LAWS OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES.

The latest enactments of the several States and Territories of these United States relating to the Sabbath, we may have failed to obtain: yet enough has been found to show that correct legislative action has once been had. It is painful, however, to say, that in some instances, the people have been receding from the high and righteous stand which they had taken.

MAINE.

In this State, travelling, ordinary labor, and business are prohibited on the Lord's day. Passed, 1834.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. "That no tradesman, artificer, or any other person whatsoever, shall do or exercise any labor, business or work of their secular callings, (works of necessity and mercy only excepted,) * * on the first day of the week, commonly called the Lord's day, or any part thereof.

"Sec. 2d. And be it further enacted, That no person shall travel on the Lord's day between sun-rising and sun-setting, unless from necessity, or to attend public worship, visit the sick, or do some office of charity, on penalty of," &c. Passed, 1799. June 22, 1814, the Legislature, commenting on the second section, say, "That no license from a Justice of the Peace, for travelling on Sunday, will avail in behalf of any traveller, or carrier, with any team or carriage of burthen, or of any traveller in the style and capacity of a drover, with any horses, cattle, or other beasts: but all such license shall be utterly void."

In most of the States, all games, pastimes, amusements, recreations, sports, fishing, hunting and visiting are forbidden. Also the frequenting of places of public resort, except for moral and religious instruction, is prohibited.

VERMONT.

"An act to enforce the due observance of the Sabbath. "Considering that in every community, some portion of time ought to be set apart for relaxation from worldly labors and employments, and devoted to the social worship of Almighty God,

and the attainment of religious and moral instruction, which are, in the highest degree, promotive of the peace, happiness and prosperity of the people. Therefore,

"Sec. 1st. It is hereby enacted by," &c. "That the first day of the week shall be kept and observed, by the good people of this State, as a Sabbath, holy day, or day of rest from secular labors and employments; nor shall any person or persons [on that day] exercise any secular labor, business, or employment, except such as necessity and acts of charity shall require." Passed, 1797.

MASSACHUSETTS.

"Sec. 1st. No person shall keep open his shop, warehouse, or workhouse, or shall do any manner of labor, business, or work, (except only works of necessity and charity,)" on the Lord's day. "Sec. 2d. No person shall travel on" that day, "except from necessity or charity." Passed, 1791-1796.

RHODE ISLAND.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. "That no person in this State shall do or exercise any labor, or business, or work of his ordinary calling," &c., "on the first day of the week, or suffer the same to be done by his children, servants or apprentices (works of necessity and charity only excepted)." Passed, 1679, 1750, 1784, 1798.

Sec. 2d forbids the employment of others to commit the aforesaid offences.

CONNECTICUT.

Sec. 2d provides, "That no person shall, upon land or water, do any manner of secular business, work, or labor, (works of necessity and mercy excepted,)" on the Lord's day.

"Sec. 3d. No traveller, drover, wagoner, teamster, or any of their servants shall travel on the Lord's day, (except from necessity and charity.)" Passed, 1808.

In the revision of the laws of this State, 1821, Sec. 1st, we read, "Nor shall any traveller, drover, wagoner, or teamster travel on said day, except from necessity and charity;" and "it shall be the duty of the citizens of this State to attend the public worship of God, on the Lord's day; and that no person or

persons shall do any secular business, work, or labor, [on that day] (works of necessity and mercy excepted.)"

But since Sunday mails have been established, the duty of certain citizens seems to be entirely disregarded; as may be seen in the compilation of laws ordered by the General Assembly of this State, in 1835, Sec. 7th. "No proprietor or proprietors, or driver of any coach, wagon, or sleigh, or other carriage, belonging to, or employed in any line of stages, or extra carriage; or proprietor or driver of any hackney coach, coachee, or chaise, sleigh, or other pleasure carriage, shall suffer or allow any person or persons, to travel, except from necessity or charity, in such carriage on the Lord's day, on penalty of twenty dollars for every offence: Provided, that this act shall not extend to the owners or drivers of carriages employed for carrying the United States' mail through this State on the Lord's day."

