) j 
 
 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 MEMORIALS 
 
 PRESENTED TO CONGRESS 
 
 BY NUMEROUS FRIENDS OF THEIR COUNTRY 
 
 AND ITS INSTITUTIONS , 
 
 PRAYING THAT 
 
 THE MAILS MAY NOT BE TRANSPORTED, 
 
 NOR POST-OFFICES KEPT OPEN, 
 ON- THE SABBATH. 
 
 JIcUj JJov<t : 
 
 PIJIJLISHED AT THE UF.QUEST OF MANY PETITIONERS. 
 
 May, 1829. 
 
IMPORTANCE OF THE SABBATH. 
 
 Eteu since the mail was first transported in the United States on 
 the Sabbath, this violation of the day of rest has been a source of grief 
 and pain to many individuals, who are justly ranked among the most 
 intelligent, useful, and virtuous of.our citizens. To the certain know- 
 ledge of the compiler of these pages, much regret has been expressed, 
 by persons residing in many parts of the Union, that a practice so per- 
 nicious in its tendency and consequences, should have been sanctioned 
 by any department of our national government. 
 
 Post-offices, in our large towns, were gradually opened, one after 
 another, for a part of the Sabbath ; and in 1810, a section was inserted, 
 in the law regulating the post-office, by which post-masters were oblig- 
 ed to deliver letters at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week. 
 This law attracted very little attention at the time ; and it is supposed, 
 that the section alluded to was scarcely considered at all, except by the 
 Committee that introduced it. A member of congress recently declar- 
 ed it to be very strange, that such a provision should have crept into 
 the law ; for it was clearly a repeal of the Fourth Commaiidment. 
 Most certainly this is the fact, unless it can be shown, that to keep 
 the post-office open in every city, town, and village of our land, on 
 every Sabbath of the year, and in a time of the profoundest peace, is 
 a work of necessity and mercy ; a proposition not very likely to be es- 
 tablished, when the post-office in London, the most populous, the most 
 busy, and tlic most commercial city in the world, is closed, during the 
 whole of every Sabbath. Indeed, it is absurd to speak of the business 
 of the mails and the post-office, as being a work of necessity at 
 all times, when the custom-house, the public offices at the seat of gov- 
 ernment, and all the courts of justice, are uniformly closed one day in 
 seven ; and when great numbers of our most active and enterprising 
 men of business never receive their letters on the Sabbath, and yet 
 conduct tlieir affitirs with as much skill, prudence, and success as 
 
 OtluM'S. 
 
 The keeping open of post-offices, on the day of sacred rest, has been 
 to many hearts a still greater grief and burden, tlian the transporta- 
 tion of the mail on tliat day. In many towns, both large and small, 
 the post office is so located, as to attract crowds of idlers, who do not 
 pretend to any plea of necessity. The young, if they have not pious 
 parents or guardians, are led, by this public and authorized show ol' 
 
business to disregard the Sabbath, and to withdraw themselves from 
 public worship. All these consequences were foreseen at once, by 
 those who are accustomed to regard moral causes and their effects. 
 
 Soon after the close of the last war, numerous petitions were pre- 
 sented from inhabitants of different parts of the United States, (on 
 the Atlantic coast and beyond the Alleghany mountains,) asking for a 
 removal of these evils, which they had observed to be increasing. The 
 attention of congress was in some degree arrested, and a respectful re- 
 port was made by the post-master general ; but a regard to what was 
 supposed to be the public accommodation and convenience prevented 
 any legislative interposition. 
 
 From that time to the present, the multipled evils of Sabbath-break- 
 ing have become more and more apparent ; and the apprehension has 
 been extensively felt, that an irresistible flood of business and pleasure 
 will roll over the sacred institutions of religion, and leave our beloved 
 land a moral desolation. Hence it has been a subject of conversa- 
 tion for years, in many a circle of reflecting and patriotic men, and in 
 many states of the Union, if not in every state, that the friends of the 
 Sabbath should come forward, and plead its claims before the national 
 legislature. It has been said, from year to year, that doubtless many 
 petitions would be offered, if the work of petitioning were once seri- 
 ously commenced. But the matter was delayed for reasons, which, 
 though not satisfactory, are very apt to have influence ; such as, " It 
 is not our duty, in this city, or town, to begin ;" or, " We have pe- 
 titioned already, and it has done no good;" or, "If our rulers have 
 not a just sense of the importance of the Sabbath, petitioning will 
 avail nothing ; and when they shall have just views on the subject, 
 they will not need to be petitioned." It has, however, been the 
 steady intention of numerous individuals, to unite with their fellow- 
 citizens in forwardixig petitions, whenever a commencement should 
 be made. 
 
 It was with the highest gratification, therefore, that the friends of 
 religion, in different parts of the land, were informed, that a most 
 respectable committee, composed of gentlemen of different religious 
 denominations, had been constituted in the largest of our commercial 
 cities, and had sent forth an invitation to their countrymen to join in 
 the petition, which was soon to be presented. This was early in 
 December last ; and, before the close of that month, many petitions 
 had been forwarded, and some were before the post-office committee 
 of each liouse of congress. Others continued to arrive till the last 
 weeks of the session ; and, in tlie whole, four hundred and forty one 
 distinct petitions wore presented to the House of Representatives, and 
 twrnty six* to the Senate. These were severally referred to the post- 
 office committees. 
 
 After these introductory paragraphs, it is proposed to lay before the 
 public a list of places , from which memorials were received, extracts 
 from the petitions, selected names of petitioners, and a iiiw concluding 
 observations. 
 
 * This number docs not include a few duplicates sent to the Senate, havins: tlie 
 same signatures as were sent to the other house. The whole number of petitions 
 presented to both houses is 467. 
 
LIST OF PLACES, 
 
 ivnd agiiinst tlio transportation of 
 of po3l-orticce on Ibu Sabbath. 
 
 The petitions which were presented to llio Senate, are indicated by the letters (Sen.) 
 
 From wbicli memoriala were rocoivnd against tlio transportation of the mail, and the keeping open 
 of po3l-orticce on Ihu Sabbath. 
 
 Petitions from the State of 3IAINE ; viz. From inhabitants of the towns of 
 
 Ailjany, 
 
 Albion, 
 
 Andover, 
 
 Augusta, 
 
 Bangor, 
 
 Cornville, 
 
 F.asiport, 
 
 Farniington, 
 
 Fayette, 
 
 Freedom, 
 
 Bath, 
 
 Gray, 
 
 Bluehill, (2 petitions,) Hallowell, 
 
 Bucksport, floulton, 
 
 Chesterville, Kiliery, 
 
 Clinton, Limerick, 
 
 North Yarmouth, 
 
 Orono, 
 
 Orrington, 
 
 Paris, 
 
 Portland, 
 
 Readtield, 
 
 Robbinstown, 
 
 Steuben, 
 
 'i'emple, (2 petitions,) York. 
 
 Vassalboro', (2 pet.) 
 
 Warren, 
 
 Washington, 
 
 Waterville, 
 
 Wayne, 
 
 Wells, 
 
 West JMachias, 
 
 Wiiithrop, 
 
 Winslow, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Penobscot, (2 petitions.) and York. 
 
 From inhabitants of tlie State, without a more particular designation, (one petition.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of NEW HAMPSHIRE ; viz. From inhabitants of the towns of 
 
 Andover, (Senate,) 
 Boscawen, 
 Chesterfield, (Sen.) 
 Dunbarton, 
 
 Franklin, 
 
 Gilmanton, 
 Hampton, (Sen.) 
 Hill.sborougli, 
 Hopkinton, 
 Leinpslcr, 
 
 New Chester, 
 North Hampton, 
 North Haverhill, 
 JVIIiam, 
 Rindge, 
 
 Rochester, 
 Salisbury, (Sen.) 
 Sanbornton, (Sen.) 
 Wilmot. 
 
 From inhabitants of the State, without a more particulrr designation, (one petition.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of VERMONT ; viz. From inhabitants of the towns of 
 
 Barton, Charlotte, Passumsic, West Rutland, 
 
 Brandon, Kellyvale, Pittsford, WiUistou. 
 
 Brookfield, Manchester, Rockingham, 
 
 BuKLiNfiTON, Middlcbiiiy, Rutland, 
 
 From inhabitants of the County of Wa.shinglon, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Stale, without a more particular designation, (one petition.) 
 
 Petitions from the Stale of 31ASSACHUSETTS ; viz. From the towns of 
 
 Acton, 
 
 Amherst, 
 
 Andover, 
 
 Do. West Parish, 
 Ashby, 
 Ashfield, 
 Barre, 
 
 Belchertown, 
 Beverly, 
 Blandford, 
 Bloody-brook, 
 BOSTON. (2 pet.) 
 Bradford, 
 
 Do. West Parish, 
 Brighton, 
 Cambridge, 
 
 Chester, 
 
 Chickapce, 
 
 Colerain, 
 
 Conway, 
 
 Egrcniont, 
 
 Fitchburg, 
 
 Granby, (2 petitions,) 
 
 Great Cairington, 
 
 Had ley, 
 
 Hanover, 
 
 Hardwick, 
 
 Hawley, 
 
 Hin.sdaje, 
 
 Kingston, 
 
 Lee, 
 
 Lenox, 
 
 Lincoln, 
 
 Longmeadow, 
 
 Lvnn. (2 petitions.) 
 
 Mcdford, 
 
 Middleborough, 
 
 Middlcfield, 
 
 Millbury, 
 
 New r>raintree. 
 
 New Rowley, 
 
 Nkwbukvi'okt, 
 
 Newton, (Senate,) 
 
 Northampton, 
 
 North Brooklicid, 
 
 Peru. 
 
 Pitlsfield, 
 
 Plainfield, 
 
 Randolph, 
 
 Richmond, 
 
 Salj'.m, 
 
 Sandwich, 
 
 ShelHeld, 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Springfield, 
 
 Slockbridge, 
 
 Sturbridge, 
 
 Topsfield, 
 
 Ware, 
 
 Wenham, (Senate,) 
 
 Westminster, 
 
 West Springfield, 
 
 West Stock bridge, 
 
 Williamstown. 
 
 Petitions from the Slate of CONNECTICUT ; viz. From the towns of 
 
 Rozrahville, 
 Canton, 
 Chester, 
 Colchester, 
 Coventrv, Sou 
 
 Oris wold, 
 HAriTKlti'.u, 
 Lisbon, 
 
 IMeriden, (Sen.) 
 Par. IMiddlebmv. 
 
 Do. N. Par. (Sen.) IMiddlctown, 
 Derby, Nkw Havkn, 
 
 Farniinglon, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Faiilield, and Middlesex, (two petitions.) 
 
 New London. 
 Norfolk, 
 Nortliingion, (Sen. 
 
 NOKWK'H. 
 
 Poqnetanuck, 
 Rocky Hill, 
 Sharon, 
 
 Tolland, (Sen.) 
 I'Arringlon, 
 West Hartford, 
 Wethersficid, 
 Winchester, 
 W ind-sor, 
 Wolcott, (Sen.) 
 
Petitions from the State of NEW YORK ; viz. From the cities and towns of 
 
 Canajoharie and 
 
 Palatine, 
 Champion, 
 Chesier, 
 Clarl<son, 
 Colesville, 
 Durham, 
 Elbridge, 
 Erieville, 
 Franklin, 
 Fovvlersville, 
 Gaines, 
 Gahvay, 
 Greece, 
 
 Granville, (2 pet.> 
 Gouverneur, 
 Hartland, 
 Hornellsville, 
 Ithaca, 
 Jackson, 
 Jamaica, 
 Johnstovvji, 
 Lansingburgh, 
 Le Roy, 
 Ley den, 
 Lima, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Gr 
 Montgomery, Schoharie, Tompkins. 
 
 Adams, 
 
 Albant, 
 
 Albion, 
 
 Akien and Clarence, 
 
 Alexander, 
 
 Amsterdam, 
 
 Antwerp, 
 
 Areadia, 
 
 Augusta, 
 
 Aurelius, 
 
 Aurora, 
 
 Bainbridge, 
 
 Bath, 
 
 Bedford, 
 
 Benton, 
 
 Bergen, 
 
 Bethlehem, 
 
 Bloomfield, 
 
 Bridgchampton, 
 
 Brighton, 
 
 lirooklyn, 
 
 Byron, 
 
 Caiedoniaj 
 
 Cambria, 
 
 Camden, 
 
 Livingston, (2 pet.) 
 
