The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-06
The Murfulk gust.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1865.
BREAKING DOWN THE BAR
RIERS.
From the New York journal Of Commerce.

from the New York Journal of Commerce.
To defend the Sabbath Is noble work,
worthy any mans pride, but a Phila-
delphia newspaper boasts that it has
succeeded in reducing respect for that
day. The enterprise is found to pay.
The same newspaper proprietor mani
tests desire to advance further in the
same direction by advocating the repeal
of laws and ordinances which support
the sanctity of Sunday. The spirit ex
cited by these innovations, among the
betterclass ofcitizens, cannot be doubted.
The disposition with which this warfare
against Christian usages and good
morals Is carried on can be judged of by
the following extract: stI
THE PEOPLE VS.. THE PROsCRIPTIyE
AND INTOLERANT CLERGY.-Our table
is covered with letters and communica-
tions from citizens, far and near, repre-
senting trades and professions of all
kinds, applauding the course of the
Press against the unprovoked prescrip-
ton and unch tristan Intolerance of some
of the clergymen In this city. We learn
that petition has already been started,
and is being signed by thousands, adj
dressed to our public authorities, asking
such legislation as will authorize the use
of the city passenger cars on the first
day of the week, and also that steps are
being taken preparatory to public meet
ings in support of this important mea-
sure. Never have the boosted conser-
vators of public order and the ostenta-
tious exemplars of public morals COM
mitted 30 profound q blunder as when
they supposed that they would be sup
ported in attempting to conduct cause
less crusade against an independent
journal, and TO check and choke down a
manly effort to give the toiling masses
the same facilities for enjoying day of
rest that are freely afforded to the people
elsewhere. We predict that the Press
will be sustained, and that the innova-
ton will be SO wholesome and unex-
ceptionable as to convince all men by
its results of the utter uncharitableness
of the present pharisaical antagOnism.
That must be an indurated conscience
that can rest when prosecuting such an
unholy work, joining hands with the
enemies of Christianity in undermining
those institutions which have blessed
the world for ages and have made Amer
lea illustriOus, stoutly defying the So
called "intolerant clergy,'' and the re-
mOnstrance of a people justly sensitive
to an invasion of principles held sacred
from the days Of our forefathers.
We believe that the Sabbath day is
Que of the great muniments of our ma
tional character; that its observance is
of the highest importance TO the pre-
servation of free institutions and the
education of men fit for self-government
On this propositio we are ready TO take
our stand. -It is q intIanchOIy fact that
during the war a growing neglect of the
day has been visible throughout the
country, and most melancholy that this
neglect has been largely caused by the
course of some of the churches. The
house of worship has been in many cases
| transformed into a town hall for political
| meetings, and the clergyman has desc
Grated the pulpit to the purposes of hui
| man contests. But the time of reflection
| and repentance has come, and we now
| hope to see the old respect for the day
again revived among the churches, and
| the repose for which the time was or
dained again established as it's charac-
teristic feature. But for the present We
are content to rest the argument agains
the Philadelphia paper on other grounds
than the ordinance of God. If any mar
chooses to deny the binding authority
of the fourth commandment, then LEI
4
| the manifest teachings of experience
The editors of the Press should be
4 ashamed of the argument on which they
rest their case, that "they will be sus
tanned" Doubtless they will make
money by their course. So may mar
| who chooses deliberately a course o
! fraud in business. So do the robber, thu
burglar, the thousands Of men who d.
wrong. Success in the line one chooses
| is no proof of the rightfulness of tn.
choice Especially is the appreciation o
| the nneducated and unthinking CLASSES
no proof of the justice of q moral pro
position. 1t should be far from suffice
Of boasting in apublic newspaper that
| it is advocating tile desires of the masses
against the settled convictions and Ion,
! considered doctrines and laws of tn,
Christian and civilized world, and that
the masses approve its course.
The Sabbath is unquestionably bar
rier in the way of all men who desire t.
convert our country into a nation rulel
| by mobs. 1t is the day for reflection
the day when the merchant. the profes
sional man, the mechanic, the laborer
every one has opportunity to think if b.
will take 1t. We maintain this PROPOSE
ton as settled by history and by the ex
perience of men and nations-that tn,
Iaborer who does not rest on Sunday, th,
the merchant, editor, printer, car-dri
yer, railroad manager, who does not res
on Sunday, is not fit for his own work
not as fit for thepublic duty of a citizen
as if he did rest on that day. When th,
Philadelphia Press, or any other press
is prepared tn dispute this proposition, i
will be time for it to boast of success in
breaking down the Sabbath institution
| of our country. When the Sabbath in
| America becomes like the Sabbath il
Con tinental Europe, then, let the Pres
rest assured, Americans will cease to b,
fit for elf-government. God forbid tina
reckless, making men, seeking
the approb alton ofthe mob, should eve
bring us to s,lch day!
ARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR TIKI
SouTH.-The shipments from New
| York of novder shit percussion cans