The hydraulic press., 1860-02-04
SABBATH LEGISLATION.

the observance OF the Christian Sabbath
Petitions for a Sunday law are pouring in
upon tire Legislature, and bill in compli-
ance with therh is now under consideration.
Those who ask its passage, we observe, have
adopted Kind of argument better calculated
to win attention than the old one The re-
| ligious character of the day is not promi-
nently urged, but we are told that it is ne
cessary for man to have day of rest which
he will not take, the inference is, unless
compelled by legal enactment This is a
fiimsy disguise of the prime object of all
Sabbath legislation, which is, to secure le-
gal recognition of religious festival. The
last hold of the Church upon the State is
through Sunday laws, and she is 10th to re-
| lirquish it. Now it appears to us, that when
religious sects are fally protected by statutes
against disturbance in their ceremonies of
worship, en- every other day as well as on
the first or seventh, they have obtained all
they are entitled to, and all that can be con-
| stitutionally and equitably granted them, if
| regard is had to the rights of the great out
side majority who belong to no sects There
| is just as much reason for compelling ces-
sation of labor and business on the Jewish
Sabbath as on that OF the Christian, and per
haps a little more, for the Jews have the
weight of Biblical command on their side,
while Christians can show no positive sane
ton of the Sabbath en- the part of their
great Master.
This whole question is one for public opn-
ion to settle. Moral suasion and considera-
tions OF convenience, health, enjoyment, as
well as decent regard for the customs of
pious neighbors, are gradually settling it
now. Several first rate towns in the State
observe Sunday as well as it is observed
anywhere. San Francisco and Sacramento
we can certify are models of Sabbatarian
propriety. Wherever the public sentiment
is in favor of observing the Sabbath, there
it will be observed, without legislation; to
compel its observance elsewhere would be
inconsistent with the religious freedom of
our institutions. If, as we are told the peo-
pie are clamoring for a Sunday law, it is
very strange they do not give proof of their
sincerity by keeping holy the day they pre-
tend to revere-strange that while the spirit
IS so very willing the flesh should be so weak
as to require to be pricked on to the per-
formance of sacred duty by the spur of
law! In a town not balloon-f Hight from
this, the very first parties to violate the
Sabbath law which was passed two years
ago and subsequently pronounced unconsti-
tutional by the Supreme Court, were among
those who had petitioned for its passage!-
Let all who believe in the special sanctity of
the seventh day regard it as they should,
and those who do not so believe will respect
the custom they inaugurste.
So far as the necessity of rest is concerned,
little need be said. The argument is plau-
sible, not convincing one. Must people
be compelledto rest, by any other laws than
thoseof nature? five over-work ourselves, we
do also over-eat ourselves, and should the
Legislature not pass a law to prevent that?
The one idea is no more absurd than the
other. We do need rest, and we obtain it in
a greater degree just in proportion as we
gain knowledge of the laws of health, and
as the sentiment of humanity on the part of
employers to employed increases, as it does
steadily. We arc of those who religiously
believe that every day is the Lords; that we
should not only worship every day, in that
practical manner which sanctifes the hum
blest life, but should so apportion our time
as to make each day yield us a sufficient
amount of recreation and repose Because
all men are not wise enough to do this, we
are willing our neighbors should take their
rest and piety in weekly installments, but
deny their right to enforce the luxury upon
others.