 Lockport, (2 pet.) 
 
 Lyons, 
 
 Mamakating and 
 Walkill, (in 
 the Counties of 
 Orange and Sul- 
 livan,) 
 
 Manheim, 
 
 Mead's Creek, 
 
 Wendon, 
 
 Murray, 
 
 New Rochelle, 
 
 NEW YORK CITY, 
 
 Niagara, 
 
 Ogden, 
 
 Palatine, 
 
 Parma, 
 
 Pittsford, 
 
 Potlsdam, 
 
 Prattshurgh, 
 
 Reading and Colton, 
 
 Riga, 
 
 Rochester, 
 
 Ro^'allon, 
 
 Sanford, 
 eene, Renssalaer, St. Law 
 
 Sackell's Harbor, 
 
 Salem, 
 
 Schenectady, 
 
 Smithfield & Fenner, 
 
 Smithtowu, L. L 
 
 Sodus, 
 
 Stafford, 
 
 Stillwater, 
 
 Sweden, 
 
 Syracuse, 
 
 Tappan, 
 
 Tompkins, 
 
 Trenton, 
 
 Troy, 
 
 Victor, 
 
 Virgil, 
 
 Waterford, 
 
 Watertown, 
 
 Western & Kirkland, 
 
 Westmoreland, 
 
 Wheatland, 
 
 Williamson, 
 
 Ulysses, 
 
 Youngslown, 
 
 rence, Schenectady and 
 
 Petitions from the State of NEW JERSEY ; viz. From the towns of 
 
 Belleville, 
 
 Burlington, 
 
 Chester, 
 
 Cumberland, 
 
 Elizaeethtown, 
 
 Hopewell, 
 Mendham, 
 Newark, 
 New Brunswick, 
 
 Perth Amhoy, 
 Pitlsgrove, 
 Plainticid, 
 Princeton, 
 
 Rahway and 
 
 Woodbridge, 
 Salem, 
 Trenton. 
 
 Petitions from the Slate of PENNSYLVANIA ; viz. From the cities and towns of 
 
 Agnew's Mills, 
 Columbia and vi- 
 cinity, 
 Frankfort, 
 
 Greersburgh, (Bea- 
 ver Count}',) 
 Harrisbuiigh, 
 Rlonlgomery, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 Potlslown, 
 
 Shippenshurg & vie. 
 Souiinvark, 
 
 Springfield, 
 Slrasburg, (Lancas- 
 ter County,) 
 Wyalusing, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of 
 
 Lancaster, 
 Luzerne, 
 Mercer, (Sen.) 
 Northampton, 
 
 Somerset, 
 Venango and 
 
 Butler, (Sen.) 
 Washingrlon, 
 
 Adams, 
 
 Alleghany, (Sen.) 
 Bedford, 
 Bradford, 
 Chester, (Sen.) 
 
 Do. H. R. 
 
 From inhabitants of the State wiliiout a more particular designation, (four petitions.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of DELAWARE ; viz. From the towns of Lewis, Smyrna and 
 vicinity. 
 
 Cumberland, 
 
 Do. and Perry, 
 Dau]ihin, 
 Franklin, 
 Huntingdon, 
 
 Noithumberland,(2pt.) Westmoreland, 
 
 Petitions from the State of MARYLAND ; viz. From the city of BALTIMORE. 
 From the towns oflJnonsboro', Greensboro', and Kent Island. 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Ann Arundel, and Washington. 
 
 From the District of COLUMBIA; viz. From inhabitants of the city of Alexandria. 
 
 Petitions from the State of VIRGINIA ; viz. From the towns of Fairfield, Fredericks- 
 BURGii, Iroiich Creek, Greenville, Middleburg, Otterbridge, Petersburgh. 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of 
 
 Accomac, (2 pet.) 
 
 Albemarle, 
 
 Augusta, 
 
 P>e<llbrfl, 
 
 Brooke, 
 
 Esse.x, 
 
 Fluvanna, 
 Goochland, 
 Greenbrier, (2 pet.) 
 
 Ilnnover, (2 pet.) 
 Herrico, 
 Ring George, 
 
King William, Nelson, Prince Edward, Spotsylvania, 
 
 Montgomery, Orange, Rockbridge, Westinorelaud. 
 
 Morgan, Orange and Louisa, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Stale without a more particular designation, (two petitions.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of NORTH CAROLINA ; viz. From Tirzah, and Wake Forest. 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Cabarrus, Caswell, Mecklenburgh, Nash, Rocking- 
 ham, and Rowan. 
 
 Petitions from the State of SOUTH CAROLINA ; viz. from inhabilaalfl of Blairsville, 
 Camden, (Sen.) CHARLESTON, Columbia, and VVinnsboro'. 
 From inhabitants of the Districts of Chester, and Spartansburg. 
 
 Petitions from the State of GEORGIA ; viz. From inhabitants of the city of Augusta. 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Columbia, and Telfair, (two petitions.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of ALABAMA ; viz. From inhabitants of the County'of Washington. 
 
 Petitions from the State of TENNESSEE ; viz. From inhabitants of Hillsborough. 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Anderson, Bedford, Greene, Knox, Roane, Ruther- 
 ford, Smith, Sullivan, Warren, and Washington. 
 From inhabi'iants of the State, without a more particular designation, (one petition.) 
 
 Petitions from the State of KENTUCKY ; viz. From inhabitants of the towns of Danville, 
 Elkton, Millersburgii, Richmond, and Springfield, (Sen.) 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Callaway, Fayette and adjacent counties, (three peti- 
 tions) (Sen.) Garrard, (2 petitions,) Greene, and Washington. 
 
 Petition from the State of ILLINOIS ; viz. From inhabitants of Fulton County. 
 
 Petitions from the Stale of OHIO ; viz. From inhabitants of the towns of 
 
 Andover, Coshocton, Norwich, Tallmadge, 
 
 Athens, Edinburgh, Oxford, Warren, 
 
 Atwater, Farmington, Perry, Washington, 
 
 Austinburgh, Gustavus, Randolph, Waterford, 
 
 Bainbridge, Hudson, St. Clairsville, (Sen.) Wayne, 
 
 Bath, Miamisburgh, Springfield, Zanesville. 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 From inhabitants of the Counties of Ashtabula, Brown, (Sen.) Butler, Columbiana (and 
 Beaver, Pa.) Delaware, Greene, (Sen.) Hamilton, Licking, Portage, Scioto. 
 
 From inhabitants of the State, without a more particular designation, (four petitions.) 
 
 From the Territory of MICHIGAN ; viz. From inhabitants of Detroit. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM PETITIONS. 
 
 The right of petitioning and the reasons for it. 
 
 We, as a part of the members of our great Republic, would exercise a privilege, 
 to us most dear, of petitioning the immediate agents of the people for the redress of 
 any grievance, or the removal of any hardship, that may be endured, or suflfcred, by 
 any of us. 
 
 Now as a people knowing and regarding our natural duties, and, at the same 
 time, feeling and exercising towards the otficers of our government that submission 
 and deference, which become a dutiful though magnanimous and free people, — we 
 would petition the constituted authorities of our nation, for a remedy commensurate 
 with the inconvenience, of which we speak. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Callaway County, Kentucky. 
 
 As the invasion of the Sabbath is a grievance to professing Christians,* who 
 make a very respectable portion of the community you have the honor to represent, 
 
 ♦That is, communicants in regular Christian churches. 
 
8 
 
 we hope that their views and feelings will be consulted, so far as they do not inter- 
 fere with the privileges and immunities of others. Such Christians, if they are 
 sincere, are the best of your citizens. They pay a punctilious regard to human and 
 divine law. We hope the voice of complaint, coming from such a respectable 
 quarter, will be heard. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Winnsboro', Fairfield District, South Carolina. 
 
 This request is dictated by no sectarian views, nor by any disposition to interfere 
 with the otficial business of your honorable bod}^ but from the purest motives of 
 patriotism, and a solicitude to transmit unimpaired to our children, and our chil- 
 dren's children, those immunities, both civil and sacred, with which the God of nations 
 has exalted us above any other people on the globe. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Salem, Washington county, New- York. 
 
 As true Americans, disclaiming all party feelings, and party interest of any tem- 
 poral kind, we hold, as inviolable, the right of every citizen to worship God, ac- 
 cording to the dictates of his own conscience ; and the privilege we take to our- 
 selves, we freely extend to all our fellow citizens. 
 
 Your petitioners have observed with deep regret, that the more we are prospered 
 as a nation, under the smiles of a benign Providence, the more are the precepts of 
 our Lord and Saviour, and the authority of the God of our fathers, openly violated ; 
 until, as we have every reason to fear, from the pinnacle of prosperity and glory, to 
 which the God of Heaven hath exalted our beloved country, we shall, by our pub- 
 lic and national sins, be precipitated to the abyss of irreligion and ruin. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Le Roy, New- York. 
 
 The Relief desired. 
 
 Your memorialists do therefore respectfully petition for the eftactment of a law, 
 by which the transj^ortation of the mail, and the delivery of letters, &c. on the 
 first day of the week, shall be prohibited. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Philadelphia. The same form of a petition 
 was signed by Inhabitants of the State of Delaware, and of other parts of the country. 
 
 The undersigned do earnestly solicit your honorable body to devise such meas- 
 ures, that the transportation of the mail, and the opening thereof, and the delivery 
 of letters, may no longer be required on the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Columbia county, Georgia. 
 
 Believing with, (as we think,) a majority of our fellow citizens throughout the 
 United States, that the carrying the mail on the Sabbath, especially in time of 
 peace, is a violation of that holy day, we therefore do humbly pray, that your hon- 
 orable body, if in your wisdom you think proper, would pass an act prohibiting 
 the transportation of the mail, and the keeping of post offices open, on that day. 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Mechlcnburgh county, North Carolina. 
 
 The undersigned do view the practice of the post-office establishment, relating to 
 the conveyance of the mails on the Sabbath, as a grievance, which we think to be 
 contrary to the laws of Sacred Writ, as well as contrary to the intent and meaning 
 of the laws of the United States: We therefore solicit most humbly of the honora- 
 ble Congress a redress of the aforesaid grievance. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rockingham county, North Carolina. 
 
 We do not ask you to put a stop to the iniquities prevailing in private life ; but to 
 reform those national evils, that are in opposition to the best interests of our coun- 
 try, the law of a holy and merciful God, to the rights of religious men, and even to 
 the rights of the brute creation. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Greersburgh, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Some of the state sovereignties have, in vain, attempted to enforce the observance of 
 the Sabbath, in the particulars aforesaid. It is therefore to the national legislature, 
 that the appeal must be made. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of St. Lawrence county, New- York. 
 
 The subscribers, believing that the transportation of the mail and the opening of 
 the post-office on Sunchy arc unfavorable to such an observance of this day, as be- 
 comes a Christian community, respectfully solicit Congress to abolish these prac- 
 tices. 
 
This application, we trust, will not be misunderstood. We do not aik Congress 
 to enforce any season, or form, of public worship. We should deprecate, as among 
 the greatest evils, any legislation intended to favor the views of a sect, or to estab- 
 lish a particular faith. We only pray, that Congress may not counteract by its meas- 
 ures, those institutions, which are cherished by the community, as the means of 
 public and private virtue. 
 
 Petition of WILLIAM E. CHANNING, and others, Inhabitants of the oity of Boston. 
 
 Your niemoriiilists would therefore respectfully ask that Post Offices through- 
 out the United States may be closed on the Sabbath, and that such provisions may 
 be made by law, as will require all contracts for the transportation of the mail to 
 be confined to the six secular days of the week. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. This form of a petition waa 
 iiigned by numerous petitioners in many parts of tlio country. 
 
 The undersigned memorialists beg leave respectfully to present our petition and 
 earnest prayer to both Houses of Congress, that the transportation and opening; of 
 the mail, and delivery of letters, and any other business relating to that olfice, 
 may no longer be required on the Holy Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Gustavus, Trumbull county, Ohio. 
 
