prosperous nation, whose only law is the will of the people, not of a despot; and the truths, that ignorance, clothed in her mantle of intemperance, immorality, and sloth, cannot guide this mighty ship over the trackless, restless sea upon which she is launched; that an immoral community cannot be an intelligent and peaceful community; and that the appropriate exercises of the Sabbath, such as devout reading, and the faithful preaching of the Gospel, are the greatest incitements to a peaceful, industrious, temperate, moral, and sober life. Therefore, it is said, without a Sabbath duly observed, this nation cannot long continue independent, prosperous, and happy.

Where, in the whole universe, is there to be found an instrument favoring these objects so benignly as the too often neglected and despised Sabbath? And who cannot see that every abridgment of its legitimate influence is weakening the foundation, not only of our religion, but of our republican institutions? All history shows that the Sabbath, wherever it has been duly observed, has proved an invaluable blessing to the people. Observation, and the experience of good men, loudly proclaim the same fact. Then, how can any lover of his country lend his influence to desecrate that day, or withhold that influence to prevent its further desecration?

Save this country from an ignorant, Sabbath-breaking community. And, in order to do this, the clause referred to must be repealed.

Only a few facts will be referred to, to show that we are a Sabbath-breaking people, for they cannot have escaped the notice of any of the gentlemen composing this honorable body. They are seen, as often as the day returns, in every stage and Post-office; in every steam and canal-boat; in every rail-car and omnibus; in every place of public resort, and in most houses kept for the entertainment of travellers. And this practice is not confined to one section of our country, nor to one class of her citizens; but some of all classes and grades of society participate in the immorality. Even this beautiful city exhibits painful evidence of the truth of what has been said; and the evil is by no means confined to the citizens or private individuals temporarily residing here. It is seen in high places; and its contaminating influence circulates through every artery of this great

nation, filling with pain and sorrow the hearts of those who sincerely love their country, and that kingdom which Jesus Christ came into the world to establish.

What patriot or Christian can look upon these millions of Sabbath-breakers, scattered as they are all over the land, mingling with every family, and leaving the polluting leaven whereever they go, without washing his own hands of the sin, and calling upon every man, woman and child, to "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy?" And in view of these facts and considerations, is there a single member of the twenty-fifth Congress who will raise his voice against granting the prayer of this petition?

Law to be Repealed.

The whole section reads as follows:-" And be it further enacted, That every Postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend on every day on which a mail, or bag, or other packet, or parcel of letters shall arrive by land or water, as well as on other days, at such hours as the PostmasterGeneral shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster, at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper or packet, to the person entitled to or authorized to receive the same," &c.

I do not think any of this part of the law necessary; for, if a deputy Postmaster will not obey the instructions of the Postmaster-General, he can be removed, and one appointed who will. The former part of this section would be well enough, provided the Postmaster-General would not require, nor encourage labor on Sunday. But these words, " and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster, at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper or packet, to the person entitled to or authorized to receive the same,” ought, without delay, to be repealed. It is requiring them to do what they, probably, for the present at least, would do were this clause repealed; and what is against the laws of many of the states, and the law of God, if not against the Constitution of the United States.

It should be particularly observed that this clause does not

touch the carrying and changing the mail. It relates only to the delivery of letters, papers, &c., at the different Post-offices. And your petitioner does not ask Congress to forbid the delivery of letters, papers, &c., on Sunday; or to say any thing about it. Congress, in this section, says, every Postmaster shall keep an office, attend on every day on which a mail-bag, &c., shall arrive, by land or water, as well as on other days, at such hours as the Postmaster-General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof, viz. the delivery of letters, &c., as well as opening mail bags. Does any man want more than this to insure the delivery of his letters on Sunday, if required ?

