extreme cases
that they scarcely be mentioned. The
latter is OF occurrence much more rare
than the appoligisls for Railroad or
any other Sunday work are usually
willing to init. If wo look around
us to agriculture-to colnmercc-to
all the busy pursuits of men, we meet
with no such plea of necessity. as is
made for Railroads. The planter or
the farmer no matter how great the pre-
ssure of seasons and his crops, suspcnds
his labor and rest from his toll. Com
mcrcc is still more cngrossing-days
follow rapidly and contracts approach
maturity. Failure to meet engage
ments entails certain blclnish on the
reputation of the merchant, and the
day and the hour, is often of countless
value to him. And yet what would
be thought OF the planter, who would
SOW his seed or harvest bis crup-of
the merchant who would make the
vain effort to collect bis funds together.
Or even the bank wbch receive pay.
inent OF its notss On the Sabbsih.-
Men in other pursuits and under other
institutions, under equal pressure of
business, yield their pressing demands
to the Obligations ef the moral law
and the corresponding influence of the
public sentiment. Are Railroads to
constitute the almost solitary cxccp-
ton?
lhe Committee have seen elsewhere
satisfactory solution of the expert.
ment; they have seen in Boston, viii,
ITS iiIty or more rail roads and nun,cr.