 Great Interests at stake. 
 Believing, as we do, that the Cliristian religion and the Christian Sabbath will 
 rise and fall together, your petitioners have long viewed, with increasing regret, 
 the transportation and opening of the United States' mail on the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Charlotte, Vermont. 
 
 Your memorialists must confess, that they have a personal interest in the subject, 
 to which they are soliciting the attention of Congress. They not only wish to pre- 
 serve their families and friends from the contagion of a bad example, and of an al- 
 lowed, customary disregard and contempt of an invaluable institution ; but they 
 are also persuaded that for national deviations fiom right, emanating from the gov- 
 ernment, a present national retribution is to be apprehended, inasmuch as the fu- 
 tme reckoning is for individuals, and not for states ; and such public retributory 
 judgment must fall upon the people, and must be borne by your memorialists, in 
 common with others. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Albion, Maine. 
 
 The Sabbath a Divine Institution. 
 
 Your memorialists consider the Sabbath to be a divine institution, its obligation 
 resting on the laws of God, and its observance most conducive to national happi- 
 ness. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Philadelphia. 
 
 Your memorialists consider the practice of transporting and opening the mails on 
 the Sabbath contrary to the b-ourtii command in the decalogue; and that 
 the continuance and increase of our happiness depend on our obedience to the 
 laws of God. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rowan county. North Carolina. 
 
 The transporting of the mail on the Sabbath is an evil which might be avoided, 
 and which is repugnant to the express command of heaven. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Ann Arundel county, Maryland. 
 
 The practice of opening the post-offices of the United States, on the Sabbath day, 
 is, in the opinion of your memorialists, a violation of the divine commandment, 
 injurious in its effects on the public morals, and unsupported by any plea of public 
 necessity, or convenience ; while it gives just offence to the principles and feelings 
 of the Christian conununity. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Trenton, New-Jersey. 
 
 Your memorialists would state their full conviction, that these laws are in direct 
 violation of the laws of the Great God whose authority, as paramount to all oth- 
 er, we presume every member of your honorable hodies will acknowledge; and 
 that they are calculated to bring his frown upon us, as a nation. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Elizabethtown, JVew-Jersey. 
 
 The high authority, by which the rest of the Sabbath is enacted ; its great utility 
 to the interests of religion and morality ; together with the salutary effects, which 
 
10 
 
 tho Sabbath creates, by requiring that one day in Bcven be observed as a day of rest 
 from the cares and toils ol' life ; are some of tlie reasons, why, in our estimation, no 
 encouragement sliould ha i;iven, at least by legal enactments, to the violation of lias 
 divine and important precept. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanta of Chester District, Soutli Carolina. 
 
 We urge the repeal of the present law, as it is an invasion of the law of God. 
 Good citizenship, we think, requires us to keep a conscience not only ' void of offence 
 towards men, but void of offence towards God.' As we are a Christian nation, and 
 exult in tlie honorable distinction, we wish to show our regard for divine laws, and 
 for sacred institutions, by keeping the Sabbath holy. 
 
 Petition of inhabitants of Winnsboro', Fairfield District, South Carolina. 
 
 While the arm of Jehovah is lifted for our defence, no enemy can subdue us, or 
 impair our rights. But if the supreme legislature of this Union, by their act, makes 
 it necessary to violate the command of God, his justice will demand that adequate 
 punishment be inflicted on our common country. His own law He will magnify 
 and make honorable, by inflicting the sanction, or honoring those who honor it. 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Spartansburg District, South Carolina. 
 
 The transportation of the mail is an unnecessary evil, attended with serious con- 
 sequences, and a reproach to the nation ; that it is a direct violation of the command 
 of Jehovah to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy ; that it disturbs the quiet 
 enjoyment of that day, in requiring post-offices to be opened, and the mail to be 
 conveyed through cities, towns and villages, in the hours of public worship, and 
 thus inducing every other evil connected with Sabbath-breaking, a sin, which has 
 ever received the signal displeasure of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Lenipster, New-Hampshire. 
 
 We do humbly appeal to your honorable body, that a free, enlightened, and reli- 
 gious people, may rest from all their labors, as the Lord of the Sabbath hath 
 
 COMMANDED. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of North Haverhill, New-Hampshire. 
 
 Our opinion is based, not only upon the firm belief, that God claims that day for 
 his service, but on a firm belief that every nation, which generally profanes that holy 
 day by neglecting to keep it, does bring upon itself heavy judgments. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rockbridge county, Virginia. 
 
 Being fully convinced, that the blessing of God will be conferred on that nation, 
 which obeys his laws, and that punishment will be inflicted on the disobedient, have, 
 with much concern, seen in the post-office department, that the Sabbath, a day which 
 God HATH COMMANDED TO BE KEPT HOLY, is broken and profaned. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Hanover county, Virginia. 
 
 We view with deep regret the public violation of the Sabbath, in transporting and 
 opening the mail on that day. We regard the command to keep the Sabbath holy 
 binding upon nations, as well as individuals. We are dependent on divine provi- 
 dence as a nation, and caimot expect the blessing of God, while we act in opposi- 
 tion to his requirements. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanta of Westmoreland county, Virginia. 
 
 Righteousness exalteth a nation and sin is a reproach to any people, is a dec- 
 laration of the wisest and most prosperous king, who ever swayed a sceptre on 
 earth : 
 
 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, is a command of the King of kings, 
 which is binding upon all mankind : 
 
 Whereas the transportation and opening of the mail on the Sabbath is productive 
 of much evil throughout our country ; and as many of our citizens are required, in 
 the discharge of their offices, to violate the Sabbath ; Therefore, &c. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Ashtabula county, Ohio. 
 
 We believe the existing law, regulating tlie transportation and opening of mails 
 on the first day of the week, is a direct violation of the law of the Sabbath, or- 
 dained by the lawgiver of the Universe ; and we bel'ieve the tendency to demoral- 
 ise our great oommunity, and prepare our beloved country for the desolating iudg- 
 luents of Heaven, to bo alarming. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Gustavus, Trumbull county, Oiiio. 
 
11 
 
 Believing that the Sabbath day has been appropriated by divine authorily to the 
 worship of Almighty God, your petitioners, having long and deeply regrelled tlie 
 interruption of its sacred dulies, occasioned by the transportation and opening of the 
 mails, earnestly pray you, as guardians of the morals, as well as of the rights and 
 privileges of the people, to take this matter into consideration. 
 
 Petition oi" luliabitants of Alliens, Ohio, 
 
 Your memorialists beg leave respectfully to represent, that, regarding the institu- 
 tion of a weekly day of rest as coeval with the creation of the world, when God 
 rested from his great work of giving form to the earth, and sanctified the Sabbath- 
 day ; — and being assured, that the institution has been in all Christian countries 
 recognized, and deemed subservient to both the temporal and spiritual interests of 
 mankind ; — they have witnessed with great regret, the open and increasing violation 
 of the Lord's day, by the transmission of the mails, under the direction, or by tlie 
 authority, of the government of the United States. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Albion, Maine. 
 
 The Jaw, in regard to the Sabbath, ought to be observed, as we conceive, by eve- 
 ry people calling tliemstlves Christian. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Whereas the Sabbath is appointed to man and beast as a day of rest, a strict ob- 
 servance of which is enjoined in the Sacred Decalogue: — 
 
 Your petitioners are fully persuaded, that the transportation and opening of the 
 mail, and the delivery of letters, on that day, is a violation of the Fourth Command, 
 and attended with much evil, not only by detaining many from a regular attendance 
 on public worship, but by disturbing those, who arc assembled for that purpose. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Winchester, C'oiiiieclicut. 
 
 The undersigned would respectfully represent, (bat it is with the deepest concern 
 we regard the regulations of the posi-ofiice department, respecting the transportation 
 and ojiening of the mail on the Salibath. Having been taught by our pious ances- 
 tors, and by the word of God, to regard that day as holy time, and to esteem it a bles- 
 sing, and not a burden to any people, we do verily believe that the high privileges, 
 both civil and religious, which so conspicuously distinguish our nation, are intimate- 
 ly connected, as well in their continuance as their origin, with a sacred regard to that 
 divine institution. With these views, we cannot restrain the belief, that a practical 
 abolition of the Sabbath would operate as the most deadly treachery, that can be per- 
 petrated ; and consequently we view with serious alarm every measure, however 
 harmlessly designed, which has a tendency to such abolition. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Norfolk, Connecticut. 
 
 He who appointed the Sabbath has commanded that it be kept holy ; and we, who 
 believe that his command is obligatory upon all mankind, view with regret what may 
 be considered a profanation of the day under authoiity of law. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of New-London, Connecticut. 
 
 The memorialists do not think it will be expected of them to reply at length to the 
 arguments used in defence of transporting and opening mails on the Sabbath, and 
 the delivery of letters and newspapers at post-oilices, as the honorable bodies addres- 
 sed will at once perceive, that an entire suspension of secular business on that day 
 would operate impartially on the whole community ; that experience demonstrates 
 that the rest of one day in seven conduces alike to a vigorous prosecution of business 
 and to a healthy moral tone ; and that the whole array of arguments in favor of 
 breaking the Sabbath is answered by the solemn truth, that the violations of this 
 holy day are contrary to the laws of God, and detrimental to the physical, civil, 
 and moral good of the people. 
 
 I'clilion of Inhabitants of the city of New-York. This form of a petition 
 wag signed by great numbers of petitioners in many parts of the Union. 
 
 Believing, as your petitioners do, that the pratice above-mentioned is a direct in- 
 fringement of the divine law ; that its existence is inconsistent with the character 
 and a reproach to the name of a Christian people ; that its tendency is to subvert 
 the institutions of religion, by lessening that respect for them, which ought ever to 
 be felt and inculcated ; that it exerts a ])crnicious and demoralizing inniiencc u])on the 
 community at large, by encouraging, and, in effect, inviting their attention to sec- 
 
12 
 
 tilar concerns, on llio Sabbath, to the neglect, and even the exclusion, of the ap- 
 propriate duties of the day ; that, as an open violation of an express command of the 
 Supreme Lawgiver, it must be ofTensive in his sight, and may lead to such a general 
 depravation of manners, as to cause him to withdiaw from us that abounding good- 
 ness and favor, which he has hitherto vouchsafed to us as a nation ; and that, from 
 all these considerations, it calls loudly for correction and redress ; — they repeat their 
 most earnest and respectful request, &c. 
 
 Petition of Iiiliabitants of Salem, Masa.icliusctts. This form of a petition 
 was signed by Inhabitants of several otlier towns. 
 
 But, more than all, by these means an explicit command of God is violated, and 
 the authority of the Lawgiver set at nought, and his righteous displeasure incurred, 
 not against the individuals only, who are the immediate transgressors, but also 
 against the community and the government, which authorizes, or suffers such wick- 
 edness. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Newburyport, Massachusetts.- 
 
 Supposed convenience docs not abrogate a laiv of God. 
 
 It may be said, perhaps, that public convenience requires the rapid transmission 
 of the mails. This might possibly be a valid excuse, if any great, or momentous, in- 
 terests were at stake, as in case of war or public danger. Our Saviour said. It is 
 lawful to do good on the Sabbath day; but, in the instances by which he illustrated 
 his instructions, it is manifest that he contemplated, (as it is in other places also explain- 
 ed,) works of necessity and mercy. It was not intended, that the precept in the deca- 
 logue should yield to afibrd commercial facilities. The commandment is, that in 
 Six DAYS thou shall do ALL thy toork. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Washington county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 The people of the United States do not ivish to lose the good influen- 
 ces of the Sabbath. 
 
 With a few unworthy exceptions, were the question for the observance of the 
 Sabbath put to the citizens of the United States, it would he unanimously carried in 
 the affirmative. AN by then should this public evil of which we complain, which 
 tends to destroy the observance of the Sabbath, and to disturb those who do ob- 
 serve it, be supported by government .' 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rensselaer county, New-York. 
 
 The toleration, or rather establishment, by the law of the land, of this '• work and 
 labor" on the Sabbath, has long been deplored by a vast majority, it is believed, of 
 the Christian community. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of St. Lawrence county, New-York. 
 
