The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-09-06
Debating Club.
Thibodaux, LA. Aug. %, 1879

Literary anu Debating CiuD VI
Lafourche held its regular seuni>
monthly meeting, and the iiitia-
tive debate OF this infant Organl-
cation was then made. Being Il
lover and advocate OF social con
t%roversies, we had looked for
ward to this meeting with aEx-
ious anticipations, SO, at about
half past eight O'Clock T. NJ, We
directed our steps towards the
club>room, and Oh arriving, took
Il seat Oh the balcony, thus ena-
bleu 70 hear and see all that
transpired and was said.
The meeting was called to Or
der by the worthy president, the
Hon. Arthur F. KnObIoch, and
the ordinary business being dis
posed Of, the ballots were taken
from, a box by the president, to
appoint four speakers for the
next meeting. The following
names were drawn, viz: 4. Las
seigne, first speaker on the ati1rma
tive /; j. f. Allain, first OIL the
negative; II. n. Coulon, second
OH affirmative E. Badeaux, sc.
ond on negative. The list of sub
.jects submitted by the committee
OH questions was then read, and
by a majority OF votes, the ques
ton, 'Shonld the right of suffrage
be given to woman," Was selected
for the next debate.
Debating was then declared by
the President to be in order-tne
question at issue being. els it ex-
pedient to have a Sunday law q
and the debate was opened Ivy
by Mr.
After short and appropriate tx
ordium, he made Il very credita
BILE argument, basing same most
ly on a social standpoint, and con
Guided by saying that for genera.
tons back most nations have
found it expedient to keep Sun
day as a day Of rest and conse
Grafton, and what he thought
were the sentiments OF our ailca.S.
tors, should also to some exteat,
be ours.
Mr., the first speaker
on the negative, then rose, and i'll
fitting terms begged to be cxcus.
ed; his reasons justifying an ex.
cu>e, it was granted.
Theu the second speaker or
the affirmative, Mr. be
gan by defining and restrictin.
his subject, readily s'aing the III
coN eniency of considering it as ;
general proroSition-to compe
, men TO attend to religions duties
would be to restrict their free
dan, and infringe upon thei'
rights. aud moreover, contradi'
tory 10 the dictation of the 'aw!
of-tLr United States. He hpit
that Sunday law is a civil iu>ri:u
ton, The right of enforcing wllicl
was vested in the legislature
that whatever tends to the sucia
and moral welfare of the mass O
the people is a fit subject for lie;
islation. He did not believe tina
by the enforcement of a Sunla,
law, a state tranSgressed any o
the rights OF its citizens, it bein!
his opinion that the right of TT;
hlating its commerce and polio
was reserved to a State.
Continuing, he said that natur
presclibes rest for man, and COZ
sequently, to lie mentally an
physically healthy, man mus
sometimes stop in>the pursuit ,
life that a man wholly absorle
by his own concerns, become
selfish, unsociable and indiffercl,
towards his fellow men, and fl
gets his dnties to God. Spcakin
of clerks, he said that it was IT'S
less to say that they entered int
a voluntary engagement ; he hel
that they were compelled b> II,
. cessity to bear the serritude {
clerkships ; some of them, he sal
are pater- mmitias upon who's
monthly salaries comparativel
, small-their families rely for ,u
/, slstence; that it is not in acco
/. dance with his wishes that til
clerk submits to the exacting d
. mand Of his employer-to wor
= Oh Sunday but tina, it is for fra
:. that should he refuse, he woul
! lose his situation aud his tamil
, would suffer. cit might be Il
ged,' he continued, '.tlat tn
merchant would be the loser. if
p Sunday law was enforced-th
| mere fact of merchants doing a
advantageous business in all {
the o,her States where such a In,
is in force. is a living proof to tt,
Y contrary ; that the liquor dealer
would be the lOStrS-then s
!, much the better for the colnmo
+ welfare of the community :.