The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-06

The Pieus Frsuds Of shs sAbSstarias1.
Yesterday We published the last Sunday Law, |
pasfed In April Of this year, which has 50 ex-
cited the 'Germau population and other citizens
as to induce them, in sereral districts, to insist
upon pledge for its repeal from candidates
for the Legislature This bill is worthy of the
puritanica, Jesuits who drew up previous bill,
which, uHder false name, they attempted to
impose upon the State. and actually succeeded
in cheating the whole Legislature who passed
it into the belief that 1t was for totally differ
ent purpose than the observance Of Sunday.
Governor Morgan, though agreeing with the
Sabbath Committee in their main object could
not consent to lend himeelf to 30 palpabie q
fraud, and accordingly vetoed the bill Gu the
ground that it was not what its title indicated,
and that II went TO such an extreme length ~
to strike deadly blow at innocent amusemenh
on the other six days Of the week as well as
on Sunday.
The title of the bill was "An act TO amend an
act entitled an act to create fund ia aid o; the
Society for the Reformation Of Juvenile Delin-
quents in the city Of New York, and for other
purposes" Who would suppose that under this
blind was hidden one of the most purtanical Sun
day laws ever passed, worthy of the palmy days
Of Cotton Mather. An act had been previously
In existence creating fund for the charitable
society above named by applying fines of yari-
GUS kinds to that object, but there was nothing
whatever about Sunday in it The title, Ysays
Governor Morgan, "wholly fails to convey any
idea Of the contents or actual purposes OF the
bill, and | have reason to believe that 1t was ia
consequence Of this that it was allowed to pass
without discussion, 30 that its true character
and object were only discovered after its final
is two edged sword-it cuts both ways-it
shows how little attention the republican Legis-
lature Of the last session paid to the public
business, when such bill could pass without
any of the members knowing its contents; and
the fraud of the title is well worthy of the Tar
tufes, the Mawworms, the Cantwens and tbs
Joseph Surfaces who have originated the late
agitation against drinking lager bier on "the
Lords day." and whose true types may DO
found in the saints who used to kill cat on
Monday for catching mice on Sunday.
This bill was levelled at all places of amuse-
ment by compelling them to pay, even for con-
cert rooms, a license of $500 per annum. The
result of this provision says the Governor,
"would be TO close upon the other days Of the
week many innoceht and beneficial places OF
amusement, whose profits are not sufficiently
large to enable them to pay the sum" The
other parts of the bill were of such nature a.
TO induce Mr.. Morgan to say that "its provisions
are 80 sweeping as to defeat the objects Of iu
framers." 1t might be justly called bill 70
make prisoners in their own houses of the whole
population of the city for one day out Of seven.
This was too bad for even the Commissioners Of
Police to attempt to engineer through the Le-
eislature. Though very willing to oblige the
Committee, they did not think it prudent or safe
to run tilt TO such an extent against public
opinion. They declined to make such whole
sale onslaught upon the civil and religious
liberties Of the people. There was nothing left
but to smuggle it through the Legislature, like
q SLAYER under false colors. They succeeded
with the vigilant Legislature, but Governor
Morgan discovered the cheat and would
not take the responsibility Of endorsing II.
Nothing daunted, they 60 to work again and
perpetrate another pious fraud which, this time
the pious Morgan swallows. They got up .
sew bill, which, with the most indecent haste,
they hurried through the Legislature ct the fAg
end Of the session, before the public were
aware Of the movement That the republican
party are responsible for il we proved yester-
day by the votes and the committee who put 1t
through. Though we republished II yesterday.
We now wish to call special attention to some Of
its provisions.
BY this measure the innocent enjoyments OF
"the garden and ~the concert room" are pro-
hibited, and every description Of dramatic
performance or parts Of the same OF
course oratorios and sacred concerts are in
cluded, and the beautiful airs from the operas
sometimes played without the words in eur
churches, and sometimes with other
words suited to the occasion, accord
Ing 70 the example OF John Wesley,
who stole for his hymns the tunes of the most
popular songs, remarking that the devil had
appropriated all the beautiful music.
The penalty for violation of this act Is FIVE
hundred dollars, besides Imprisonment for the
offence a. misdemeanor; and the nice point
Of the law is that 1.-THE Society for the Refor.
nation Of Juvenile Delinquents" are authorized
TO sue for and recover the penalty, and apply
IL TO their own nse. This was deemed essential
because the Sabbatarians knew that II so IN.
popular and unconstitutional law were left to
be administered In the ordinary way, II would
not be carried out to their satisfaction any
more than the other Sunday laws. They co.,
cluded that the bait Of the ane would
work like charm, aud that charitable so
ciety, some of whose members are members
Of the Sabbath Committee, would be induced
to prosecute, In order to get hold Of the
II hat xho kax