 We believe the good sense of a vast majority of this nation desires a suspension of 
 labor on the Sabbath ; and as the other offices of government are closed on the Sab- 
 bath, we see no reason wiiy the post-office should not likewise be closed. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Stockbridge, Sheffield, and other towns in Berk- 
 shire county, Massachusetts. 
 
 As a people, the inhabitants of the United States, if they were all to speak their 
 minds, would demand the ]ireservation of the Sabbath. They have the deepest in- 
 terest in demanding it; for if all the restraints of religion were removed, our nation- 
 al prosperity and our political freedom would soon depart, to return no more. But 
 what could not be done directly, and at once, may be done gradually, and too eflec- 
 tually, if the Sabbath should be secularized. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 The Sabbath recognized by all the public bodies in our coiinfry, by ev- 
 ery department of government except the post-office, and by the 
 State Laws. 
 
 That the recognition of the Sabbath, in all the institutions of the country, as is 
 5hown in the usages of congress and of our courts of justice, in the execution of the laws, 
 &.C. and the pcctiliar sanction with which it is guarded by our state laws, induce your 
 memorialists to hojic that the exception to the general "observance of a day of rest, 
 
13 
 
 which is found in the post-ofBce department, and which is but of recent practice, will 
 receive the attention of congress. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Fliiladelphia. 
 
 We rejoice that the sacred institutions of religion are so generally respected by 
 the laws of our highly fnvored country; yet wc regret that tlie ' Sabbath, which is 
 the holy of the Lord and honorable,' is, by the authority of the rulers of our nation, 
 violated in one important case ; we mean the mail and post-office department. 
 
 The laws of our happy country, [that is, the laws of the several states,] say, " JVo 
 work shall be done on the Sabbath, by persons of any class ;" yet the law, to which 
 we refer, says, that " carriers of mails, postmasters, and c\evks, shall work on that 
 holy day." 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Bedford county, Tennessee. 
 
 The subscribers humbly suggest, that the transportation of the mail on the Sab- 
 bath has an immoral tendency on the community, and is contrary to the laws of God ; 
 and the laws of this State require a due observance of the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Kellyvale, Vermont. 
 
 Even those, in whom the people confide, and give them power to make laws, are 
 liberated from the necessity of violating the Sabbath. May we remember the com- 
 mand not to bind burdens on men's shoulders, that we are not willing to bear 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Springfield, Pennsylvania. 
 
 The General Government has not the ConsiitutionahPowcr to authorize 
 a violation of the Sabbath. 
 
 Your petitioners have long perceived, with the deepest regret, that the attempts 
 of the state authorities to enforce the due observance of the Sabbath have been great- 
 ly obstructed, if not defeated, by persons acting under authority derived from the 
 post-office department. If the general government actually possesses the right thus 
 practically to annul a salutary law of the several states, and one which is founded up- 
 on the Divine command, it is hoped that at least a spirit of comity, and conciliation, 
 will prevent its furtlier exercise. 
 
 But your petitioners presume, that no such right is claimed by the national legis- 
 lature, believing, as they do, that no such right exists. Surely no express authority 
 to contravene the injunctions of the Supreme Lawgiver will be found in the nation- 
 al charter ; and none is given by implication, unless we admit the preposterous con- 
 clusion, that the people of these states, so highly distinguished by the favor of the 
 Almighty, have intentionally sanctioned the violation of his laws. Persuaded, as 
 your petitioners arc, that the regulation of the General Post-Office, requiring mails 
 to be transported and opened on the Lord's day, is alike unnecessary and unauthoriz- 
 ed, and confiding in the wisdom and piety of the congress of the United States, they do 
 most respectfully and earnestly intreat, that a prompt and effectual remedy may be 
 provided for the evil, of which they, in common with all the reflecting portion of our 
 fellow citizens, have so just reason to complain. 
 
 Petition of JOHN COTTON SMITH,* and others, Inhabitants of Sharon, Connecticut. 
 
 If these things are true, have we not reason to deprecate the judgments of heaven 
 upon our nation, because of the extent to which this offence is practised, under the 
 pretence of post-office regulations, which are repugnant to the laws of the Su- 
 preme Governor, and to tlic municipal enactinents of every state in the Union. 
 
 Your memorialists would respectfully inquire, upon what pretext is the law of God 
 thus disregarded, and his sovereignty thus insulted ? 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Washington county, Pennsylvania, unanimously 
 adopted at a public meeting, JOHN HAMILTON, Chairman. 
 
 The religious freedom, secured by the constitution to every citizen, is infringed 
 by a law, that offends the consciences of multitudes, and exacts from post-masters 
 and others services forbidden by the religion, which most of them profess. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Bedford, Westchester county, New-York. 
 
 Wc rejoice in the principles of universal religious toleration on which our general 
 government is founded ; and we would by no means desire that Congress should 
 
 * For many years a moniber of Congress, and sub8c<}uently GovT>rnor of Counccliout. 
 
14 
 
 ever have (lie constitutional power of ir.teifering in matters of religion. All that we 
 request is, lliiit the powers of the government, given for good and legitimate ob- 
 jects, should not he used to weaken the iniluence of religion, and thus deprive us of 
 the valuable privileges, transmitted to us by our ancestors. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 The leizal obligations, which bind us to the discharge of what we regard as merely 
 .secular offices on the Sabbath are, in our view, an infringement of that religious 
 freedom and equality of privilege, which, by the federal constitution, are secured to 
 all good citizens. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Hudson, Portage county, Ohio. 
 
 BTotivc of Gratitude. 
 We would futhermore suggest, that these United States have long enjoyed the pe- 
 culiar smiles of Heaven ; that they have been blessed in an extraordinary degree ; 
 and that, therefore, gratitude to the Source, whence all these blessings flow, should 
 induce all to keep holy the day, which is especially set apart for worshipping the God 
 of our salvation. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Telfair county, Georgia. 
 
 When we reflect on the many blessings, with which our country has been crown- 
 ed ; — that wholesome laws have been enacted ; that the arts of peace have been suc- 
 cessfully cultivated ; and that the happiness of the people of our nation is so greatly 
 promoted ; — we acknowledge ilie gratitude we owe to the Great Arbiter of Na- 
 tions. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rowan county, North Carolina. 
 
 We humbly conceive these things ought not so to be, and trust that, while we as a 
 nation feel ourselves so highly indebted to the Giver of all good, you, in your wis- 
 dom, will say, ' Henceforward there shall be, in the mail department, no infringe- 
 ment of the sacred claims of the day of God.' 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Bedford county, Tennessee. 
 
 We, as a part of the civilized world, and as beings responsible to God, view, with 
 much concern, the violation of one of his commandments, and conciu- with our fellow 
 petitioners, that the practice is as unnecessary, as it is sinful ; — that it is an infringe- 
 ment of our religious rights, with which an all-bountiful Creator has blessed us. Let 
 «s, therefore, in some measure repay the .Author of all Good, for the innumerable 
 favors, that he has supplied us with. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Morgan county, Virginia. 
 
 The undersigned humbly, but earnest!}', supplicate your legislative interference to 
 prevent the future commission of this crying sin, and thus, as the representatives of 
 this republic, testify your ^ra</h<rfe to Jehovah, by whose muniiicence our land is em- 
 inently blest, and, at the same time, do honor to yourselves, and avert from our com- 
 mon country those judgments, for which the sin ol Sabbath-breaking so loudly calls. 
 Petition of HENRY THUllSTON, postmaster, and others, inhabitants of the state of Ohio. 
 
 In a time of profound pence, when no argument can rest on the necessity of speedily 
 conveying intelligence, affecting the safety of any portion of the community ; — in a 
 time of great prosperity, when the sentiment oi gratitude to the Great Author 
 of our unequalled national advantages, should urge to the observance of all institu- 
 tions, which have any relation to His honor, and to the moral benefit of His rational 
 offspring ; — the conveyance of the mails, on the Sabbath, is, in the opinion of your 
 memorialists, doubly offensive in the sight of Him, who averts from us the calanrities 
 of foreign war, and the greater calamity of domestic discord, and without whose 
 protectioii and benediction, the prosperous state of our affairs would be succeeded by 
 turbulence and misery, and our national greatness would dwindle away and perish. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Albion, Maine, 
 
 It ought to be remembered, that there is no nation on the globe under so many 
 ohligalions of grntito.de as this. Our civil and religious freedom, — our social insti- 
 tutions, — our constantly advancing prosperity, — all demand the homage of our praise. 
 Petition of Inhnbitanti! of VVnsbington county, Pennsylvuiiia, unanimously 
 «iloptcil at a iniblic meeting, JOHtU HAMILTON, Chairman. 
 
15 
 
 The Sabbath necessary to Civil Liberty and National Prosperity. 
 
 It is admitted that virtue is essential to the existence of a free government, and 
 civil institutions ; that dissipation of morals, if it become general, would soon shake 
 the foundation of our national cdilice and sweep away our civil privileges. As the 
 Sabbath is the grand instrument of giving tone and elevation to morals, its strict 
 observance we regard as all-important ^o sustain the civil liberties of our country. 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Wiiinsboro', Fairfield District, South Carolina. 
 
 Your memorialists would beg leave to suggest, that the stahility and prosperity, 
 of our happy government depend, in a great measure, on the intelligence, morality, 
 and virtue of the people ; that religion exalteth a nation ; that sin is a reproach to 
 any people ; and that it is the direct way to call down the vengeance of heaven, 
 when human laws are made to violate the laws of God. 
 
 Petition of the P. M. at Otter Bridge, Oodford county, Virginia, and of Citizens adjacent thereto. 
 
 The undersigned take the practice complained of to be contrary to sound policy, 
 which dictates that civil liberty and Christian morals stand or fall together. We be- 
 lieve, that on a strict observance of the Sabbath the existence of Christian morals, in 
 a great measure, depends. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Tallmadge, Portage county, Ohio. 
 
 We appreciate highly not only the civil but the religious privileges for which our 
 fathers bled ; and wliich, dying, they bequeathed as their best legacy to us. Among 
 these privileges we regard the quiet enjoyment of the Sabbath as preeminently valua- 
 ble. Nor can we believe, that the desecration of this day by the transportation of 
 mails, the delivery of letters, &c. is necessary, either for the safety, or the high- 
 est permanent prosperity, of the people. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Hudson, Portage county, Ohio. 
 
 We regard the institutions of religion as important means of promoting that piety 
 and virtue, on which the security of our rights and liberties chiefly depends ; and 
 we cannot but hope, that the sanction of government will not be given to measures, 
 which threaten to impair their salutary influence. 
 
 Petition of WILLIAM E. CllANNlNG and others, inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 Your memorialists would respectfully remind your honorable bodies, that the 
 whole current of history and observation is in favor of the influence of the Sabbath 
 upon the temporal prosperity of communities ; that wherever this day has been 
 consecrafed to religious instruction, and to the duties of public and private worship, 
 the people have been distinguished for industry, peaceable habits, and especially for 
 that intelligence and personal virtue, that sense of justice, of individual rights, and 
 of the responsibility of rulers and private men to the Sovereign Ruler of all, which 
 are essential to the existence of a free government. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 Yottr memorialists represent, that the proper observance of the Sabbath, — is no 
 less a matter of sound polici/, than of true piety ; — that good and pious men are 
 scandalized by the growing disregard of such wise observance ; — and that the trans- 
 portation and opening of the mails on that day have a direct tendency to destroy, in 
 the minds of men, that piety and morality, so necessary to be cherished by a Re- 
 publican People. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Perry County, Ohio. 
 
 The undersigned, deeply solicitous for the welfare of our beloved country, and 
 for the continued enjoyment and higher ])ossession of that liberty, which constitutes 
 her most distinguished characteristic, and fully believing that an encouragement to 
 the due observance of the Christian Sabbath, in all the laws of our land, is essen- 
 tial to the proper security of her liberties, beg leave to present the following memo- 
 rial, respectfully and earnestly soliciting your attention, as the constituted guardians 
 of our republic, to what we consider as an evil, tending to the subversion of her 
 freedom, her interests, and her happiness ; besides operating, in some measure at 
 least, as a present infringement upon the liberties of a portion of our fellow citizens. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Atwater, Portage County, Ohio. 
 
