St. Landry democrat., 1879-09-27
The Sunday Law.
A SUPREME COURT DECISION.

religion for the people to obey, or pro-
Iibit the tree exercise thereof, appears
to be now the settled American doctrine,
well established i'll the organic law OF
the nation and the States. None shall
be compelled to observe the jewish,
Mohamnedan, Catholic or Protestant
form of religion, or to embrace any reil-
gious denomination, civilized or pagan,
that his Judgment or taste may dictate
as the best or preferable lie fer him. =
When We consider the attributes OF
the Deity, and Of the future rewards
and puniSlments, and the tempoial
welfare OF society, government can
hardly consider itself entirely free from
the fostering care and protection n1
religion as connected with the personal,
social and domestic virtues of its peo-
pic; but TO what extent government
may 60 in the support and protection
OF religion, with safety and proprlcty,
may he a subject OF much cOntrarltty
Of opinion with statesmen and publlcists.
The vast majority OF our people pro
fcsS Il belief in the Christian religion
and its existence has been recognized
by the constitution framed by them.
The followers Of that taihI have, from
its earliest existence and foundation,
regarded and kept Sunday as day OF
rest, free from labor and devoted to
religious worship. And those not at
, tached to amy religious denomination
have l,abitually kept that day as one OF
rest from secular pursuits; and Its Oh
servancc as q day OF rest, and holy, iIaS
for centuries become more Cham Il habit
or custom it has become a sentiment
engraltrd into oilr very sOc!a! organism,
TO be observed and respected by all,
! without the sanction OF law or declcrS
of courts. And as civil regulation, it
has been considered important FOR the
i physical well being Of society that Sun
! day be observed as day of Test from
Labor i'll order that the mind and body
NAV repose-li,at the former may re-
cover or retain it's wuntcd elasticity and
yiyor, and the lattelAhmay recuperate
and be prepared for more arduous and
! protracteu exeltions i'll manual labor.
And in this view the observance of
Sunday, by a suspension OF all secular
pursuits, may with great proprlety be
enforced by civil law.
! The observance OF Sunday we llelicve
essential to a fnll enjoyment of rell-
! giOus exercises 10y the various denoml-
nations in the spirit OF the constitution
! Of the State. How could set OF peo-
pie worship in a city crowded with a
busy population, and in the midst OF
the confusion, noise and hustle. OF
worldly business, ami the practices
! deemed by them unholy and sacri-
| lee ei0ns deSecatiOn of that holy day?
! The ordinance complained of does
not deprive any inhabitant Of the city
of Houston Of any OF the religious
rights and privileges guaranteed to
him in the Constitution of the United
States or of this State. The mayor and
council did not attempt to fasten upon
the people of the city OF Houston any
particular form OF ligion-Jewisll
Mohammcdan, Roman Catholic, Protes-
tant, or Pagan; nor has the free eyer
else of the rites OF any religious den0mi-
nation been forbidden OF prohibited in
any way. The right to worship God
according to the dictatOn Of the con-
science has not at all been interrupted
nor is it enjoned upon any lnhabltan1
of the city TO attend the religions eS.
erciseS of any denomination ana ht
, NAV decline to attend, and amuSe him
SELF with the metaphysical reIlection!
and deductions OF the intidel. He Il
! not required to attend, erect, or sup
) port any place of worship Or to main
tain any ministry, directly or indirectly
!, contrary to his conscience. His right
, of conscience, his religious principle
. land practices under them, are not at al
, intlingesi ur impaired; nor does th
, ordinance pretend to give any prefer
= ! ence to any religion OF mode Of wor
ship.
+ The latter clause Of the rccited sec
/ ton OF the State Constitution, 1t WI
. he remembered. provides that it sha
Y he the duty of the Legislature to pas
such laws as may be necessary to pro
lect every religious danpuinatlen Ill Il,
, Deacpailu enjoyment OF their own mod
[ of worship. This ordinance of til
S council of IIolSson is believed to be G
: the character embraced in this clause
: It does not in the least interfere wit
l. the religion Of any person, or the cS
;. ercise thereof. It does not enioin upo
G any person the 0Nty Of cont0rmin@ h
i conduct To the rites Of his church, br
Z. it does prevent him from following
Z tiDDling occupation in the cltN40n Snl
), day by which crowds OF persens na
$ he con crepated at public house an
II nudpr the influence Of intoxicatiol
e NAV commit riots and breaches OF til
a peace to the great annoyance OF othc1
$ who feel ii their religious duty to dt
l, sjst from labor. attend worship al
IS keep the day holy, and We see a, pr
IS priety and due respect 0i ,tne sentllAel
~ and custom OF cur people manifesto
e iu the rule that compels 4 cessatit
l. from labor on Sunday, in order that n
% only man and beast may recuperate al
Is be restored to healtli aud nlentat AZ
! physical vigor but that those who
> good faith may desire to keep that d;
l., holy, for the worship OF God, may
q main undist,nbed in the Exercise.
I'd their religious duties; and any law tn
m tends to this result can not be consider
u repugnant to the constitution, ,
2 That tiaie is nothing in the ponst,s
le ton Of the United States OF OF fl
"a "a state to prevent the legislature fir,
S9 {; forbidding the pursuit of worldly bu
/, ness upon Sunday, has been decided
Us u, a number of States, The Judgment
> affirmed.
The United States in 1868 export
er agricultural implements to the value
ad $673,33S1. In 1870 the amount increas
tn ., 90 s-t 0nQ T., tQfS yvn nyD0rt