The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-11
Views OF Candidates on the Sunday

i>tt'o D W He DtSputCH. +. L leiiSc PUBLISH
the following, giving the views OF each eau
dldate on the SundaT-law question. as ,eX.
pressed at the st. Claire-Hotel meeting. j
quote from the report which I find in your
own paper:
J. Fl. Chamberlayne: ''I am in favor di
local self-government on Sunday as on al
other days in reference to police matters
Richmond can take care OF her own affairs
always in subordinatiou to the laws OF the
State and the United States"
James ~ Dunlop: "He desired n modif.
cation OF the present Sunday law. Thought
the proper practical solution was TO. change
the law so as to leave to the people OF Rich.
mond, through their municipal legislature
the Council, the control OF the whole sub.
iect. AS "a matter Of police regulation The
subject appropriately fell within the iuris
dictIon OF the city rather than that OF tie
State, and the people, ia voting for coun
cilmen, could then determine the question
to suit themselves"
William LoUenSteip : Another question
is brought here which he thought had no
business In this canvass, and that is IN re.
gard to the Sunday liquor law. Mr.. Low.
enstein said that he was 4 member Of the
House of Delegates when the bill was
passed. He had been in two canvasses
since its passage, and it had never been
spoken OF, and it is now brought up to
test mans fitness 10 represent this peo.
pie on other great and important issues.
The enactment OF this law was demanded
by people in several counties in this State
where there bad been disturbances on Sun
day, and where there were no proper
police regulations. AS a compromise mca-
sure the present law was passed with the
clear and distinct understanding that cities
having police regulations in regard to this
subject should control it, and thus the law
has been carried out for several years, and
no complaint has been heard in regard to
the qniet and orderly manner with which
our city affairs have been conducted. 1t is
now claimed, however, that the law does
not meet the original intention; il not, then
he was for modifying it so as to carry out
the original idea, which was TO leave 1t to
our municipal authorities, and which will
leave it in the power OF our citizens to regu.
late ms the majority shall think proper"
John Hunter, dr.: Mr.. Hunter said that
be was in favor OF the present Sunday law,
believing that the highest interests OF the
community required it; that while it was
folly to attempt to make men yirtuous OIL
religious by legislation contrary to theil
wishes, yet that that government had utter
ly failed OF its high mission whose laws do
not promote and encourage those virtues
which the Christian religion eniolns."
I. Vilev Davis He will not vote t1
repeal the sunday liquor law, but favors the
enforcement OF its provisions in every sec
ton of this State alike. He further favors
the enforcement OF the penalty against all
al hs. % fh-H
believing that no nation or people can rea
souably expect to be prosperous or happy
who disregard the divine niuncti0ns, 'SlS
days thou shalt labor Remember the Sab
bath-day,' &c. "
William l.. RovuN: "The manner in
which each individual should observe the
Lords day rs an institution OF religion Is
I claim, matter belonging to the domain
of conscience, and not within the cognl
zance OF the civil magistrate. This ou
Bill OF Rights explicitly declares.
81 hink the matter one OF local Scli-9ov
ernment-a matter OF local police. think
therefore, that it should be committed 4
the custody OF our municipal authorities
The law pretends to be one OF general ope
ration, while in fact it is only aimed at op
pressing the cities. There are no beel'-gal
dens or saloons throughout the country
and the bar-keepers in the country openI
disregard it. IAN that ask in respect t
the matter is that the subject be.put unde
the control Of orr municipal authorities
and will then 60 hand-in-hand with tn
EXTREMIST advocate OF order and decorum.'
s. FL. i'aakiam: "Mr. Puiiiam held tha
the city OF Richmond should control tn
Sunday-law question, but was, neYerthe
fay ~ nhSprGanon n3
Sabbath day. He would lodge full author
ity in the City Council TO act in the premi
sts, being satisfied that the Council bette
understand our people, rheir modes o
thought and method OF business, than doe
the General Assembly,"
". w. Henry: .sHe believed the Stat
should not undertake to enforce religion
by law, but the experience OF the rag
bad demonstrated that one daT in seSc:
should be kept as a DAY OF rest
was proper, therefore, for the State To- re
qqire all its citizens to abstain from I'm
! necessary labor on that day, and to sn
force good 8rder-and this IN clfS an
country alike. Why should Henriso ma
Eiiying near Goochland have strlcteE sun
day law over him than one living IL OF nea
the city. de could see no good reason 10
| changing she present law. The Ssate mn
| for breach OF the Sunday law gees to th
public schools. The city fine goes into th
city treasury, and that is all the difference
1.-THE Citizens Association wantel one la
/ for the State at large and another for th
cities, and while not putting forth ticks
FORMALLY, were arranging to- elect, il poss
bile, those Of their views. His opponsn
! must not be permitted to keep silent on th
tauestion, nor to avoid direct answer.
ithey are for the change asked for by thoi
composing the present Sunday law, the
Emustsay so." ~ a.
] james Lyons, Jr.|: 'sAs to the Sunda
LIQUOR law, think oil classes OF ciilZef
i should be put on q Just and equal fooetn;
] land the law should compel all classes aba
Ito observe the day OF rest from ali seeuk
occupations.
4 81 believe the law of seyenth-day rest
4 Ian imperative natural law OF the physlc
! being OF man, and che State should enfor'
4 that law as necessary 10 preserve the heals
! and order of the community-aye,t the Vel
.Iexisteuce Of the State ITSELF"
II H. A.. Atkinson, Jr.: "As to the loo
questions which have been injected IN
4 this canvass, I do not propose to dissT
h them, as it would cripDN the usefplaess
! any. representative. As the representa-
4 from Henrico, would cooperate win
q representatives from this city ID The passa
!. OF any law which the people OF this Ct
might desire, aud in return would exp.
their cooperation IN any measure VIII