Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-04
TnE sUNDAY TRAvRI question has at last


found its way into our 5neighbor city, Pitts
burgh, aud is exciting good deal of interest
there. A meeting was held there few days
ago, by those opposed to theIunning of the
cars on the Sabbath day, at which strong reso-
lutions in, opposition to the proposed desecra-
ton, were passed.
This, we think, is one Of those questions
upon which the Press of the country generally
is peculiarly called to express its sentiments
Nor1does it belong only to the Religious"
Press to speak in this behalf; for admitting
that secular newspapers are justly nbsolvcd, or,
even Of you please should scrupulously alb
stain from intermingling in disputes belonging
to the field of religion, we have yet to say that
there is involved in this question another ques-
ton of purely q secular character. Upon that
we claim to have right to speak.
The bold ground taken by the advocates of
Sunday travel in Pittsburgh, is another pecu-
liar and urgent reason why the press, all over
the country, should come out and speak boldly
and plainly their sentiments. In support of
their position they maintain the monstrous
propositions according to the summing-up of
the Pittsburgh .IournaD that the Fourth Com
luauOuIGuS was uSSlElSu OillS lOE lu6 OG6SS ny
which the Serenth day of the week was to be
kept holy, and that there is no authority in the
New Testament for keeping the first Sunday
If these positions could be maintained, they
would efFectuate an entire overthrow of the in
stitution OF one sacred day in seven. And if
this, in turn, can be effectuated, then the whole
system of the Christian religion must dissolve.
We have no hesitancy in saying that the day
TINT witnesses the abolition of the sacred insti-
tuition of one holy day in the seven, will see
the complete, destruction of the Christian re-
ligion, and with'it the destruction. of all good
morals. ss
But We have said that there is purely secu-
lar question, of vast importance, involved. 1t
is no more command Of God, than it is a law
of our physical nature, that we should have
periodical days of rest from the labors of ordi-
nary life. The best statistics and the most
elaborate researches Of biological science show
that dag in seoen, of rest, is the essential re-
quirement of our physical existence This dis
plays, in the most wonderful degree, the harmo-
NOUS adaptation of our nature to the laws of
God. The common and statute laws of our
country therefore, in accordance with this law
OF nature and of revelation, wisely throw their
protection around the institution. The Sabbath
is as much legal day OF rest as it is by God
and nature required. But the Pittsburgh oppo-
nents of Sabbath sanctity make bold attempt
at destroying all the religious and moral and
physical benefits resulting fromit II the Sab
bath was designed only for the Jews, then none
but Jews were or are held to any respect for it;
and, if there is no authority in thelNeR Tesla.
ment for the keeping of the first then we, Chris
tans, are bound to keep neither the first nor the
seventh, and, (again) if bound to keep neither
of these, we are bound to keep no day as a
Sabbath!
What shall We say in answer to these mons
trous "doctrincs"2 How can a Christian suf.
ficiently express his adherence of them? The
Christian Sabbath has been respected and its
short returns welcomed, through the many
years of many generations, and in all this time,
it has alike been heaven of joy to the soul of
the Christian and a fountain of life to the secu-
lar man. Its benign sanctity and refreshing
quiet must still be preserved. If FOR none other
than the workingmnn, it must be preserved; for
tits peculiarly the workingman's day Upon
it the very slave, himself, has rest. Let work.
ingmen and all christians combine to preserve
its sanctity and strict observance.
Accounts from Scotland state that the drought
durinFr Nav and Dart oF limo xpas ro,ro- ,o,or,