 The observance of the commandment of God to keep holy the Sabbath Day, we 
 consider as necessary to national as to individual prosperity. 
 
 Petition of IB.A DAVID, Postmaster, and otiiers, Inhabitants of the State of Vermont. 
 
16 
 
 We believe those practices to be injurious to the morals of a free people, and dan- 
 gerous in their influence on the civil institutions of our country; that, in a Christian 
 land, where the government of God is recognized, the observance of this day should 
 beheld sacred, and that the extensive violation of it, involves the destruction of civil 
 liberty, and is contrary to the laws of God, and detrimental to the physical, civil, and 
 
 moral good of the people. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. 
 
 We believe morality and religion to be essential to the welfare of our republic ; 
 and that neither of them can remain secure, without a due observance of the Chris- 
 tian Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Lisbon, Connecticut. 
 
 We are fully assured, that the same dependence on the God of nations, which em- 
 boldened our fathers to resist the encroachments of the parent country, and which 
 supported them amidst the perils and toils of the revolutionary struggle, is our only 
 security for perpetuating those unparalleled privileges, which they obtained for us, 
 at the expense of so much treasure and blood. That righteousness exalteth a na- 
 tion, is a maxim, written as legibly on the pages of the history of nations as on the 
 pages of the inspired volume, and from this consideration we must respectfully and 
 earnestly solicit your honorable body to direct the ti'ansportation of the mail to be 
 suspended on the Lord's day, which necessarily involves so many of our fellow-citi- 
 zens in the violation of that holy time. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Salem, Washington county, New York. 
 
 Deeming the institution of the holy Sabbath as a day of rest, and of public and 
 private worship, in the highest degree essential to the preservation of Christianity 
 amongst us, and the prevalence of our holy religion essential to our national well- 
 being, — it is a matter deeply affecting us and our children. In this point of view 
 we have long felt, that the transmission of the United States mail is an unnecessary 
 and alarming infringement on the commandment of God. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Le Roy, New York. 
 
 The Sabbath a Great Blessing, and its loss an Incalculable Evil. 
 
 The good sense of nations has taught them, that the restraints imposed by religion 
 are all necessary to curb the passions and regulate the morals of society. By the 
 Sabbath an opportunity is afforded to ministers to preach — to the people generally to 
 hear the precepts of religion — and all to worship God. The Sabbath and its institu- 
 tions seem to be appointed for, and admirably adapted to, preparing the human fam- 
 ily for a future state of being. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Greersburgh, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 We deem the Christian Sabbath a blessing to mankind ; — a most effectual purifier 
 of the public morals, enlightener of the public mind, guardian of the public safety, 
 and promoter of public prosperity; that, therefore, its due observance, according to 
 the Holy Scriptures, will call forth divine favor upon the nation, whilst, on tlie other 
 liand, its profanation must be followed by expressions of divine wrath. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Nortliumberland county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Who does not know what darkness and degradation would succeed a universal dis- 
 regard of the Sabbath ? Let the Sabbath be banished from our country, and our 
 light and privileges would begin to wane, and continue to wane, until not a trace of 
 them would be left behind. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Rensselaer county, New- York. 
 
 We would hope, too, that the members of our government, by their conspicuous 
 example, in this regard, by their cogent arguments in the halls of legislation, and by 
 their manifestation of a sacred regard for the Sabbath, in all the arrangements of bu- 
 siness at the seat of government, in the army and the navy, in all the public otfices, 
 and upon the highways of our land, will exert a powerful influence in checking the 
 inimoralitics named, and in protecting an institution which is more elficacious inper- 
 pettialing the blessings of a free government, than the best laws ever framed by the 
 wisdom of man. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of New York. 
 
17 
 
 The Sabbath a temporal benefit. 
 
 Your memoilali-ts would represent tluit in the rest from labor, which the Sabbath 
 enjoins, the comfort and health of man are jtromoted ; and by the devotion of a 
 set time to the contemplation of our condition as moral and responsible beings, the 
 virtue and intclliu;ence of the community are most certainly advanced, and thereby 
 the prosperity and liberties of the country secured. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 Without entering at all into the imperative nature of the obligation, which re- 
 quires of Christians to observe this day as sacredly set apart and appropriated to re- 
 ligious observances, we may urge, in favor of the prayer of the memorialists, the 
 general usefulness of the institution ; — a fact attested by common observation, and 
 universally admitted by persons of every religious persuasion. A proper observance 
 of the Sabbath greatly tends to promote and strengthen moral habits, and, in a vari- 
 ety of ways, to better the general condition of society ; and, unquestionably, the 
 promotion of these objects is, or ought to be, the s;reat end of human les^islation. 
 
 Petition of Merchants of the city of Baltimore. 
 
 The experience of individuals proves, that it is their true interest to obey the di- 
 vine precept, and rest from business on the Sabbath ; and we are fully persuaded 
 that the national welfare will be promoted by discontinuing the practice of trans- 
 porting and opening mails, and delivering letters, on that day. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Washington county, Maryland. 
 
 Your memorialists regard the institution of the Sabbath, as one of the most strik- 
 ing proofs of the divine beneficence, and as affording the only adequate means for 
 preserving the fear of God, the sanctity of oaths, genuine personal integrity, the 
 public morals, and our civil and political privileges. Though there are too many in 
 our land, who practically disregard the Sabbath, yet, it is believed there are few, 
 who would willingly see that sacred day abolished. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of tlie city of Boston. 
 
 The practice complained of injurious to morals. 
 The transportation and opening of the mail, and the delivery of letters and newspa- 
 pers from post-offices on the Lord's day, are practices injurious to the morals And to 
 the civil and religious institutions of our country. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Boonsboro' and tho Vicinity, Washington county, Maryland. 
 
 Your memorialists would state, that the laws, which require the opening of post- 
 offices, &c. on the Sabbath, have, in their influence, an exceedingly demoralizing 
 effect upon the community ; and that they are contrary to the feelings of a large and 
 Increasing portion of this nation. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitanta of Eliz.abothlown, New-Jersey. 
 
 The undersigned cannot but regard the transportation and opening of the mails on 
 the Lord's day as injurious to the morals of tho community, and as a violation of 
 that rest, which all, who recognise the authority of the New Testament, not only feel 
 it their duty to observe, but the observance of which they consider a glorious privi- 
 lege. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Spotsylvania county,Virginia. 
 
 Human passions are quite sufficient, of themselves, without any. legal pretext or 
 encouragement, to cause many more violations of the Sabbath, than human laws can 
 prevent. 
 
 Petition of JAMES M. GARNETT, and otliors, inhabitants of Virginia. 
 
 The undersigned have, for a long time, viewed with sorrow the demoralizing effect 
 produced by the transportation anil opening of the mail on tho Sabbath, as well in 
 this county, as in other parts. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Accomao county, Virginia. 
 
 Your petitioners, believing the profanation of the Sabbalh a general and growing 
 evil in our happy country, and fully persuaded that this evil is perpetuated by the 
 transportation and opening of tho public mails on that day, — lnmil)ly pray, that you, 
 who are, under Providence, intrusted with the affairs of our nation, &,c. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Edingburgh, Ohia 
 
 We believe the transportation of the mails, and the opening of post-offices, on the 
 
18 
 
 .Sabb'.ifh, to be entirely unnecessary; and, if so, a profanation of this sacred day; 
 tliat, in many cases, these practices disturb the religious exercises of whole comrau- 
 nitie'f , tempt ptoplc to the same sin, and constitute a serious obstacle, in the way of 
 relii^ious instruction and moral reformation. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Your memorialists feel corifident, that the practice complainedof has a demoralizing 
 
 influence upon the community ; and that it can with ease and safety be dispensed 
 
 with. „ , 
 
 Petition of NICHOLAS LANSING and others, Inhabitants of Tappan, New York. 
 
 Your memorialists beg leave respectfully to represent — That the transportation 
 and opening of mails, and the delivery of letters and newspapers from post-offices, 
 ou the Lord's day, are practices injurious to the morals, and consequently danger- 
 ous in their influence upon the civil institutions of this country. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of New York. 
 
 Your memorialists are fully convinced, that the transportation of the mail on the 
 Sabbath, and the ojiening of JPost-Offices on that day, operate constantly and power- 
 fully to bring the Sabbath itself into neglect and contempt ; that these causes are 
 more difficult to be limited and counteracted by the true friends of their Country, than 
 any other, if not than all other, causes combined ; and that no remedy can be found, un- 
 less the national authority sliall interpose to correct the evil. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 The violation of the Sabbath, by the running of the mail-stages on that day, is 
 considered by all pious and rellecting persons as an insult to Almighty God, and as 
 likely to produce a great corruption of public morals, unless the practice is speedily 
 reformed. 
 
 Petition of the Grand Jury of Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
 signed byG. P. PLUMMEE, Foreman, and the otlier Jurymen. 
 
 The evil complained of alarming. 
 
 Your petitioners deem it unnecessary to repeat the arguments and motives, so 
 forcibly urged in the New York memorial, for the suppression of a practice, which 
 has become most alarming in its extent ; and which, if suffered to continue, must, 
 as they verily believe, draw down the sorest visitations of Heaven upon our country. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Sharon, Connecticut. 
 
 Your memorialists have witnessed this increasing immorality with deep regret 
 and solicitude, and they are constrained to believe that it is in vain for the friends of 
 good order to attempt to protect this holy day from desecration, while the govern- 
 ment allows the mails to be cariied on Sundays, and requires the post-maslers to 
 deliver letters, papers, and packets " on every day of the week." We feel that we 
 have a right to look to the government of our country for example ; and that those, 
 whom the people have clothed with power, will not permit a practice which is con- 
 tinually undermining the morals, and consequentl}' endangering the liberties, of the 
 nation. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of New Yoik. 
 
 The undersigned would respectfully represent, that the transportation of the mail 
 on the Sabbath, and the opening of the post-offices on that day are great public 
 evils, in no sense necessaiy, and not counterbalanced by any supposed convenience 
 arising from them. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the city of Boston. 
 
 A disregard of the Sabbath a public offence and an inroad to crimes. 
 Your memorialists believe, with the celebrated Blackstone, that the profanation of 
 the Lord's day is an offence against God and religion. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Trenton, New York. 
 
 Your memorialists beg leave also to appeal to your own observation, as statesmen 
 and legislators, to sustain us when we assert, that the disregard and breach of the 
 Fourth Commandment is generally the first inroad to crime ; and that moral delin- 
 quency, in any country, increases in a ratio with the profanation of the day. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Washington county, Pennsylvania. 
 
19 
 
 The present i^cgulations a JiardsJiip, as it respects postmasters, mail 
 
 carriers, ^-c. 
 
 When we reflect on the number of persons employed in discharging Ihe various 
 duties relative to post-otlices, such as postmasters, deputies, clerks, mail-carriers, 
 &c. we cannot but regret that the subject has not, long since, met the attention of 
 the American public. 
 
 We heartily concur in the efforts, which arc making, to restore to postmasters, 
 &c. a privilege, which, under the present regulations, is denied to them ; — we mean 
 the privilege of the Christian Sabbath, whicii we believe it to be the right of every 
 person in America to enjoy. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Wasliington county, Alabama. 
 
 Those citizens, [postmasters, &c.] are compelled to folloio their daily vocation, 
 in violation of the law of God, while all other citizens are, by the laws of God as 
 well as of man, especially forbidden thus to violate that consecrated day. 
 
 Petition of luliabitants of Telfair county, Georgia. 
 
 While every other grade and order of the people of this Union are permitted a 
 cessation from toil during the Salibath, yet the persons engaged in this national affair, 
 [the post-ollice department,] are compelled to drive on without intermission. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Callaway county, Kentucky. 
 
 We pray your honorable body so to change the laws regulating the post-office es- 
 tablishment, as, in time of peace, (at all events,) to prohibit the transporting of 
 mails and the oi)Ciiing of post-offices on the Sabbath, and thereby afford to that por- 
 tion of our fellow citizens, [postmasters, &c.] the enjoyment of this rest, which is a 
 privilege guaranteed to every human being by the laws of God. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitan<t3 of Washington county, Kentucky. 
 