What would the inhabitants of this State, from its earliest settlement down to 1810, have thought of such an exception? The bare suggesting of it would have called down upon its author the pity and indignation of ninety-nine hundredths of all who then lived in the land of the Pilgrims. Once the good people of this State would not wink at the sin she now cherishes in her bosom. And who among her sons has inquired, Why do ye so?'

NEW YORK.

"That there shall be no

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. travelling, servile laboring, or working, (works of necessity and charity excepted,) ** or any unlawful exercises or pastimes by any person or persons within this State, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday." Passed, 1813.

Provision is made for those who uniformly keep the last day of the week as a Sabbath; as is also the case in many of the other States; and for any person removing his family or household furniture, if such removal be not commenced on such day. But we find no provision for the Postmaster who changes and delivers the mail on that day.

NEW JERSEY.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. "That no travelling, worldly employment or business, ordinary or servile labor or

work, either upon land or water, (works of necessity and charity excepted,) ** shall be done or performed by any person or persons within this State, on the Christian Sabbath, or first day of the week, commonly called Sunday." Passed, 1798.

No stages are allowed to be driven through this State on said day, except such as have the mail, and in cases of "necessity or mercy" clearly proved: and no wagoner, carter, drayman, drover, butcher, or any of his or their servants, shall ply, or travel with his or their wagons, carts or drays, or shall load or unload any goods, wares or merchandise, or produce, or drive cattle, sheep, or swine, in any part of this State, on the first day of the week."

In this and the two immediately preceding States, provision is made for the carrying of mails on the Lord's day, and in this State for the Postmaster to labor on Sunday.

PENNSYLVANIA.

"Sec. 1st. If any person shall do or perform any worldly employment whatsoever on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, (works of necessity and charity only excepted,)" &c.; then follows the penalty. Passed, 1794.

DELAWARE.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. "That if any person or persons within this State,** shall do or perform any worldly employment, labor, or business whatsoever, upon the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, (works of necessity and charity only excepted,)" &c.; then comes the penalty.

"Sec. 2d. And be it further enacted, That if any carrier, pedler, wagoner, or any driver of a travelling stage, wagon, or coachee, carter, butcher, or drover, with his horse, pack, wagon, stage, coachee, cart, or drove, shall travel or drive upon the Lord's day," &c.; then comes the penalty. Passed, 1795.

MARYLAND.

"No person whatsoever shall work or do any bodily labor on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: and no person having children, servants, or slaves, shall command, or wittingly or willingly suffer any of them to do any manner of work or labor on

the Lord's day, (works of necessity and charity always excepted.)" Passed, 1723.

VIRGINIA.

"Sec. 5th. If any person, on the Sabbath day, shall himself be found laboring at his own, or any other trade or calling, or shall employ his apprentices, servants, or slaves, in labor, or other business, except it be in the ordinary household offices of daily necessity, or other works of necessity or charity;" then comes the penalty. Passed, 1792.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The same as in Maryland and Virginia.

NORTH CAROLINA.

"An act for the more effectual suppression of vice and immorality.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted by," &c. "That all and every person or persons whatsoever shall, on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, carefully apply themselves to the duties of religion and piety; and that no tradesman, artificer, planter, laborer, or other person whatsoever, shall, upon land or water, do or exercise any labor, business, or work of their ordinary calling, (works of necessity and charity only excepted,) on the Lord's day, or any part thereof," &c.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

"Whereas there is nothing more acceptable to God than the true and sincere service and worship of him, according to his holy will, and that the holy keeping of the Lord's day is a principal part of the true service of God, which in many places of this province is so much profaned and neglected by disorderly persons;-1st, Be it therefore enacted," &c. "That all and every person whatsoever, shall, on every Lord's day, apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately; and having no reasonable or lawful excuse, on every Lord's day shall resort to their parish church, or some other parish church, or some meeting, or assembly of religious worship," &c.