The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-27
ICOmmunicaied.l
communicated
The Observance of the Sabbafh---Jef-
fersOn's Maxims Of Government Re-
in

10 the Editors Of The Dispatch: From
report in the Dispatch OF the 2Gth instant
it appears that meeting OF citizens in
tere,ted in the passage Of such laws as shall
most cfIectualy secure the suppression OF
the sale OF liquors on the Sabbath was re-
Gently held at Association Hall the d" Exc
ter Hall" OF Richmond. 1t is impossible
for anv one cOnyersant with the subject TO
comprehend what more stringent law than
the one now in the statute-bOok could be
desired by these citizens, unless they want
to make the sale OF a glass OF beer on sun
day an offence punishable by hanging or
confinement in the pententiary. They yir-
tualv concede. however, in one OF their
resolutions that the ''preSent law is sutfi-
GENTLY effective, for "the only desirable
change" in the law, they say, is "an
amendment that shall take this whole ques-
,ion out OF city politics, and make the law
absolutely binding Oh city, town, and ceun-
try alike"
There is no power on earth that can or
will take this question out OF "city poll
tics.v as the '"citiZens" aforesaid will dis
cover during the approaching spring cam
vass. The Legislature may or may not
make "the only desirable change" suggest
ed by " citizens" but the long-sutierinS
people OF this city will have at least the
satisfaction next May Of making seme desl-
rable changes IN the personnel OF the NUM-
cipal government. Revolutions never go
| backwards !"
And here let me say that il the amend
ment indicated should be adopted by the
LEGISLATURE the law might, in terms, be
4" absolutely binding on city, town, and
country alike"; but il would in the future,
as in the past, be practically dead letter in
every purt of the State except in this puri-
tanized metropolis.
All good men will unite with L" citizens" J"
in earnestly deprecatlng any movement
which will lead 10 the desecration OF the
sabbath" but many OF them will revolt
against the hereticll doctrine that the sane
tin OF the " Sabbath is 10 be maintained
| in this boosted land OF religious liberty by
the strong arm OF the law. The corner
Stone OF our free institutions Is the /" total
separation OF Church and State for the pre-
seryation alike OF religious and personal
liberty.0 The very moment the Legislature
undertakes, by statute, To prevent the
.sdpsecration OF the Sabbath" it resolves
itself into a religious Sanbedrlm, and griey-
ously wounds the conscience OF all who
NAV not accept its definition OF religious
obligation on 1.-The Sabbath" Nay, more
il cannot enact such law without rejecting
the admonition OF st. Paul, the great apos'
tie of Christianity, who said:
"Let no man, therefore, Judge you in
meat, or in drink, or in respect OF holy
dav, or the new moon, or Of the Sabbath
days. y COtoSSidnS, 2d chapter. 18th verse
lone man esteemeth one day above an
other: another esteemeth every day alike
LET EVERY MAN BIZ FULLY PERSUADED IN III:
OwN MrND."-ROmdnS, l4h chapter, 81
verse.
No, Messrs. Editors, the Legislature can
not take cogniZance Of "the Sabbath as
religious institution without subyerting oul
form of government and repudaling tn
ipjunctions OF the founders Of our blessed
religion. God grant that the day may neve
come when the true defenders of that rell
zion shall renoUnce their faith in the eiileac,
OF prayer and the influence OF spirtua
agencies, and then. in paroxysm OF piou
despair, rush TO the Capitol and impiore IN
/ Legislature to aid them in saving souls.
hope that every member OF the LPglslatur
will carefully read and ponder tDe seVeht!
fifth cbapter OF the Code Of Virginia,
But while the Legislature has 10 righiiu
, power TO sustain, by enactments, any systei
OF religion whatever, IL Is universally cor
3 ceded that il can legi,late for the preventlo
I OF secular labor on that day. l am, an
Q have always been, in favor OF law for thi
) object, believing that weekly day OF re-
is q hygienic necessity. No Other prohlo