 Your memorialists would urge, that nothing short of inevitable necessity can jus- 
 tify the imposition of such labors upon so many officers throughout the Union — an 
 imposition, which is extended to no other body of men in our country. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Elkton, Todd county, Kentucky. 
 
 The attention, which postmasters and their clerks are obliged to pay to their re- 
 spective offices on the Sabbath, is a violation of the laws of God and our country. 
 All other officers of our government are exempt from performing labor on that day. 
 Petition of Inhabitants in the vicinity of Mount Tirzah post-office, North Carolina. 
 
 The petitioners regret exceedingly the existence of a law requiring the transport- 
 ation and opening of mails and the delivery of letters on the Sabbath day. By this 
 law a large and respectable body of our fellow citizens are deprived of an opportu- 
 nity of necessary repose from their daily avocations, and are likewise prevented the 
 use of the customary means of spiritual and intellectual improvement. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Kent Island, Uueen Ann'a county, Maryland. 
 
 It will, moreover, be admitted, that, in no department under the direction of the 
 general government, is it more necessary that the agents employed shouKl possess 
 the highest degree of moral feeling, and the strictest integrity, than in the ])Ost-office 
 establishment. It cannot, therefore, be yvise in the government, to deprive, by its 
 ovm regulations, those, who arc charged with the important trusts of this depart- 
 ment, of those means and opportunities for social and religious improvement, which 
 are, by common consent, acknowledged so eminently to contribute to the know- 
 ledge and practice of all the moral duties. 
 
 Petition of Merchants of Baltimore. 
 
 An arrangement of the kind suggested would very much meliorate the situation 
 of deputy postmasters throughout the Union, by guaranteeing to them the privilege, 
 common to every other citizen, of spending the Sabbath in the public worship of 
 their God, or in retirement and rest. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Washington county, Maryland. 
 
 Yotu' memorialists are not aware of any reasons, which can recommend this de- 
 parture from the practice of the government, in regard to all the other public 
 offices. It did not prevail, in the earlier years of the reptiblic, and was not adopted, 
 it is believed, in consequence of representations from those, whose interest, or con- 
 venience, is supposed to be promoted by it. If such, however, were the fact, it 
 would bo partial in its operation, giving an advantage to some over a largo portion of 
 
20 
 
 the community, who are restrained hy conscientious motives from a participation hi it. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Trenton, New Jersey. 
 
 A large body of our best and most respectable citizens have long considered the 
 transporting and opening the mail on the Sabbath a serious grievance ; and that por- 
 tion of our citizens, whose business it is, by law, to attend to the labors of the post- 
 office on the Sabbath, are doomed to such unequal burdens and privations, as 
 should not be exacted from any portion of our citizens. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitiiuta of Chester District, South Carolina. 
 
 Justice, in behalf of a numerous, influential, and valuable class of public officers, 
 pleads for an exemption from official duties on the Lord's day. Some, from an un- 
 tiring attention to the duties of their office, on the Sabbath day, have not been to 
 the house of God for years. 
 
 Again, such a regulation, as your memorialists ask for, would promote the general 
 interests of the mail department, in the best possible manner. It would invite many 
 to act as postmasters, and to serve as carriers, who are now effectually barred from 
 those places, by the fear of offending God. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitants of Spartansburg District, South Carolina. 
 
 Having long been impressed with the evil and impropriety of the transportation 
 and opening of the mail on the Sabbath, we, your memorialists do pray, that, during 
 the present session, a law may be passed to guarantee to j)ostmasters and their 
 clerks those privileges, which are enjoyed by all the other officers under govern- 
 ment, and which, by the laws of God, are not denied to any human being. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Blairsville and vicinity, Yorlc District, South Carolina. 
 
 Whereas the transporting and opening of the mail, and the delivery of letters on 
 the Sabbath, are believed to be a violation of the holy rest required on that day, 
 which not only deprives postmasters of the privileges of the Sabbath ; but, in many 
 places, disturbs the peace and quietude and devotion of others ; and 
 
 Whereas all other offices under government are closed, and no body of men are 
 required by law to work for others, as postmasters are, on that day : 
 
 Your memorialists respectfully petition your honorable body, &c. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of East Gilraanton, New Hampshire. 
 
 By the present practice, many thousands of our citizens are engaged on the Sab- 
 hath, as on other days, and many pious Christians are disturbed in their religious 
 exercises. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Greenville, Augusta county, Virginia. 
 
 In all Christian countries the Sabbath is a day of rest and set apart for religious 
 worship ; and your memorialists can see no necessity, especially in time of peace, 
 for profaning it, by keeping at labor so many persons, as the post-otiice department 
 requires. Besides, all the other offices under government are closed on that day ; 
 and it seems uni-easonable, that the post-office alone should be kept open. 
 
 Petition of AUGUSTUS FITSHUGH and others, citizens of King George county, Virginia. 
 
 T!ie undersigned represent that the mail passes through this neighborhood on'the 
 Sabbath, which causes very great inconvenience to the different postmasters on the 
 aforesaid route, being five in number, so that themselves or clerks must be deprived 
 of attending divine worship, on the day set apart for the purpose. 
 
 Petition of Postmasters and others, inhabitants of Columbiana 
 county, Ohio, and Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 We verily believe, that these things constitute a violation of the Sabbath wound- 
 ing to the virtuous feelings of a very large portion of the community, in all parts of 
 our land, embracing most of those, who are connected with the various denomina- 
 tions of Ctirislians in our country, and operating very injuriously upon the interests 
 and ris;hts of all who are employed in the trans|)ortalion of the mail, and in the 
 post-offices, depriving them of the liberty of enjoying the Christian Sabbath, as a 
 day of rest. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio. 
 
 By the recent report of the Postmaster General, we perceive that the services of 
 about 27,000 persons arc put in requisition, in the various branches of this depart- 
 c 1"J' u*^ '""^^^ proportion of these are compelled to attend this brisiness on the 
 Sabbath, or resign their posts. In addition to the personal hardship and injury to 
 
21 
 
 these individuals, their example, dispersed as they arc (liroughout the nation, and 
 acting under the high sanction of government, must be very baleful. We see no 
 cause to justify this arrangement; for the plea of necessity appears no more spe- 
 cious than in the case of men's common avocations. By the Sabbath labors of these 
 many thousands of men, we have our letters occasionally a day or two sooner. 
 Similar calculations might be made of the results of labor, in any other useful occu- 
 pation. We are therefore compelled to consider (his in the light of a great national 
 sin against the God of all our mercies, for which we have reason to fear his right- 
 eous indignation. We are unwilling thus to be accommodated, in violation of the 
 laws of God, and to the prejudice of the best interests of our beloved country. 
 
 We also apprehend, that the present regulations have a direct tendency to con- 
 sign the very responsible charge of the mail to the hands of men, who fear not God, 
 nor regard moral obligation. Already has the mail been frequently plundered, by 
 those to whom it was confided. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Norfolk, Connecticut. 
 
 The evil spreads far beyond the persons employed in the Post-Office 
 
 Department. 
 
 While the mails are transported on the first day of the week, there will be much 
 unnecessary travelling, the post-offices will be opened, the news-rooms thronged, 
 workmen employed in printing-offices, expresses sent in various directions, and the 
 attention of large portions of the community withdrawn from a becoming reverence 
 of the day, to be occupied with secular concerns. Your memorialists deem it un- 
 necessary to urge upon the congress of the United States the obligation of observing 
 the Lord's day, of protecting the people in their religious privileges, and of the bane- ' 
 ful consequences of practices which, under the sanction of government, is an apology 
 for every other violation of the Sabbath by individuals. They may, however, be 
 permitted to state", that the government of God is recognized in this Christian land ; 
 that the observance of the Lord's day is enjoined by divine authority, and that histo- 
 ry furnishes abundant evidence that a general disregard of it involves the destruction 
 of civil liberty. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanti of the city of New-York. 
 
 The subscribers have long witnessed with regret the profanation of the Lord's day 
 by the transportation of the mail. 
 
 The thoughtless, who are always too careless of improving sacred time, are tempt- 
 ed ; the pious are grieved ; travellers in stages must forego the privileges of the 
 sanctuary, or lose their passage ; innkeepers and villages are disturbed by the arri- 
 val of the mail. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Ryegate, Vermont. 
 
 The transportation and opening of the mail, and the delivery of letters on the Sab- 
 bath, are viewed by your memorialists as an evil tending to the neglect of an institu- 
 tion, (he observance of which is necessary to permanent good order and morality, 
 and, of course, to the permanent prosperity of the people; — an evil tending to en- 
 courage travelling and the transportation of merchandize on the Sabbath, insomuch 
 that, in many places, the worshippers of God are greatly annoyed, in passing to and 
 from their places of worship ; — and tending, moreover, to draw down upon our be- 
 loved country the judgments of Heaven. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 The number of persons connected with (he post-office establishment is very great, 
 and annually increasing. The number of those, who are indirectly affected by that 
 establishment, is still greater ; and the consequences of a violation of the Sabbath 
 by its officers and agents are felt by a very large portion of the community. 
 
 Petition ul'Inliabitants of tlic city of Boston. 
 
 Inconvenience of the mail resting on the Sabbath is but small. 
 
 As merchants, we are, perhaps, more interested in the facilities afforded by the 
 mail, than any other members of the community. We believe (hat the inconvenien- 
 ces, which would result from the regulahons prayed for, would be very inconsidera- 
 ble ; and were (hey greater than we anticipate, we are sm-e they would be more than 
 counterbalanced by the benefits, which would accrue to the community, from a due 
 observance of the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of mercbauts of Baltimore. 
 
22 
 
 ' After duly reflecting on the subject, your memorialists arc decidedly of the opinion, 
 that nu inconvenience, or disadvantage, would result to their neighborhood from a 
 discoutinuaucc of the mails on the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of lahabitanls of Wasliington county, Maryland. 
 
 The post-office in London is never opened on Sundays, and there seems to us no 
 necessity that post-olBces in this country should be opened on that day, especially in 
 time of peace. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Caroline county, Maryland. 
 
 In London, the greatest commercial city in the world, the, post-office is not 
 opened, nor any mail made up, on Sunday ; from which it may be inferred, that it is 
 7iot necessary for the convenience of the mercantile public. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanta of Trenton, New-Jersey. 
 
 The undersigned are free to admit, that occasions may exist, which, coming with- 
 in the exceptions permitted by divine authority, would warrant a relaxation of the 
 general inhibition of labor on the Sabbath; but none such have arisen, or are likely 
 to arise, in a state of peace ; and they are informed, that an example, at once in- 
 structive and salutary, is ofTered in the city of London, the metropolis of the great- 
 est commercial nation in the world. 
 
 Petition of Inliabitantg of Virginia, presented by Hon. J. S. BARBOUR. 
 
 We can see but Utile advantage arising to society at large, from transporting and 
 opening mails on the Sabbath ; and that this practice is a great evil is acknowledged 
 by many, who are engaged in it, and felt deeply by others. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanta of Coshocton, Ohio. 
 
 Hitherto the mail has been conveyed on the main route from Utica to Sackett's 
 Harbour but six times a week ; and, in stating our opinions we are confident, from 
 an interchange of sentiments with others, many of whom are men of business, in- 
 fluence, and respectability, in this part of the country, that no inconvenience has 
 lieen experienced from this arrangement. We deeply regret to hear, that contracts 
 iiave been made for its future transportation on the Sabbath. 
 
 Petition of HIRAM STEELE and others, Inhabitants of Sackett's Harbour, N. Y. 
 
 The example of the first commercial city in Europe, in which the post-office is 
 never opened during the Sabbath, affords strong presumptive evidence, that the 
 j)roctice is wholly unnecessary, as respects the commercial interests of our country. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Bridgehampton, Long-Island. 
 
 The Example of Governrnent pernicious. 
 
 The legal injunction on postmasters, and, their sub-officers, to attend to the du- 
 ties of their offices on the Sabbath, certainly prohibits them from attending to the 
 performance of the duties required of them by the Governor of the Universe, who 
 sanctified and set that day apart, to be observed as a day of abstinence from secular 
 «mploymcnt, and of rest for every individual of the human family. Moreover, the 
 indulgence granted to mail coaches to pursue their daily vocation on that day holds 
 forth a demoralizing precedent to ihe citizens of the United States. Many team- 
 sters, disposed to commit breaches of the Sabbath, by transporting merchandize on 
 that day, plead, in justification of their conduct, to be entitled to the same privileges, 
 as those which mail coaches enjoy. 
 
