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.

Sec. 2d forbids the worldly labor, business or work of all "tradesmen, artificers, workmen, laborer, or any other person, [on the Lord's day,] (works of necessity and charity only excepted.)"

Sec. 4th enjoins, "That no drover, wagoner, butcher, higler, they or any of their servants, or any other traveler or person whatsoever, shall travel on the Lord's day by land or water,” except to and from a place of religious worship, and to visit the sick, &c.

Sec. 8th prohibi ts the working of slaves or servants on Sunday. Passed, 1712.

GEORGIA.

The preamble is nearly verbatim as the last above written. Sec. 1st requires all persons to attend public worship.

Sec. 2d forbids, in language similar to the above, all labor "(except works of necessity and charity,)" on the Lord's day. Traveling and the working of slaves are also prohibited on that day. Passed, 1803.

FLORIDA.

Apprentices, servants, or slaves, are not allowed to labor or be employed in business on Sunday, "(works of necessity and charity excepted.)" Passed, 1828.

ALABAMA.

"Sec. 1st. No worldly business or employment, ordinary or servile work, (works of necessity and charity excepted,) ** shall be done or performed by any person or persons within this territory on the Christian Sabbath," &c.

"Sec. 2d. No wagoner, carter, drayman, drover, butcher, or any of his slaves or servants, shall ply or travel" * * load or unload, or drive cattle in any part of this territory on Sunday. Passed, 1803.

MISSISSIPPI.

Sec. 2d enjoins, "That no wagoner, carter, drayman, drover, butcher, or any of his slaves or servants, shall ply or travel with his wagon, cart, or dray," load or unload, or drive cattle, sheep, or swine, &c., on Sunday.

Sec. 4th. All labor, by any person, either free or bond, “(except works of necessity or charity,)" is forbidden in this State on Sunday. Passed, 1822.

LOUISIANA.

No law has been found in regard to the observance of the Sabbath in this State.

ARKANSAS.

Resolved, by the General Assembly of the Territory of Arkansas, That the several justices of the peace, and other civil officers of this territory, in their respective districts, be requested to take special notice of and bring to justice, all offenders of the laws of this territory providing for keeping holy the Sabbath day."

The laws prohibiting Sabbath desecration referred to have not been found, but the above is evidence that such do exist.

TENNESSEE.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted," &c. "That if any merchant, artificer, tradesman, farmer, or any other person, shall be guilty of

exercising any of the common avocations of life, or of causing or permitting the same to be done by his, her or their children or servants, (acts of real necessity or charity excepted,) on the Lord's day," &c.; then comes the penalty.

"Sec. 2d. 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 all labor on land or water, "(except works of necessity and charity,)" is prohibited on that day. Passed, 1803.

KENTUCKY.

"Sec. 36th. 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, whether the same be for profit or amusement, (and no work or business shall be done or performed on the Sabbath day, unless it be the ordinary household offices of daily necessity, or other works of necessity or charity,) he shall forfeit," &c. Passed, 1822.

MISSOURI.

Sec. 28th prohibits all labor on the first day of the week, 66 except works of necessity and charity ;)" nor are Courts permitted to sit on Sunday, except to receive a verdict or discharge a jury; neither are they allowed to adjourn to that day. Approved, 1835.

ILLINOIS.

Sec. 1st prohibits disturbing the peace and good order of society by labor or amusement on the Lord's day.

Sec. 2d prohibits noise and amusement, calculated to disturb the peace on that day. Passed, 1827.

Would not stage and boat horns, and the rumbling of carriages on Sunday, be a breach of this law?

INDIANA.

Sec. 1st prohibits work at common labor on Sunday. Passed, 1817.

OHIO.

"Sec. 1st. Be it enacted" &c. "That if any person of the age of fourteen years and upwards, shall be found on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, sporting, rioting, quarreling, hunting, fishing, shooting, or at common labor, (works of necessity and charity only excepted)"—then follows the penalty; and exceptions for those who keep the seventh day as a Sabbath, those who are emigrating with their families,watermen who wish to land their passengers; superintendents, or keepers of toll bridges, who wish to attend to the same; and ferrymen. Passed, 1831.

MICHIGAN.

Believing "that in every community, some portion of time ought to be set apart for relaxation from worldly care 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 a people," Therefore, "Be it enacted by the Governor, and Judges of the Territory of Michigan, That the first day of the week shall be kept and observed by the good people of this Territory, as a Sabbath, holy day, or day of rest from all secular labor, or employments, (works of necessity and charity excepted.)"

LAWS OF CONGRESS.

"Sec. 3d. And he [the Postmaster-General] shall provide for carrying the mail of the United States by stage, carriages, or horses, as he may judge most expedient; and as often as he, having regard to the productiveness thereof as well as other circumstances, shall think proper. * * He shall, also, have power to prescribe such requisitions to the deputy Postmasters, and others employed under him, as may be found necessary."

"Sec. 5th. That if any person shall obstruct or retard the pas

sage of the mail, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction," &c.

"Sec. 7th. That every deputy Postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend, at such hours as the Postmaster-General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof." Approved, 1792.-Story's United States Laws, Vol. 1st.

The above, in substance, was re-enacted and approved, May 8th, 1794. Here Congress ought to have left the subject.

"Sec. 9th. 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 Postmaster-General 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.”—Story's United States Laws. Approved, April 30, 1810-Re-enacted and approved March 3d, 1825.

In this section occurs the objectionable clause, the first and only one which requires labor on Sunday. It is true, if the Postmaster-General directs the mail to be carried on that day, then, by a law of Congress, the deputy Postmaster is required to be in his office and receive it.