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CONGitftfrS.
MR JOHNSON, of Kentucky, inad
the following report, in the Senate of th.
United Slates.
The Committee to whom was referred
the several petitions on the subj ct o*
m nis on the Sabbath, or the Ist day of tin
week,
That some respite is required from
the ordinary vocations of life, is ar
established prim iple, sanctioned b;.
the usages of all nations, whether
Christian or Pagcn. One day in se
ven has also been determined upon ; s
the proportion of time; and in cons tr
inity with the wishes of the great in a
jnrity of citizens of this cooutrv, the
first day of the week, commonly call
ed Sunday, has been set apart to that
object. The prim iple has received
the sanction of the national legisla
ture, so far as to admit a suspension
of all public business on that day, ex
cept in cases of absolute necessity, or
great public utility. This priori
pie, the committee would not wish to
disturb. If kept within its legitimate
sphere of action, no injury < an result
from its observante. it should, how-
C\ r, be kept in mind, that the proper
object of government is, to protect all
persons in the enjoyment of their re
ligious, as well as civil rights; and
not to determine for any, whether
they shall esteem one day above ano
ther, or esteem all days alike holy.
We are aware, that a variety of
sentiment exists among the good riti
zeus of this nation, on the subject of
the Sabbath day; and our government
is designed for the protection of one,
as much as fir another. The Jews,
who, in this country are ns free us
Christ inns, and entitled t< the same
pr te tion from the laws, derive their
o’ ligation to keep the Sabbath day
from the fuurth commandment of th* ir
decalogue, and conformity with
loin iV j.im non, pay religious hom
age to the seventh day of the week,
which we call Saturday. One de
nomination of Chris*! ms among us,
justly celebrated !’ r their piety, and
cert inly as good citizens as any oih
cr class; agree with the Jews in the
moral obligation of the, Sihhatb, and
observe the same day. There ere
also many Christians among us, who
derive not their obligation to observe
the Sabbath from the decalogues, but
regard the Jewish Sabbath as abroga
ted. From the example of the Ap s
ties of Christ, they have chosen the
first day of the w eek, instead of that
day set apart in the der; digue, fir
tluir religious devotions. These
have generally regarded the obser
vance ot the day as a devotional exer
rise, and would not more readily en
folce it upon others, than they would
enforce secret prayer or dev >ut medi
tations. Urging the fat t, that neith- r
their Lord nor his disciples, though
often censured by their accusers for
a violation of the Sabbath, ever en- j
joined its observance, tiny regard it!
as a subject ou wlm h every person
should be. fully p rsuaded in his own!
mind, and not coerce others to act
upon Lis persuasion. Many Chris
tians again differ from these, proses
sing to derive their obligation to ob
serve the Sabbath from the fourth
commandment of the Jewish deca
iogue, and bring the example of the
Apostles, who appear to have held
their public meetings for worship on
the first day of the week* as authority
for so far changing the decalogue, as
to substitute that day for the seventh.
Jewish government was a theocracy,
which enforced religious observances,
and though the committee would hope
that no portion of the citizens of our
country w ill willingly introduce a sys
tem of religious coercion in our civil
institutions, the example of other nas
tions should admonish us to watch
carefully against its earliest indica
tion.
With these different religious views,
the committee are of opinion that
Congress cannot interfere. It is not
he legitimate province of the hgisla-
s ure to determine what religion is
rue, or wtiat 1. Ise. Our government
i a civil, and not a religious ins itu
ion. Our Constitution recognises in
very person, the right to choose his
<wn religion, and to enj y it freely,
‘without molestation. Whatever may
e the r?igious sentiments of citizens
nd however vari tit, they are alik
untied to protection from the govern
*M*nt, so long as they do not iuvatft
he rights of others.