The clause to be repealed is not only unnecessary, but seems to clash with the rest of the section. For, first, Congress gives the Postmaster-General full power to say how many hours in a day his deputies shall attend at their offices; and, in the clause to be repealed, they say to the deputies, "at all reasonable hours." Suppose the parties should disagree about "reasonable hours ?" It might be asked, why did Congress think it necessary to make a law compelling deputy Postmasters, and not the mail contractors, carriers, and drivers, to labor on Sunday? The same pow er is given to the Postmaster-General, touching the delivery of letters, papers, &c., without this clause, that is given him in the case of sending the mail (as he does) through all parts of the land, as often as he may think best. And does he find any difficulty in obtaining men to carry and change the mail on Sunday, though Congress has made no law requiring the mail contractor and mail carrier to obey the instructions of the Postmaster-General? And have those who wish the mail distributed reason to believe, if this clause were repealed, the deputy Postmasters would, from conscientious scruples, refuse to deliver letters, &c., on Sunday, after they had changed the mail on that day? and, also, that the Postmaster-General could not obtain men for the different offices who would obey his instructions, as readily as he does mail contractors, carriers, &c.? Now, the mail is carried and changed on that day, without any law requiring it; and the same, doubtless, would be true respecting the delivery of letters, &c., though the clause were repealed; provided the PostmasterGeneral should continue, to his deputies, the instructions already given.

And why need any person object to the repeal of the clause specified? Certainly no one need. But it is to be feared that those who would destroy the Sabbath and the Christian religion, (and consequently our republican institutions,) will object. Yet it is ardently hoped, since they would not be unfavorably affected were the prayer of the petition granted, that they will consent to its repeal, and thereby gratify hundreds, and hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens, no less anxious for the prosperity of our country than themselves.

The Postmaster-General, following the steps of his predecessors, has already assumed the responsibility of directing the mail to be carried, and changed, and delivered, on Sunday, and, it is presumed that he will not insist on retaining this clause on his account. Neither is it believed that he will say it is at all necessary, in order to the delivery of letters, papers, &c., on every day of the week, and at such hours as he shall think proper to di

rect.

My anxiety on this subject is very great; and I am admonished by declining health that this may be my last appeal in behalf of this institution. And must I be carried from time, so long as this clause remains among the laws of our country, blazing its absurdities over all Christendom, and soliciting divine judgments? It seems to me that I cannot. Why cannot even those in favor of Sunday mails, since this clause is unnecessary, and since so many respectable citizens desire its repeal, grant the request of the petitioner on these grounds, if on no other; avowing, at the same time, if they choose, their prefer ences in this case?

Repeal this clause, and Congress would compel no man to labor on Sunday. If labor were done on that day, it would be the act of an individual; and the shield now around the Sabbath-breaker, rendering him invulnerable to all appeal, would be broken; for no man could then say to those wishing to create a correct public sentiment, "the supreme law of the land requires labor to be done on Sunday, and the Bible says, be subject to the powers that be. Therefore, I am justified in breaking the fourth commandment." And this nation must answer for the evil done. Repealing this law will not close a single Post-office on that day, unless the Postmaster-General and the people require

it. The voice of the people, from time to time, through their President, who appoints the Postmaster-General, will control this thing; for like people, like President; like President, like Postmaster-General; and Congress having, by law, secured the free and unobstructed passage of the mail through the several States; and the Postmaster-General, having all the power to determine how often the mail shall go, and at what hours in a day each Postmaster shall attend at his office, for the performance of the duties thereof; and as there are men who are willing to labor on Sunday in that department, it is easy to see that there must be a change in his feelings and conduct, before there would be any change in regard to the mails, or the management of the different Post-offices, though this clause were repealed. I wish the repeal of this clause for the reasons already given, and because it appears to be the mainspring of the evil.

It stands in the way of all reform, and is construed as a license for all other kinds of labor, public and private, which companies of individuals, supremely worldly and selfish, choose to perform.

And this evil can scarcely be lessened, much less eradicated, while this clause stands unrepealed. And who will object to granting the request of this petition, since it will not affect, in the least, his interest in the matter of Sunday mails? For, I repeat, the repeal of this law will not directly affect the carrying or stopping, and opening and delivering the mail on that day. All this would then, as now, be in the power of the PostmasterGeneral, appointed by the President, and he by the people. So that the people will determine the whole of this matter, as they should be left to do, without any law of Congress about it.

What can do more to blot out the light of that day than national law requiring its profanation, national example in its judges, rulers, and lawgivers? Let Congress now repeal this clause, and it will greatly aid in redeeming that institution from the disrepute into which it has undeservedly fallen. But let them refuse, and another blow is struck, which will tend to throw this nation into anarchy and confusion, natural and unavoidable consequences of forgetting God, and profaning the Sabbath.