The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-18

The suggestions of Mayor Brown, that the cars
of the Passenger Railway should be permitted to
run at stated intervals on Sunday, has attracted
the attention of the community, and given rise al
ready to some debate. That the proposition will
encounter violent and bitter opposition, we do not
doubt; and we may also presume that those who
advocate it will be Indignantly censured by that
large class of persons who grow angry when the
world disputes the necessity or propriety of any
rule of life which they themselves, think it right
or best to follow. There are also many good peo-
pie who will object to the proposed change, who
are neither blinded by mere sectarian preiudices
nor misled by prescriptive dogmas, but who are
conscendously of opinion that the recommends
ton of the Mayor is an invitation 10 the communi-
ty to commit deliberate and palpable SIM For
those who honestly regard the matter in this light
we have, of course, all possible respect and as il
is none of our business to discuss theological
points, we must simply content ourselves with ex-
pressing frankly and fairly dissent from their
views. We must, however, beg them to remem
Der that it is not the wicked and the worldly only,
who take issue with them for the authority of very
many learned and religious men, both of the laity
and clergy, can be adduced in support of the po-
sition we are disposed to assume The tendency
of the ablest minds of the day, to whatsoever de.
nomination they may belong, is towards more
liberal exegesis of the canons by which our conduct
in this particular is to be guided. This topic has,
perhaps m ore than any other, engaged the atten-
ton Of those English writers, who discuss religious
subjects in connection with the current events of
the day, and there is doubt about the fact, that
the prevailing sentiment OF the churchmen Of the
present time runs counter to the rigid asceticism,
which, as SYDNEY SMITH said, considers no Chris
''lian safe who is not dull" But these, as we
have already remarked are matters which it is
not within our province 10 treat at length We
must address ourselves then, TO the question from
the social point of view. Is the movement calcu-
lated to promote the cause Of morality, or
will it have the contrary effect? That
it will rebound TO the improvement, men
tai, moral and physical, of the peo-
pie, we can entertain doubt. The
iders who lounge on the street corners would be-
take themselves to the Park; and while the city
would be the better for their absence, we cannot
imagine that they would be the worse for little
country recreation. Those who seek the
stimulus of strong drink, in order to get rid OF
what is TO them day of idleness, might find amid
the woods and fields some sufficient pleasures, to
tempt them from the bottle; and surely he would
be pubic benefact0r who could induce any mum.
Der of young men to exchange afternoons de-
bauch for an evening stroll. The women who toll
so YEARLY through the week, and who spend
lonely Sundays in sitting garrets, would scarcely
be harmed by bracirg walk over the rugged
hills, and they who have kept vice and sin away
from the doors of their wre,ched homes would not
be apt to join companonship with these when
they met in purer atmosphere The sick, the
moor and the infrm would not be untitled to bear
their burdens because they had partaken of a few
hours of innocent enjoyment nor would they return
in less devotional frame of mind because they
brought back more cheerful hearts. We are salts
fed that if the Park is thrown open on Sunday af-
ternoons and if the access to it is made easy to all
classes of our citizens, the happiest results
msy b. anticipated. OF course the most stringent