Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14
rN TooMMUNIcATED1
Mr.. Conway and the Sabbath Observance

tt.H Committee.
To tle Editors Of he Daily Press:
AS one of the persons interested in the
plans and operations of the Sabbath. Observ-
snce Committee in this city, read in Mon
DAYS Press Mr.. Conway's address on the
subject, with great csrefulness. think he
has fallen into some errors and inconsistent
cies, which ought to be corrected.
he charges the Committee with protesting
one thing and intending another. This is a
7 grave ofense, if true, and ought not TO be
lightly made. .-.....
He says, "They aver that they are only
seeking to correct such evils as have grown
up in defiance of the laws,p aud charges
that in fact "the movement is an effort to
replenish deserted churches, to set up sacri-
fice rather than mercy to 1.-THE the mint,
anise and cummin by law, to the neglect OF
the weiPhtier matters of justice, mercy, and
good faith" He says again "This society
wishes to enforce something not in the law.
That is The why the new Sanhedrlm Police
is formed. Our law is too free and latitude
marian for them; it does not enforce Puri-
tanicAl pietism; it is not dyspeptic enough"
Now, what proof does Mr.. Conway bring
to the support Of this charger 1t is simply
this: That the Committee, in their circular,
nave untruly alleged that there is any
legal authority in this State to make the
first day of the week day for moral cul-
ture, or to suppress news-crying or amuse-
ments on that day"
The first part of this specifca ton is not
correct in point of fact; the Committee have
made no allegation of any legal authority to
enforce the observance of Sunday as a day
of moral culture. What they do say is,
that the evils they seek to correct have
grown up in defiance of law, and threaten to
destroy the Sabbath as day of moral cul-
fnra r.-sl1 - l.. -
choosing have right to use the day for
that purpose, equal to Mr.. Conway's to use
it for his purposes; and to be protected in
that right, against all who violate the law.
Whether news crying on Sunday be con
trary to Jaw, depends on whether it is COM
mon labor. Mr.. Conway says not because
it is-uncommoni Whether this be not our
argument, it is hard to decide; in either
category, it must be regarded as quite un
common, And yet Mr.. Conway IS incon-
sistent enough to claim that the Sunday
trade in newspapers is necessary means Of
livelihood to many supported by it; and de-
nounces the Committee as Pharisees of de-
pTaved disposition; supetstitious, cruel and
unjust, in seeking, under the pretense of
quiet Sabbaths, to suppress this occupation.
Did MI. Conway observe that the Commit.
tee, in their circular, has urged the sup
preston of nescS crying not neacs seltind7-of
the noise, not the trader "'.'"F'd ~
Bnt on his own principles Mr. Conway
should join in the movement he denouucesl
He asserts the right to periodic rest as sacred !;
the duty must correspond. He says it has
the sanction of an indestructible law Of ma
tuTe. Ia1sv y slsil 4iG gsyBa a o'-T o
Is not this rest, then, of the news.boy's
rights--which are also the rights of the peo-
pie h Will he not aid in securing it from
invasion and destruction, even if the case
must be carried through every court of the
State How can Mr.. Conway reconcile the
Inconsistency Of resisting what he declares to
be "the DEGREES of nature, which have given
to all classes and ages their day of frest3h :"
Mr.. Conway objects that there is no au-
thority Of law to suppress. amusements on
The Committee, undoubtedly, did not in
tend to urge the suppression by law, Of all
arnusements on that day. The connection Of
their language shows this. They only
meant such amusements as are forbidden by
law.
! Ofthese, some are declared to be unlawful
expressly and by name-such as sporting
! hunting, fishing, shooting, playing at mar.
bles, quoits or other game or sport
IT, Others are unlawful, as involving on the
part of those who exhibit in them, or assist
at them, the performance of common labor;
/ such as musical entertainments by hired
singers or bands, theatrical performances by
play factors, all amusements participated in
at public places provided for that purpose
and to which an entrance fee is charged bill.
lizards played at tables hired by the game
rolling ten pins, &c. H'
Does Mr.. Conway mean to assert that ia
seek the suppression of such designations on
\, Sunday belongs to the superstition of Phari.
sees2 That when Christ maintained his
right as Lord of the Sabbath to pluck ears o.
corn on that day, he was pleading for i'm
niunity to the vicious and frivolous time
killing of modern Sabbath -breakes2 Il
he would tolerate such things, what would
he forbidf Nothing remains to be forbid,
preaching, and other accredited means O
"moral culture" s. M.