The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-10-07

mCrotua1yi
at the bidding Of despotare requested to meet at
tin, American Office on Thursday evening next, at
711 O'Clock. Ggsih6NN lGt vsA tt2 T9g 6.t4
IN B-lThoss who are a,yaid to be seen by the
pumps and spies Of the bite House In the company
Of heir own countrymen, had better stay away.
local INTELLIGENCE.
THs SABsArH in WAsHINGroNs- There are about
sixty thousand inhabitants in the city Of Washing
tm. 1Of this number, it is estimated, that one in
toni, or six thousand of this population Of sixty
thousand, pay regard to the Sabbath day.
Fifty thousand people, who habitually neglect to
attend places Of public worshipl and great ma,
oaity Of whom spend that day in seeking their
own pleasure and amusement 'ia 4l \
Not only is this the case in Washington, but
there good reasons for believing that it is little,
il my better in other cities Of the country! How
is it that We as people have become habitual
he glecters Of the Sabbath day. 1t was not the
ease In former times. Our forefathers remembered
tho Sabbath day and kept 1t holy. We, their de-
sscndants, desecrate and profane it, and are re-
sl'onsible to Him fol. the manner in which thou
sands in our midst dishonor and profane, and de-
secrate it. "
"A stranger visiting our city, and wandering in
the direction Of Capitol Hill, some little northwest
Of the Capitol, might, with propriety, ask if there
was no law in Washington regulating the sale Of
iltoxicating liquors, and providing for the decent
:.aseryance Of the Sabbath day! He mould ask
the question, perhaps and the reply would be-
there are Laws prohibiting the sale of liquors on
that day-there are laws requiring that the places
where liquor Il sold shall be closed up on that day,
but these laws are not enforced, and consequently
disregarded- openly Enthusiastically set at
napght, and the officers whose duty it is to en-
force the laws laughed at and derided, or worse
STILL are parties to the fraud against the city gov
q, ament and enemies to the peace and quiet of
the cty-hand and glove with those who ha-
iitualy spend that day in drinking, carousing,
dancing, fighting, and. gambling through it's
sacred shours--who make no secret of their
Shame. but openly boast their violation Of the
law Of God and man, and tauntingly proclaim
81 ,ir right and privilege to spend their own
, sH . IN their own way, the law of man and
aeelaw Of God to the contrary Notwithstanding.
He would hear the sound Of music and the shut.
ding Of busy feet moving in the merry dance, and
he would hear loud and boisterous conversation,
and cursing and swearing; and, if he could under
stand the lingo, obscene and vulgar epithets, in
terpreted by equally low and disgracefu, and
vulgar acsions An this he would hear, and see,
and feel, on the Sabbath day in Washington
There is no concealment, or even an attempt at
sonceahnent. This thing is known to the authori.
tics, is known 70 the police, and has long been
known lit still exists, not alone on Capitol Hill
Int In many other places known as " Lager Beer
II, smother portion Of to city, on the Sabbath
day, not quite mile IS The above place, and
within sight and hearin ~ be seen, regularly,
assemblages Of men, arr It'll bandys, engaged
in the classical game OF shiny making the air
esotnd with their cries of exultation and defeat,
as victory perches upon one side or the other.
And here, too, may be seen women, spectators of
he exciting scene, whose noisy clamors help to
, ake hdeous the. hours of the day of rest. Il
not unfrequently happens, in this locality, that the
handles are converted into shelalies, and faction
litted against faction, engage in a regular fight,
which the women, slipping off their aprons,
which they use artistically, with stone fastened
In the centre, participate with the fury of demons
1t was not always thusl The day of holy rest
was once observed with, at least, decent regard
to outward observance. Time was, when even
God defying men and women, were compelled,
from decent regard 10 public opinion, to restrain
teir wicked propensities, and to respect the laws
aid the feelings Of others, however little they
felt it to be their duty to keep holy the Sabbath
Ivy. This state Of things was bad enough-but
we have been going from bad to worse. Our
children have been led away by the example of
q ose whom We have permitted to find home
pnong us. Gradually and imperceptibly, they
1--we, by evil example, and witnessing the impu-
nifty with which the laws have been violated, and
Il cir preconceved notions Of propriety and duty
act at nought and trampled upon-lost their venera
tion and regard for the sacred day-and now, the
,slildrep of American parents, initiating the ex-
nple of these transatlantic constitutional voters,
rown OF parental restraint, and initiate the per-
tcious example Of those who, in their own land
ipsarded not the Sabbath day--to keep it holy
Int we're taught to look upon it as day of recrea-
ton and pleasure, and amusement--a day for
thinking, and carousing, and dancing instead Of
attending the worship. of that Being, who has COM
manded that i be kept boly---and who have come
\ our land, bringing with them those practices
4 habits--the, result of education---to scatter
! n,,r American youth, the seeds of disobedience
!, uents. and TO the laws Of tie land.
q People of1washington, you know these things
n 80. win you apply remedy Elect men to
y dcc who viii faithfully administer the laws, and
y evil ia IN part at least remedied But so long
~ yon place men in power who look no higher
Ian party and who consider the success of their
Official friends paramount to any other consdera-
ion, and who prostitute their influence to that
ld--whos act upon the principle that the end
isfihes the rneans--who do not hesitate to com
mt murder 70 secure success, and who pander to
hs vices n the most depraved and vicious--so
ing WIN th's evil contin2e and increase, until we
' mai become nation Of dfunkards and Sabbath
'reskAs .,s .isa... PIX ..
Nj. ~ y. .AH