The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-06-01
General Sunday Law solici.
fed

I
ASCENSION, La, May Z, 1873
| EDITOR CHEF:
| 1t was gratifying TO notice in the issue o
| the CHIEF of the 9th ult., the eommunica
ton of Cornhill concErring with the views
of your correspondent in the advocacy Of
law prohibiting the opening of stores and
drinking SALOONS on tho Sabbath. ToHE
correspondent had no inteatioH of again ap.
pearing in the columns of your valuable
journal, but our Police Jurors are so reti
cent aud dilatory concerning this iaportant
matter. that he 4easidess it advisable aad
deems {G his daty to reitexa4e his solicitation
Doubtless our Police Jurors were actuated
by motives of sAosa,litg usad economy il,
of liquors on Sunday, the purpose heipg To
preclude the commission of crime and lessen
the expenditure in criminal prosecutions.
But this object will be far more effeetually
accomplished by a general SaadAg law.
Under the operations of the present ineonl-
plete ordinance gambling, fighting and dis
tnrbanees of the peace continue on the
Sabbath, whereas a general closing of the
stores wonld abrogate these disgracefal
practices and result to the material benefit
of the community. But it must be borne
in mind that the Sunday law should be in
discriminate and uniform aud apply to all
the merchants within the limits of the par
ish. For if it should affect only the mer
chants outside of DonaldsOnville it would
be inequltabie and oppressive and its eff
caey would amount comparatively to moth
ing. Your correspondent is cognizant of the
fact of q few merchants being antagonistic
to a Sunday law, particularly in Donaldson
vile, but this opposition should not deter
the Police Jury from passing the measure.
A majority of the merchants and people in
the parish favor it, and it would be highly
creditable on the part of the Police Jury to
crafty their wishes.
1t is commended by u few that the powers
of the Police Jury are restricted and that a
Sunday law enacted by that body would
not be obligatory upon the merchants of
Donaldsonville. This appears to be matter
of some popularity, for if the Police Jury
has a right to levy a tax on the citizens of
to defray the expenses of
tho parish equally with those outside of its
they have undoubtedly also
nately, wifIsth tlie diiiits of lie PARISH The
recent law comforting this power upon the
Police Jury is claimed to be defective. New
let. the Pnliee Jury enaetSlc Law
and If it appears ambiguous and sbstruse to
those who manifest . disposition of resist
ance, let the matter be brought up before
the proper tribunal to be tested as tn its
validity or nen-salislikg. iaar aarresaeptlent
does not beliesas however. zthsst tbs iAtelii-
gent aud well-meaning merchants of Tllis
parish will oppose this measure. as it will
not ressllb 20 he defEsfsAilt1 81 any one. On
he contrary, it will enhance morality, relig-
on and tend to the promotion of the gener-
IL welfare of the community Great adj
rantages are being derived in. the parishes
where such laws exist and your correspon-
lent therefore solicits Sunday law for
Ascension, and entertains the hope that our
Police Jurors will assemble at an early day
md enact the measure so greatly needed.
have the honor to be, yours truly.
Pro BONO PUBLIC0.