Year: 1860

We may refer with confidence to the Legisla-
tive records of this Commonwealth to show
that Pennsylvania has always regarded and


treated the sons of toll within her borders,


comprising in this designation mechanics, oper-


atives aud laborers of every kind, as a mother


treats her children And it is because this


sentiment throbs with such power in her breast


she has refused to do anything which might


derogate from the just authority of the Chris
| tian Sabbath asr


For this day of rest, important as it is to


all classes of society, is indispensable to the


working men. 1t is the only day of the seven
| he can spend with his family. 1t recruits his


exhausted frame it places within his reach in-
valuable opportunities for self culture and i'm
provement it supplies him with meaus and in-
centiyes to frugality, industry and integrity
it opens to him the only sources Of comfort and
| hope which are really adequate and permanent.
| These are no trivial advantages, but there


are Others which must not be overlooked in


this connection. Sunday is the great barrier


which protects the laboring classes against the


wileS of ambition and the encroachments of
mercilesS cupid;ty. Neither king-craft nor
priest-craft can long delude q people who make
a true use of their Sundays. And no intelli-
gent operative can be so blind as not to see
| that if the apaconS money making spirit Of the
age could have its way il would compel him to
work seven days instead in six. What, in fact,
is the very proposal now before US! Should the
prayer of these petitioners be granted it would
bear with cruel severity upon the persons en-
! ployed BY the passenger railway and omnibus
! companies. In the capacity Of conductors,
drivers, hoStlerS, ticket agents, switch tenders
aud the lie, they and their families must
already number several thousand individuals in
this Commonwealth, and this aggregate is con-
stantly increasing Those who are familiar
with the service these men perform. are acCuS-
toned TO think that it is already sufficiently
rigorous What would it become if they were
compelled TO spend Sunday also in the same
way? Is it tor the State, instead of throw
| ing her parental eTis over this great company
of her children, to break down the last dyke
which protects them ageinst the pitess surges
of ayarice, and Surrender them to its fatal en-


brace 1t is acting tie part Of parent for
her to say to them, you must relinqujsh to your
employers even that day of rest which the
slaves on every southern plantation are allow
ed to call their own? We cannot think so.-
We believe the State has no moral right to
become the oppresSOr of her own citizens She
certainly may not connive at the oppression Of
the weak by the strong least of all, may
she use, for these illeg!tmate ENDS, day which
is not hers to give away


These considerations are too Eeghty to be
disregarded, except upon grounds more conclu-
siye than any thus far presented to the Com
mittee. We can easily understand, that num-
erous instances might occur in which the rum
ing of these public vehicles on Sunday would
be convenience TO Individuals and families


We can imagine circumstances in which the
want OF these would be felt IS q hardship
But the wisdom and equity of law must be
tested, not by isolated cases, but By its general
tendencies and fruits. And looking at the
proposed enactment in this view-eStimating
the consequences which would be likely to fol-
low should broad license be given to all the
existing and future railway and omnibus con-
panIes of the State, to prosecute their custom
mary business OO SuHday-we cannot doubt
that the effect would be most injurious to the
public morals. 1t would entice many from their
homes into the hauutS OF dissipation. II would
do much TO asSmilate our Sunday law to that
Of continental Europe-a change which no
patriotic citizen could fail TO regard as a great
calamity. 1t would contribute 10 destroy that
reverence for the Lords Day, which is not
only one OF the strong buttTeSseS OF the public
morals, but as already iRtimated one of the
chief defences the poor mans health anu free
dom against the insatiate greed of ayarice.


We have no idea that all these results would
follow Immediately Enough that the ten
dency would be in this direction. The present


is no time for sapping the foundations of mo-
raljtv amongst Us. The decay of public vir-
"A ho ~ ,E No Of
are the two great plaguespotS upon the fair
yiSaSe of the Republic, which FIJI every loyal
heart with anxiety. To counter-wogk these
evils, is an object towards which education, re-


igioa and legislation may we'll direct their
most vigorous efforts. 1t may at least be re-
quired at cur hauds that if we do nothing 20
strengthen the cause of truth and virtue, we
shall abstain from removing siGgle one of
the pillars upon which it rests, and this we are
virtually asked to do by the petitions before
Us.


10 concluding their report the Committee
beg to repeat, that the views herein presented
are in accordance with the ancient and heredi-
tary legislation of Pennsylvania If there be
any innOyatOrS amongst, they are not the friends
Of our Sunday Laws" We stand where the
immortal founder Of our Commonwealth stood
and We may be excused Tor resisting any change
in policy which has borne the test of nearly
two hundred years.


In the GREAr LAM passed in the Assem-
bis at Chester sooa.after his first landing Dec.
Il. l6S2, MILAN Penn has recorded his esti-
nation o. the Sabbath as one Of the main safe
guards OF civil and religious liberty In the
tirst article of this code the design of which is
declared to be- "that God NAV have bis due,
Caesar his due, and the people their due, so
that the best aud frmest foundation may be
laid for the present and future happiness Of both
the government aDd people Of this Province,
be thus ordains 80 Tc the end that looSeReSs,