The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-05
On the Sunday Law.
WHAT JUDGE $. BAssETT FRENCH HAD TO SAY
TOA GRAND JURY IN ALEXANDRIA.

=.
TO A GRAND JURY IN ALEXANDRIA.
Judge 5. BaSsett French, OF Manchester.
in opening the January term OF the Corpo-
ration Court for Judge Chiffon, who is con-
| fined to his residence by sickness, this
morning, delivered long address to the
grand jury. The Judge expressed sorrow
at the continued illness OF Judge Chill
ton. detailed the duties OF the grand jury,
( and expressed the belief that the can
cient and honorable city" in the grand
inquest before him. was fortunate to
have selected the intelligence to COM
prehend and the courage to exc
cute the high responsibilities committed to
il. In view of the terrible holocaust>
which from time 10 time, and notably OF
late, have clothed whole communities with
the habiiments OF woe, the Judge in
voked the attention OF the grand jury to
public and private buildings in which at
Deriods. stated and irregular, the people
are wont to assemble for worship or
amuscmcnts, or in which operatives do
daily toll, and to inquire ii adequate pro-
vision is made for the escape OF the inmates
i'm case OF fire, and requesting special re-
port specifying the buildings examined,
with their respective means OF egress. In
regard to the Sunday laws Of the Common
wealth the Judge said:
The Sunday laws, especially the Sunday
liquor laws, have provoked IN several pOr-
tiOns Of the Commonwealth much Discus
sion, and some places no little opposition.
There can be no doubt that they are dis
eliminating, and in this Oppressiye-not to
say unjust. But, gentlemen. it is not your
province because you so think that you
should usurp the functions OF both judge
and legislators, and so render these laws Oh
no effect. The remedy is within the reach
OF the people through their legislators, and
| am quite sure that the will OF the people
OF Alexandria will find ready reflection in
the support OF that will by your senator
and delegate. | know that ii the 18th see
ton Of chapter OF the Criminal Proce-
dure he literally construed there would be
no discretion in your police authorities,
but they will be compelled to cSt0p labor
i'm every branch Of service, saving the eX-
ceptionS specified, to the great annoyance
and discomfort Of every household. 1t Is
in view OF this fact that in reality it Is
dead letter on the statute booS-becauSe
every householder, believer and infdel,
finds a necessity to labor in some form
or shape on Sunday. The citizen who
owns horses and carriages without
let or hndrance airs his family and re-
freshes himself by drives on Sunday in his
comfortable cQIipage through the streets
Of your city, or finds enjoyment for him.
self and them in the surrounding country.
He violates the law in this behalf by re-
curing labor i'm his usual calling OF his
coachman and footman. Does the humble
citizen do larger violence to the dignity Of
the law-thc peace OF the Commonwealth
by quietly seeking retreat under the shade
OF a beer-gardcn, and with frow and little
ones enjoy the society Of his neighbOrs
and friends in the social chat and
glass Of beer: OF the two which
0ficnds more largely the public sense,
he who openly profancs the sabbath
and publicly deficS the law. or he who re-
tires within secluded place and there en-
joys his pleasure 10 the annoyance OF noneg
The livcry-stable man can, on payment OF
two dollars, pursue his avocatiOn on sun
day. but his neighbOr, the proprietor OF
beer-garden or restaurant, must close his
doors from Saturday night to Monday
morning under penalty all the way up from
ten dollars to five hundred dollars.
This is unjust; it Is class legislation,
! tOllIIN 10 lut NuDit toStHtt anu
spirit OF the Bill OF Rights. TO hire
out horses is Il calling recognized by the
law; to sell liquor to drink where sold is
equally recognized by the law. Both are
licensed, and should stand in respect to po-
! lice regulations on the same footing. Nei-
| Their, per Sc, are nuisances; both may be-
come so. While they conduct their bust
ness to the annoyance Of no one, but
prosecute it in IN orderly way, it is an in
yasion OF the rights Of the one to be placed
under different terms from the other. The
remedy is a penalty for the violation Of
good order; that reaches the point
wrongs no one. The Legislature should
amend the law in this respect, but until il
shall do so. or the courts shall declare the
law unconstitutional, grand iuries and the
officers Of the law must execute the statute
as they lind it.-Alerdndria Gazette.