The transportation of the mail on
;e first day of the week, it is Irlicv
and, does not interfere with the rig Vs
•>f conscience. The petitioners for r
discontinuance appear to he actuated
from a r* ligioos z*al, which may In
rommendab! ■ if confine! to its propel
sphere; but they assune a positnu
better soiled t*> an eiTsiastieal <hor
lo a civil institution. They appear
in many instaru es, to lay it down a?
an axi mi, that the pr# ti e is \i *1
(ion of the law of God. S mold Con
gress, in their legisl Hive caput ily, a
dopt the sentiment, i would establish
the jirinf iple, that tlie L gtslature. is :
proper tribunal to determine wiut r.n
the laws of God. It would involve,
legislative decision in a religious con
trove ray; and on a point in which
good f itizens may honestly difter ic
opinion, without disturbing the p’.*ai:
of society, ui a rt.dangffiug its iiher
liiis. 11 this principle is oinV- m<ro
ditcrcl, it will be impjssi ie to define
its bounds. Among all tins
persecutions wi ll whi; h ; !ir, .si ‘.try
: p g of modern history ii str.inu!, no
victim ever suffered, but f.i* ‘U\ vjj ‘
lotion of wliat g -vet usilent den cnir: ti
ed the law of God. To prevent a
similar tiv.in of evils in this country,
the Constitution has wisely withheld
from our government the potter of de
fining the Divine Lsw. Djs a right
reserved to each ciiizen; and while tie
respects (he equal rights of others, he
cannot he held amenable to any hu
man tribunal tor his conclusions.
Extensive religious combinations*
to effect a political object, are, in the
opinion of (lie committee, always dan
gerous. Tins first effort of the kind*
ails for the establishment of a princi
ple, \vhi> It, in the opinion of the com
mittcc, would lay the foundation for
dangerous innovations upon the spirit
, ‘>l the Constitution, and upon the re
ligious rights of the citizens. If ad
milted, it may be justly apprehended,
that the future measures of govern
un nt will be strongly marked, if not
eventually controlled, by the same in
fluenre. All religions despotism com
mences by combination and influence;
ami when that ii fluence begins to op
crate up n tne political institutions of
a country, the ci\il power soon bends
under if; and the catastrophe of other
nations furnishes an awful warning of
t fie consequence.
Under the present regulations of
the Post Office Department, the rights
of conscience arc not invaded. Every
agent enters voluntarily, and it is pre
siimed conscientiously, into the dis
charge of his duties, w ithout inter
meddling w ith the conscirm e of ano
ther. Post ofti es are so regulated,
as that but a small proportion of the
first day of the week is required to
he occupied in official business. In
the transportation of the mail on that
day, no one agent is employ ed many
hours. IMigious persons enter into
the business without vi lating their
own conscience, or imposing any re
straints upon others. Passengers in
the mail stages are free to rest during
the first day of the week, or to pursue
their journeys at their own pleasure.
While the mail is transported on Sat
urday, the Jew and the Sabbatarian
may abstain from any agency in car
rying it, from conscientous scruples.
While it is transported on the first
day of the week, another class may
abstain, from the same religions scru
ples. The obligation of government
is the same to both of these classes,
and the committee can discover no
principle on which the claims of one
should be more respected than those
of the other, unless it should be ad
Emitted that the consciences of the in
nority are fsi sacred than those
the moprity.
It is the opini n >f (he committee, tha
the subject ‘■hoult! be regarded simply a
a question of expediency, irrespective o
its rehgiom b iring. In this light, t
has hi til rt < been considered- Corgr s
have never legislated upon the subject
It rests, as it ever has don**, in the ieg-d
discretion of the Postmaster General, un
der the# epeated refusals of Congress lo
discontinue (he Sabbath mails. His
knowledge and ju Igement in ail the on
urns of that department, will not be
q H-etioned. His intense labors and assi
duity n ve resulted in tilt high t itn
’oveaient of every branch of Im depart
•ipet. 1( is practised only on the g.eui
e<ii ng mail routes, and such oihci e>
’e it* cgssary to maintain their connex
ions. To prevent tins, w u'd, in the o
itiinn of the committee, he proilurlive ol
-oimeiisi iiij'irv both in i*s commercial,
political and m its moral b ariug.
