Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-31
Sunday Laws-Important Case.

Sunday Laws-Important Case.
In a free republic such as the United
States questions are constantly arising
which it is not easy for the best men to
decide Alright, though in deciding them
they endeavor to divest themselves of all
preiudces and preconceived notions. The
Sunday question is one. We are accus-
toned to saying in O sweeping sense that
the Christian religion is part OF the COM
mon law Of this country, and yet not the
most illiberal amongst US would have the
Jews punished for not observing Sunday
AZ A day of rest, or for observing Saturday
as a day of rest. The incorruptible guar
dams of "the rest-day" ought to be
found among the working-men, for they
will DO the FIRST to suffer whenever, if ever,
that day shall be regarded as IN nowise
different from the other days of the week.
BY tho way, the working-men in the recent
National Conference or Convention in Gin
cinnati very logically declared that TO
make eight hours instead of ten constitute
q working day would be to furnish employ
ment TO a greater number Of working men.
So as to the observance of the rest-day.
If we allow nobody to work on more than
ak DAYS in the week. we shall thus furnish
employment for greater number OF work
ing-mon.
But the Sunday question has come mp
in new shape That wonderful instru-
ment, the Constitution OF the United
States, has been found to extend its pro-
tecting wings over go many other things
that the opponents Of Sunday laws have
determined to ascertain whether or not it
does not forbid the enactment Of such
laws by the several States. We are in
clined to think that the Supreme Court
of the United States will find justiica-
ton of these State laws in "the police
power" of the several States. which that
court 80 recently declared had never been
surrendered to the Federal Government.
Thus Sunday laws would stand upon the
same footing as the prohibition liquor
| laws of Iowa, Kansas, and other States.
| However, this is a mere guess Of ours.
We say the Supreme Court of the United
States will be asked to pass upon the Sun
day.law question. 1t arises in O case which
it is expected will be taken up to that
court from Tennessee. 1t is q case which
has already passed through the Supreme
Court of Tennessee and to the United
| States District Court. 1t is based upon
| Article /. and Article XIV. of the amend
| ments to the Federal Constitution, the
former of which provides that Congress
shall make no law respecting an establish
ment of religion and the latter of which
provides In q general way for protecting
the rights of the people. 1t is also based
upon the Bill of Rights of Tennessee
which Is very much the same as the Bill OF
Rights of Virginia or any other State.
The Tennessee case which is expected tc
20 up to the Supreme Court of the United
States Is to be taken there by what IL
STYLED 1.-THE National Religious Liberty As
ISOLATION whose declaration Of principles
reads as follows:
"we believe in the religion taught BY Jesui
Christ
ave believe In Temperance and regard the
liquor trafnc as n curse TO society.
ave believe in supporting the civil govern
msnt and submitting 70 its authority.
ave deny the night OF any civil governments L
legislate on religious questions
awe believe h Is the right and should be tn
privilege Of every man 70 worship according u
the dictates OF bis own conscience.
ave also believe II to DO our duty to use ever!
lawful and honorable means 10 prevent religious
legislation by the civil goyernmenti that we ant
our fsllow-citi,ens may enjoy the inestimabl
blessings Of both religious and civil liberty
The objects Of the association, as stated
in It's constitution, are to protect thu
rights of conscience; to maintain tota
separation between religion and the ciyi
government; and by means Of the plat
form and the press to educate the publi'
mind on the relations that should exist be
tween the Church and the State"
Last Monday the Supreme Court Of th
United States decided that the severa
States of this Union had never surrender
ed their "police power" to the United
States. Necessarily, then, the severa
States still possess these powers; for tn
Federal Constitution itself provides tina
the powers not delegated to the Unite'
States by the Constitution. nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved TO IL
States respectively or to the people. Mari
what significant word is used In this con
nection-namely, respectively" Eacl
State In the guardian tor itself Of thes'
non-deleeated powers. And, we repeat
we expect the Supreme Court of tn
United States to decide that Sunda.
laws are not unconstitutional. TIL
decision, whatever II may turn on
TO be, viii DO among the most importan
ever msde by that tribunal. and will plac
the Sunday laws of the several State
upon O new footing, In making such
decision and discussing the principle
which underlfe ii the highest court in tn
world Will find work worthy of its creates
justices. II that exalted tribunal shall
place our Sunday laws upon firm eroun'
without touching or interfering with th
rights and liberties of the citizen-th
man--whose rights and liberties are tn
objects of ell good legislation, then IL vii
have earned once more the title OF tn
grandest tribunal which honors the Judi
cisry system Of Christendom.
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