 Petition of inhabitanta of Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Many, who habitually violate the Lord's day, plead </te example of the jtost-office, 
 as an apology. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Chester county, Pennsylvania. 
 
 With the deepest regret your memorialists have witnessed the profanation of the 
 Sabbath by the transportation of the mails, and the delivery of letters. By so doing, 
 the government sets the example of profaning that holy day — a day of rest. 
 
 Petition of InJiabltants of Pennsylvania, (supposed to be from Chester county.) 
 
 The command of God, and the welfare of our country require, that you should 
 make no law, which lays the burden of breaking the Sabbath upon inferior officers ; 
 that Irom the fountain head of the public good no stream should be sent forth to 
 desolate our comfort, our intelligence, our morals, our liberties, and our religion. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of the vicinity of Agnow'a Mills, Pennsylvania. 
 
23 
 
 , We belJevo wo have a right to look to the government of our country for exam- 
 ple ; and we trust that Congress will not sutler a practice, whicl^ continually under- 
 mines the morals of the community. 
 
 Petition of InhabituQtB of VViudsor, Couaocticut. 
 
 That the direct effect of the present regulations in the post-office department, to- 
 gether with the influence of an example originating with the government, tends 
 greatly to the general profanation of an institution, with which the best interests of 
 our country arc connected, and leads to numerous breaches of the good order and 
 peace of society. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitants of Philadelphia. 
 
 The religious assemblies of citizens, peaceably convened for the worship of God 
 on that day, are in many places disturbed, and the weight of national example and 
 encouragement is given to the cause of vice and irreligion. Believing, as we do, in 
 the existence of a God of justice, we tremble at a view of the judgments, which 
 must be expected from the increased corruption of the public morals, which is spread- 
 ing throughout our republic to an alarming extent, and of which the desecration of 
 the Christian Sabbath is the most prolific source. Regarding the subject in a politi- 
 cal point of view, we apprehend, that tbosefeelings of reverence for the Sabbath, 
 which exist in the minds of the more virtuous part of the community, have too seri- 
 ous a bearing upon the stability and i)erpetuity of our free institutions, to be discour- 
 aged and eradicated by legislative enactments. Such, we think, to a very great ex- 
 tent, is the tendency of that law, which requires the secular business, respecting: 
 the mail for this whole country, to be transacted on that day, in some measure at 
 least, as on other days of the week. 
 
 Petition of Inhabitanta of Atwater, Pottago county, Ohiot 
 
 The demoralizing effect of withdrawing so many officers fi-om exercises peculiar 
 to the day ; — the allurements held out to our citizens to gather around the offices 
 and engage in political discussion ; — the influence of governmental example, in giv- 
 ing a sanction to the violation of the Sabbath ; — together with many other similar 
 considerations, cannot have escaped the attention of your honorable body. 
 
 Petition of Inliubitants of Elktoii, Todil county, Kentucky^ 
 
 These extracts are closed by the insertion of the following Circular, 
 adopted by inhabitants of Nashville, Tennessee, and addressed to gen- 
 tlemen in different parts of that state. The compiler is informed, that 
 the members of the committee are men of the first respectability. 
 Several of them are merchants ; some are magistrates ; one is an 
 editor ; and Mr. Grundy was formerly a distinguished member of 
 congress, and is now an eminent counsellor at law. They belong to 
 different denominations of professed Christians. 
 
 Gentlemen, Nashville, Dec. 29, 1828. 
 
 As a committee appointed by a meeting lately held in this city, we ask your 
 serious attention to the subject of the enclosed memorial. We feel a deep and 
 solemn conviction that the dictates oi ivise public j'olicy, as well as a fust sense of 
 religious duty, require that every discreet and temperate effort should be made, to 
 induce the Government of the United States to amend the laws regulating the post- 
 office department, so as to prevent the transportation and opening of mails, and the 
 delivery of letters, newspapers and packages on the day, which is almost universally 
 acknowledged in our counti'y as the t'liristiiin Sabbath. 
 
 We, therefore, in compliance with the duty enjoined on us, earnestly solicit your 
 prompt co-operation, in procuring signatures to the enclosed memorial, from as 
 many persons of virtuous character as you can ; and that you forward your memorial, 
 when signed, with as little delay as possible, by mail, to such member of congress 
 as you may deem proper. Very respectfully, your ob't servants, 
 
 WiM. Cakkom., Wm. M'C^omks, Josf.i'h Litton, 
 
 Fkantis B. Fogg, Rop.t. JI. IMEwAn, John Prick, 
 
 O.H. Haves, Hugh Em.iot, R. Wkaki.ey. 
 
 F.Grundy, John Nichol, Jkssk Wharton, 
 
 MosKs NoRVELL, Alpha Kinoslev, If. R. W. Hill, 
 
 M. Watson, Nathan Ewxng, N. A. MNaiky. 
 
24 
 
 SELECTED NAMES 
 
 From the multitudes to he found upon the 'petitions. 
 
 It has been intimated, that the whole business of petitioning last 
 winter, on the subject of Sabbath Mails, was the result of combination, 
 for selfish or ambitious purposes ; and that the petitioners, though 
 some of them might be honest and well meaning persons, were not 
 capable of judging in regard to a question affecting commercial inter- 
 ests, or constitutional provisions. These imputations were effectually 
 repelled, by the report of tlie Post Office Committee of the House of 
 Representatives, in which document it was stated, that no petition had 
 ever been offered to the national legislature, which was more worthy 
 of consideration than the one in question, whether the numbers, the 
 wealth, or the intelligence of the petitioners was regarded. As a 
 general declaration of respectability, however, will, in this case, be 
 much less convincing, than an actual presentation of names, a selec- 
 tion has been made for that purpose. 
 
 Before the reader looks at these names, it seems necessary that a few 
 explanatory remarks should be made. 
 
 1. The design is, to present a sufficient number of names of gen- 
 tleman in different places, of various employments, and of different re- 
 ligious denominations, to enable any candid man to decide, whether 
 the petitioners are not capable of judging in the case ; whether they 
 must not be supposed to look at the subject with enlarged and com- 
 prehensive views ; and whether the mere act of signing the petition 
 should subject them to the charge of being narrow, sectarian, and sel- 
 fish in their object. 
 
 2. It should be understood, that selections could not be made from 
 petitioners in all parts of the country, for the want of a sufficiently ex- 
 tensive acquaintance with their characters. On this account, the 
 number of names selected from some states is small ; while, from pe- 
 titioners of other states, none are taken. 
 
 3. From the names of persons of all professions and employments, 
 it seemed desirable to select some belonging to the different great re- 
 Jigious denominations in .our country ; — names highly respected, in 
 large districts where they are known, and some of them from one end 
 of the country to the other. Such a selection will be found below. 
 For a reason above stated, it was thought well, that a large portion of 
 the names should be the names of merchants, counsellors at law, mag- 
 istrates, and legislators ; or of individuals, who had sustained these 
 characters ; not excluding, however, manufacturers, mechanics, and 
 other men of business. The names of clergymen are not selected, 
 except from one petition, and thence for peculiar reasons. 
 
 It is to be presumed that the clergy, of all denominations, are 
 friendly to the observance of the Sabbath ; and many of them'signed 
 the petitions. Still the clergy, in our large cities, were in no wise 
 prominent, either in preparing petitions, or signing them, or obtaining 
 signers. Men of other professions took this service upon themselves. 
 
 AH, who are acquainted with the characters of men in our country, 
 will see that the following list contains names of individuals, who 
 are deservedly eminent, in the professions to which they belong. 
 But it is not supposed that all, who are of this distinguished character, 
 
25 
 
 have been selected. There may be, and probably are, names, which 
 have not been selected, quite as respectable, and as deserving of con- 
 fidence, as any of the names below. It is not the object of this se- 
 lection to indicate, in any degree, the relative respectability of a part 
 of the petitioners ; much less to make any invidious distinctions among 
 them ; but simply to lay before the reader such a number of respect- 
 able names, as shall be syfficient to evince, that this subject has re- 
 ceived the grave and solemn attention of men, who, without disparage- 
 ment to others, are as capable, as any men in the nation, of forming 
 an opinion respecting the great and permanent interests of our growing 
 republic. 
 
 In one or two instances, names are given, which were not upon pe- 
 titions, but upon letters written in favor of the petitions, to the post- 
 master general. 
 
 From the petitioners the following names are selected ; viz. 
 
 Porlland. 
 Albion K. Parris, late Governor, since 
 Senator in Congress, now a Judge of 
 the Supreme Court. 
 Paschal Brooks, IMerchant. 
 Lkvi Cuttkr, Mer. formerly Casliier. 
 Woodbury Storkr, Counsellor at Law. 
 William Loru, Merchant. 
 Nathaniel Dana, Merchant. 
 Samuel FtssiNnEN, Counsellor at Law. 
 John D. Gardner, Com. Mer. and Auc. 
 William Swan, Merchant. 
 Neuemiah Cram, Merchant. 
 
 Haco. 
 Ether Shepley, U. S. District Attorney. 
 
 Bath. 
 Jonathan Hyde, Merchant. 
 
 Augusta. 
 Gen. Henry Sew all, Clerk of iho Courts. 
 
 Bangor. 
 William D. Williamson, formerly Mem- 
 ber of Conorress. 
 Eliashib Adams, Merchant. 
 
 JS-EVT HAXXPSHIRE. 
 
 Boscawcn. 
 EzEKiEL Webster, (since deceased,) a 
 disting'uished Counsellor at Law, and 
 Member of the Senate of N. H. 
 Pilham. 
 Gen. Samuel Richardson, Mag-istrate, 
 formerly Memlicr of the Senate of N. H. 
 Hopkinton. 
 Baruch Chase, Rlagistrate. 
 
 VERMOITT. 
 
 Tiurlim^tmi. 
 C. P. Van Ness, laie Governor of the State. 
 Heman Allen, late Minister of the U.S. 
 
 to Chili. 
 OziAS BuELL, Merchant. 
 William A. Griswoi.d, U. S. Dis. Alt. 
 Samuel Hickok, Merchant. 
 Ahdrew Thompson', Cash, of Burl. Bank. 
 
 Movtyelier. 
 Jeduthan LooMis, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Middlebury, 
 
 Ira Stewart, Merchant. 
 
 George Cleveland, Post Master. 
 
 Joel Doolittle, late Judge of the Su- 
 preme Court. 
 
 Peter Starr, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Samuel Swift, Clerk of the Courts. 
 Rutland. 
 
 J. W. Hooker, Merchant. 
 
 William Page, Cashier of the Bank. 
 
 James D. Butler, Merchant. 
 
 R. Piekpoint, Counsellor at Law. 
 Manchester. 
 
 Richard Skinner, late Governor, now 
 Chief Justice. 
 
 Joel Pratt, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Boston. 
 Thomas L. Winthrop, Lieut. Governor. 
 Isaac Parker, Chief Justice. 
 Israel Thorndike, Merchant, for many 
 
 years Member of Mass. Senate. 
 William 1'rescott, Counsellor at Law. 
 Josiah QuiNcr, Mayor, formerly Member 
 
 of Congress. 
 T. H. Perkins, Merchant, for several yeafs 
 
 Member of Mass. Senate. 
 Artemas Ward, Judge of the Boston Court 
 
 of Common Pleas, formerly Member of 
 
 Congress for Boston. 
 Peter (). Thacher, Judge of the Munici- 
 pal Court. 
 William Simmons, Judge of the Police 
 
 Court. 
 
 Samuel^Appleton, Merchant. 
 EdwariTTuckerman, 3Ierchant. 
 Gardiner Greene, President of the U. S, 
 
 Branch Bank. 
 William Parsons, Pres. of INIass. Bank. 
 Samuel Dorr, Pres. of N. E. Bank. 
 George Odiorne, Pres. American Bank. 
 Isaac C. Pray, President Globe Bank, 
 H. B. Stone, President Suftblk Bank. 
 Amos Lawrence, Merchant. 
 Samuel T. Armstrong. Pres. Mass. Char. 
 