‘l i e various departments of govern
ment n quire, fr quenily in peace, always
in war, (be speediest intercourse with the
i’cmotest part* of (he country; and one
important object of the . ail cstuVi-h
----loot is to furnish the greatest and most
ronomical ficilities for such ini : • ise
I’he delay ol the m ;i!s one day in seven,
would require toe un;b.yim-nt of -p.-cial
Xjvcss'‘, at great expense, an . some
im n* with ,crr♦‘■at uncnitainty.
ihe commercial, u nnnf cfnring, ana
r s icuilu; >1 iat*'rests of uurcoutry are so
hUiqjaU ly connected, as to inquire a con
. start : r :d she most expbilmus correspon-
J rice b-Twixl ail oar s a-ports, <pd be
, bix ! thorn and the most mt-rior settle
ment. iha delay of th? mails
‘■•! mg the Sikh!,;}, would give
occasion,! - ;. the cropl ument of private ex*
presses, to such an amount, that probably
if n riders would be employ >d whore one
mail stage is now running on that day;
thus diverting the levenueof that de.
pai tment into another channel, sinking
| he establishment into a state of ptisdla,:
imitv in compatible with the government
of which it is a departm.-mt
Passengers in the mail w tages, if the
mads are not. permitted to proceed on
Sunday, will be expected ti spend that
day at a tavern upon the road, generally
under circumstances not friendly to devo
tion, arid at an expense which many are
but poorly able to encounter. To obvi
ate these d’fli ;ulti.-*. many will employ
extra carriages fur their conveyance, and
become the bearers of coir spondence,
as more expeditious than the mail.
1 he stage proprietors will themselves of
ten furni h tbe t avellers with those means
of conveyance*, so that the effect will ul
! timately be only to stop the mail, while
•he vehicle which conveys it will continue,
and ns < assengers become the special
messengers tor conveying a considerable
proportion ot what would otherwise con
stitute the contents of the mail.
Nor can the committee discover where
thf* system could consistantly end. the
observance of a hoiyday becomes inrmpo
rated in our institutions, shall we not for*
b il the movement of an army; prnhilnt an
assault in time of war; and lay art in nwc
tion upon our naval officers to lie in the
wind while upon the oc an on that d.n?
Consistency would seem to require it
Nor is it certain that we should stop here.
If the principle is once established, that
religion, or religious observances, shall be
interwoven with our legislative acts, we
must pursue it to its ultimatum. . <
shall, if consistent, provide for erec *
°f edifices for the worship of tbe Crea
an d for tbe support of Christian ministers,
>f we believe such me sures w ill promote*
the interest of Christianity. It is the s t
tled conviction of the committee, that tin
only me'hod of avoiding these conscqum e*
with their attendant train of ev Is. is to a.!-
here strictly to the spirit of the C m-litu
tion, which regards the general gwem
ment in no other light than that of a civil
institution, wholly destitute of religious
authority.
W hat other nations call religious t- ler
ation, we call religions rights. They are
not exercised in virtue of govermerdal
indulgence, but as rights, of which gov
ernment cannot deprive any portion of
citizens, however small. Jiespotic power
may invade those rights, bnt justice till
confirms them. Let the national legi-ta
ture once perform an act which involves
the decision ot a religious controversy,
and it will have passed its legitimate
bounds. The precedent will then be es
tablished. and the foundation laid for that
usurpation of the Divine prerogative in
<h : s country, w hicTi has been the uesnV
nj, -ci urge to the fairest portions ?-.f the
old wond. Our Constitution recogn ses
o ot ie jjower th in that of pursuasion,
or enforcing religious obs-Tvancfis. Let
the professors of Christianity recommend
their religion by de. as of benevolence--
l>v Christian meekness —by lives of tetn
neranoe and ho'ioe-s. L t them com
bine their eftbris to instruct the ignorant
—to relieve the widow and tne orpiian—•
to promulgate to the world the gospel yd
their Saviour, recommending its precepts
>n their habitual exmplr: government wilf
find its legitimate object in protecting,
ihern. It cannot oppose them, and they
will not need its aid. Their nmrai irflu
ence will then do infinitely more to ad
vance the true interests of re igion, tlian
uiy meieu es which they may call oil
l’engross to enact.
