Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-07-26
The s;RNGay E.aYF,

The Ci,'Zans' As3ccia:ion crgaoized 10 Rich
nond, Thursday evening, io- the otjac: 0! pro.
curing suitable modidcatioIs Of the STATE aud
municipal Sunday laws, adopted the follow.
log preamble acd reso u;ions
Whereas the General Assembly Of Virginia
hiss given the force Ct law to the upiniC O. one
portion Of the community thst tho sbso ut clcs.
ing from II o'clock every Saturday night 10 sun.
rite Of the following Monday Of "all places"
where drinks are cold is essential 10 the p.ope,
observance Of Sunday in this State. ard has
thereby deprived large proportion of cur pop.
ulatioE-chiehy OF the laboripg class-ot tho
means Of peacesbly enjoying in Inc society o.:
their friends in manner satisfactory 10 them.
selves the only day Of rest recreation ind re-
fresbment which many OF them have and
whereas the legislation referred 10 is, 10 cur
judgment, 10 conflict with The enlightened spirit
Ut the age. Judicial 10 our material iLt.iests,
without any conpens..ing benefit. and has
proved to be source Of communal irritation,
strife and excitement in this community; sId
whereas experience has established the fact that
the Suppression by law VI the sae Of refresh.
ments st public resorts on sunday Coas not pre-
vent but rather increases the desire for and use
CT Intoxicating drinks on that lay, and moreover
engenders hypCcrIty and dissimulalion, and
even provokes host! l.y TO the Christian religion
from the belief that over Jealous member OF the
church are mainly res ponslbl @ for The enactment
and rigid enforcement OF the Law; now therefore
Resolved, l. That any etfJrt oy appe. S TO the
reason or conscience OF the people TO induce
them voluntori y to keep away from pubic re-
| sor.s On sunday is legitimate and proper, aid
can be condemned by none
2 That the only province Of legislation 10 TO.
spgct to making laws for sunday different from
the laws for other days whilst religious liberty
exists is tho enactment Of such laws es are La.
c,ssary Tor the maLteLhnce OF order ard lie
| pres ervstion OF health
| 3 Ths. whilst macy Of us taking par! in tn:
meeting suffer no INCONVENIENCE or Gi5comlo7.
| from the Closing Of saicoIs and sublr Ban gar.
| dens on Sunday, VIC who are thus exempt a-a
| unwilling 10 sustain a law which places an ON.
barge on the lawful desires Of others equally en-
| titled with ourselves TO freedom Of judgment
| ar actions in matters Of Conscioscs.
| 4. That for the reasons set forth, and for 9th.
| ers III At could be assigned, We consconlicusIy
believe thst the laws now existing in relation !"
sunday should be- modified and t. accomplish
| tha! modification we now determine to to:m
permanent organization.
5 That though We arc uniL lsnced ! eny
partisan purpose yet we recognize the soundne,s
of the doctrine enunciaLed in !hit past Of Inc
democratic platform adopted at st. Louis June
20 1876, wherein it is silirmed there should oe
tolsl seq arstion Of church and state for the
sake alike of civil and religious iresiom;" thu!
there should be "liberty OF individual cOnduc!
unvexed by sumptuary laws" and !hat /: be
hooves free people to practice ths! eternal Wig
lance which j, the price If liberty