The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-03

TOO Convention, "a fact whch Nr. Cobb see,ps
also 10 have overlooked Very well. As the
President has given him good length Of rope
IL, hilu run to the end Of it,
x .-----------------~
sne Sunday Relaxation Movsrnsnt--Ssadiay
Laws md their Erect.
We continue to receive numerous commuuIca
tions exhibiting the gratifying chaoge that j.
going on in public opinion in relation to the Sun
day laws and practices prevailing among us, ana
the social ban that prevents our working class
from enjoying on their only leisure day in the
week innocent healthy aid moral relaxation.
Among these is copy Of counter memorial
against the enforcement Of the Sunday laws"
signed by several Of our city clersymen in behalf
of the remonstrsnts, and which hiss been pre-
scented TO the Metropolitan Beard Of Police Cop,-
missioners. These gentlemen make strDng ar
gument on the legal points Of the Case. They
open with citing the section Of the consultation OF
this State which guarantees 10 every mas the
free exercise aud enjoyment OF religious profes
lion and worship" and then show with logical
precision that the aim of our Sunday legislation
is to make people observe that day according
to the doctrinal tenets of certain distinct class
Of religionists." They cite the fact that the So
preme Court of one of the States Of the Union has
declared all its Sunday laws unconstitutional.
and, consequently, imperative and refer TO tbe
fact that in this city, as well as elsewhere, the
Sunday laws have become imperative through
the silent but controlling action of public optc-
ion. Their answer to the temperance argument
Of the advocates must puzzle those zealoos
gentlemen not little. It may be summed up III
this question: Why do you, III your eadeavors
10 suppress the vice Of intemperapce, make any
distinction between the several days Of the week.
We ourselves should like to know how they will
make out that there is any difference between
the grades Of right or of wrong on different
days.
There are many other strong points in their
counter memorial" but we have not space to
refer to them all We will cite but two of them
In illustration Of the effects OF sectaran Sunday
legislation, they refer to the Sunday liquor law
that now prevails in Scotland. II has been found
desirable to have its operation investigated by a
effect was made in Parliament Lord Melgund
stated the collateral evils that could be traced to
the law were undoubted and undeniaole, while IL
was doubtful whether Sunday intemperance had
at all decreased. The remonstrants then
respectfully suggest to the Commissioners
that as Police Board they have nothing
more to do with the Decalogue Of Moses than
they have with the Alcoran of Mahomet or the
Sbasters of the uindoo Brabmins The coun-
ter memorial" closes with the following extract
from decision Of Judge Black. the present At
torney General Of the United States -
Those among us believe that tue on of the
Jewish Sabbath has been ngraed tue Christian sys
tenn and changed from the seventh the rst DAY the
week, have right 70 propagate their doctrine by their
own example Of upright walk aud Conversation fe
and by charity to these VINO differ ,hem. rney
must get their arguments from Revelation though and
not from the Statute book Religious rgo ssks NO favor
planting oak In dollhouse s more aloable than
that Of sheltering Christianity under legal
Another Of our correspondents, who signs
himself Justice" puts to us a series of pretty
strong questions, which we think it might be in
vidious in us to answer. We submit the follow
ing from among them to whomever it may con-
Germ -
Why is It that all places ordered ana required 10 be
closed except German saloons, when they allowed all
kinds Of drinking, because the place called ager Beer
Saoon," and where billiards played all day while
AN American saloon keeper dare NOT uncover his billiard
table because be may be interfsred with9
The fact is, all these attempts to make people
moral, virtuous and happy by act of Legisla-
ture, have ever failed to attain their object and
always will fail. Until more healthy and limo.
cent means Of Sunday relaxation are opened
to the people than the drinking saloons and dens
of the city, these will continue to defy the law
and to prosper. The very fact that they have
been able to do so f6r 80 many years proves that
they receive support from the public. And
this fact proves another: that our Sunday laws
provoke an unhealthy feeling OF opposition and
contempt for the law, rather than stimulate, as
they should, q law-abiding spirit among the
people.