The petitioners do not complain < f ny
infringement upon their own rights.
! hev enjoy nil that Christian* ought ‘o
i-k at the hand of any government —pro
tec'ion from all molestation in the exer
cise oftheir religious sentiments.
Resolved. That the Committee he dis
barg. d.from the further consideration of
vob]> rs
CABINET,
rrjltHKA 7Y--.V i> / i?x 9-
. ullkv. n.i. is;■. Akoi sh (ip r utc
of ‘ion. Jackson: for the City of Wa>h
ington,is from the Nashville B inner, of
the 24 h ult.
‘On Sulurdsy Irst 17ih ii st. the,
steamboat F rry, U?p FI rrisoru
went up t!io river to the laiMlCig’ neat’
y o Ifeotpi-rege, where the pr<sidvnfc_
of the United . S, ' atca Jk jJ
with I is suite, and (lie next day sho
S'l’t-iford t <s town, to.k on board U;g
res 1 i.f the passengers, and immedi
ately procei'did on her way. On
rea ring our I :mitng, a s. luff wvs
filed and almost the entire popula
tion of our city repaired to the river
hank to witness the departure, of their
esteemed fellow citizen to assume the
duties of chief magistrate of the na
tion. Din ing the short continuance
of the boat the General came onshore,
mingled with bis friends and acquain
ances, and bid them a cordial fare
well. Should the state of the Ohio
river permit, he will proceed by water
to Wheeling-—otherwise he will be
compelled to pass through the
Ohio by land. 11 is health appears ro
he good, and hi3 elastic spirits, al
though severely depressed by his late
domestic bereavement, powerfully re
el t, and enable him to maintain liiS
wonted equanimity and composure.*
For the CABINET, j
CHURCH POLITY , JVb. 111.
e understand, that in the early ages
jof Christianity, the disciples, held their
j pro j erty, in common,, and that contribu
tion- were made for their general sur>-
joort. But we know not by whom distri
butions were made: whether by the apos
jtl's tbern-elves. or agents, by their ?p
----| pointment. But it. appears, by she. Gh
Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, that
I there were murmnrrngs, and complaints
,of neglect in tbe daily ministration:
;* Then the tw Ive c- .l! { the multitude of
i the disciples unto them, and said, if is
; not reason that we should leave the wot !
lof G and. and serve fames,’ and dire t ! 'd
| the disciples, to leak out among them’
I selves seven men wh-.mthey. would a;-
p. ‘i o over that business. ‘But we will
tiive out ‘elves to prayer, n and
t tb urn* urv of the w d.’ ‘A and the
‘O “>■ g as (I tbe hole roulfilade.*
ih snrv system if church polity seems
•i> have met hr approbation of the -y
is wr and -„i , i ?'-ose of the minister .* so
•m ‘ made the proportion: they seem to he
eased * itb t'o prospect, of haviag ‘be
ii.’ii'h (-1 ‘he apo-th s, freed from the u*m
’ poral liarrassments of the church. and
‘ii -. duties placed in the hands ot ;>er
.<ns m. m i bgdde: and the if accordin /
, chose bt ■{ ii n and others, whom they *et
b* lure the apo-tles’ who laid their hands
on them: and thug ordained or commis
sioned office!s >o elected by (he suffirr.’t.e
of die disciples, or, l.aitv, to minister the.
temporalities of the cl tireh. And itdoes
not appear, 11i:it tbeix rcise of those
•rights,and privileges, bv the laity, either
impeded, the progress of tbe word— om.
;b riassevi ( .c u 4 ;eran.y.-w-tr uisorgins