 Mechanic Association, 
 
26 
 
 Peter C. Brooks, Wealihy Citizen, for- 
 merly Member of Mass. Senate. 
 
 Samuel Hammond. Merchant. 
 
 WiLMAM Ropes, Merchant. 
 
 Samuei. Hubbard, Counsellor at Law, for- 
 merly Member of Mass. Senate. 
 
 John C. VVarren, Physician and Professor 
 of Anatomy. 
 
 James Loring, Editor and Bookseller. 
 
 James Andrews, Merchant. 
 
 Ebenezer Parker, Merchant. 
 
 John Borland, Merchant. 
 
 Thomas G. Fessenden, Editor. 
 
 William Sullivan, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Heman Lincoln, late Mem. of Mass. Sen. 
 
 William Lawrence, Merchant. 
 
 John Tappan, Merchant. 
 
 Daniel P. Parker, Sliip-owner. 
 
 Charles Barnard, Com. Merchant. 
 
 Thomas Cordis, Importer. 
 
 Samuel D. P<arker, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Thomas B. Wait, Publisher. 
 
 Lot Wheelright &, Sons, Merchants. 
 
 Isaac RIansfield, Merchant. 
 
 Henrt Homes, Importer. 
 
 Tobias Lord, Merchant. 
 
 John B. Jones, Jeweller. 
 
 Enoch Hale, Jun. Physician. 
 
 James C. Merrill, Counsellor al Law. 
 
 A. Benjamin. Architect. 
 
 Nathaniel Faxon, ttlechanic. 
 
 Gedney King, Matli. Instrument Maker. 
 
 Edward Reynolds, Physician. 
 
 Charles G. Loring, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Abbott Lawrence, Merchant. 
 
 W. & G. Tuckerman, Merchants. 
 
 Edward D. Peters, Merchant. 
 
 Robert G. Shaw, Merchant. 
 
 William B. Reynolds, Merchant. 
 
 John Pratt, Merchant. 
 
 Peinv Cutler, Merchant. 
 
 yVilliamstown. 
 
 Daniel Noble, Coun. at Law, formerly 
 Mem. of Ex. Council of Mass. 
 Lenox. 
 
 W. Walker, Judge of Probate, a venerable 
 citizen. 
 
 PitlsfieM. 
 
 Henrv C. Brown, High Sheriff. 
 Blanajord. 
 
 Gen. Alanson Knox. 
 
 3IiddleJield. 
 
 Gen. David Mack. 
 
 Greenfield. 
 
 George Grennell, Jun. Counsellor at 
 Law, elected a Mem. of the 21st Cong. 
 Northamplon. 
 
 Eliphalet Williams, retired Merchant. 
 
 Theodore Lyman, Master of a Hotel. 
 
 David S. Whitney, Merchant. 
 
 Lewis Strong, Counsellor at Law, arid 
 Member of Mass. Senate. 
 Spring field. 
 
 John Hooker, (since deceased,) a man of 
 great worth, highly respected, Pres. of 
 Springfield Bank, Judge of Probate, &c. 
 West Spriiio- field. 
 
 Justin Ely, formerly Member of Cong. 
 
 Samuel LATHRop."late Member of Cong, 
 now Member ol Mass. ,Se)iate. 
 lielcliertoun. 
 Mark Doolittle, Member of Ex. Council 
 of Mass. 
 
 Sturbridge. 
 
 David K. Porter, Post-master and Stage 
 Proprietor. 
 
 Lhicoln. 
 
 Samuel IJoar, a venerable citizen, former- 
 ly Mem. of Mass. Senate. 
 South Reading. 
 John Hart, a venerable Physician, formerly 
 Member of Mass. Sen. 
 Med/ord. 
 Thatcher Magoun, Ship-builder. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 Levi Farwell, Merchant. 
 Eliab W. Metcalk, Printer & Bookseller. 
 
 Salem. 
 
 John Punchard, Magistrate. 
 Theodore Eames, Coun.sellor at Law. 
 
 Topsfield. 
 Nehemiah Cleaveland, Physician, for- 
 merly Member of Mass. Senate. 
 Newburyport. 
 William Bartlett, Merchant. 
 William B. Banister, Counsellor at 
 
 Law, formerly Mem. of Mass. Senate. 
 Charles Whipple, Bookseller. 
 Thomas M. Clark, Merchant. 
 
 COlTXrECTZCUT. 
 
 Hartford. 
 
 Jonathan W. Edwards, Counsel, al Law. 
 
 Thomas Day, Sec. of the Slate, and Re- 
 porter of Legal Decisions. 
 
 Eliphalet Terry, Merchant. 
 
 Mason F. Cogswell, Physician. 
 
 John Bennett, ftlasler ot the City Hotel. 
 
 Joseph Trumbull, Pres. of Hartford Bank. 
 
 George Beach, Cash, of Phcenix Bank. 
 
 Henry Hudson, Manufacturer. 
 
 Thomas S. Williams, Counsellor at Law, 
 and formerly Member of Congress. 
 New Haven. 
 
 William Leffingwell, Retired Mer. 
 
 Elisha Munson, Magistrate. 
 
 Simeon Baldwin, formerly Mem. of Cong, 
 subsequently Judge of the Sup. Court, 
 and Mayor of the City. 
 
 Noah Webster, Author. 
 
 Dyer White, Retired Magistrate. 
 
 Abraham Bradley, Merchant. 
 
 Samuel J. Hitchcock, Coun. at Law, and 
 Lecturer in the Law School. 
 
 Roger Sherman Bald win, Coun. at Law. 
 
 Charles H. Pond, High Sheritf. 
 Norwich. 
 
 Calvin Goddard, formerly Mem. of Cong, 
 subsequently Judge of the Sup. Court. 
 
 Jabez Huntington, 31erchant. 
 
 William P. Greene, President of Thames 
 Bank. 
 
 James Lanman, formerly Senator in Cong, 
 now Judge of Supreme Court. 
 
 Jedidiah Perkins, Retired fllcrchant. 
 New London. 
 
 Elias Perkins, formerly Member of Con- 
 gress, now Mayor. 
 
 Ebenezer Learned, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 'I'homas W. Williams, Merchant. 
 
 William F. Erainaud, f'ounsellor at Law. 
 FairfiM. 
 
 Roger Minot Sherman, Coun. al Law. 
 Fannington. 
 
 Martin Cowlf.s, Merchant. 
 
27 
 
 Norfolk. 
 Joseph Battell, Meichaiit. 
 MiiiiUduwH. 
 Stephen Titus Hosmek, Chief Justice of 
 
 the Stale. 
 Nehemiah HuBBAun, for many years Pres. 
 
 of Miildleiowii Hank. 
 Geoboe \V. .Stanley, Counsellor at Law. 
 IlicuARD Hubbard, Manufucluier. 
 
 ZTCW 70IIK:. 
 
 New York City. 
 Richard Varick, formerly Mayor of the 
 
 City, and employed in many trusts of 
 
 high responsibility. 
 Peter A. Jay, Counsellor at Law, formerly 
 
 Recorder of the Cit\'. 
 Col. Henry Rutgers, \Veallhy Citizen. 
 Isaac Lawrence, President ot the Branch 
 
 Bank of the U. S. 
 Ltnde Catlin, Pres. of 3Tercliant's Bank, 
 John Low, Pres. of Union Bank. 
 John Adams, Pres. of Fulion JJank. 
 John Bolton, President of Delaware and 
 
 Hudson Canal Company. 
 Cornelius Heyer, Cash, of Bank of N. Y. 
 M. Robinson, Cashier of the Branch of i».e 
 
 U. S. Bank. 
 John Fleming, Cash, of Mechanics Bank. 
 James Swokds, Pres. of Washington Fire 
 
 Lisurance Company. 
 Jonathan Lawrence, Pres. of Merchants 
 
 Fire Insurance Company. 
 Rensselaer Havens, President of Howard 
 
 Fire Insurance Company. 
 Eleazer Lord, Pres. of Manhattan Fire 
 
 Insurance Company. 
 Henry Rankin, Pres. of Globe Fire In. Co. 
 William W. Woolsev, President of Mer- 
 chants Exchange. 
 John Pintard, Secretary of the Mutual Fire 
 
 Insurance (Company. 
 Peter Hawes, Sec. of the Washington Fire 
 
 Insurance Company. 
 Jonas Pi.att, Counsellor at Law, formerly 
 
 a Judge of the Supreme Court. 
 Hugh Maxwell, District Attorney. 
 John Watts, Physician. 
 Gilbert Smith, Physician. 
 John (J. Warken, Exclian";e Broker. 
 S. & M. Allen, E.xehange Brokers. 
 John Aspinwall, Exchange Broker. 
 Theodore Dwight, Editor of Daily Adv. 
 Francis Hall, Editor of Commercial Adv. 
 John Taylor &. Sons, Merchants. 
 Brown, Brothers &: Co. 3Ierchants. 
 Abraham Van !Vest, Merchant. 
 David Johnson, Merchant. 
 Stephen Storm, Merchant. 
 Thomas Skelding, Merchant. 
 William W. Russell, Merchant. 
 RuKUs L. Lord, Merchant. 
 Frederick Sheldon, Merchant. 
 M. Van Sen vick, Merchant. 
 Pelatiah Pekit, Merchant. 
 Mc(<REG0R, Darling &, Co. Merchant*. 
 E. RiGGS, Merchant. 
 Hugh Auchinclos.s, Merchant. 
 William VV. Chester, Merchant. 
 N\JAH Taylor, ]\Iprchant. 
 Robert Buloiu, Merchant. 
 
 Silas Holme.", fi. Co. Merchants. 
 
 J. A. & W. W Post, Mcrchniii.s. 
 
 Richard 1. Tucker, Merchant. 
 
 Stuart Mollan. Merchant. 
 
 Gilbert Couta^t, Merchant. 
 
 Nathaniel Richards, Merchant. 
 
 Arthur Tappan, Merchant. 
 
 David Andrews, ftlerchant. 
 
 Joel Post, Merchant. 
 
 William Sterling, Merchant. 
 
 Daniel Boardaian, Merchant. 
 
 .Iames Magee, Merchant. 
 
 .\beel, Dunscomb &, Co. Merchants. 
 
 Peter Ludlow, Merchant. 
 
 J. W. tfe R. Leavitt, Merchants. 
 
 II. li. Shiefeelin, .Merchant. 
 
 David L. Dodge, Merchant. 
 I Robert Jaffray, Merchant. 
 
 Fitch, Goodwin & Co. Merchants. 
 
 John D. Keese, Merchant. 
 
 John Westfield, Sailmaker. 
 
 Andrew C. Wheeler, Dealer in Provis. 
 Albany. 
 
 William James, Merchant. 
 
 Abraham Van Vechten, Coun. at Law. 
 
 Ambrose Spencer, late Chief Justice of the 
 State, elected a Mem. of the 21st Cong. 
 
 John Woodworth, late Judge of the Su- 
 preme Court. 
 
 Jacob Sutherland, Judge of the Sup. Ct. 
 
 James B. Douglass, Merchant. 
 
 Smith, Willard &. Co. Merchants. 
 
 Barent Bleecker, Pres. Bank of Albany, 
 
 Joseph Alexander, Pres. Com. Bauk. 
 
 Corning & Norton, Merchants. 
 
 Nathaniel Davis, Merchant. 
 
 William A. Duer, Circuit Judge. 
 
 James T.^moureux, Judge of the Common 
 Pleas. 
 
 Hermanus Bleecker, Coun. at Law. 
 
 Benjamin F. Butler, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Edward C. Delavan, Merchant. 
 
 Nathaniel Pitcher, late Lieut. Governor. 
 
 Charles E. Dudley, Mayor at the time of 
 signing, since elected a Member of the 
 United Slates Senate. 
 
 Samuel M. Hopkins, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Jonathan Eights, Physician. 
 
 Friend Humphrey, Merchant. 
 
 KiLiAN K. Van Rensselaer, Coun. at 
 Law, formerly Member of Congress. 
 
 Francis Bloodgood, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 John James, Physician. 
 
 .\braham Keyser, Treasurer of the Stale. 
 
 James King, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 .4NANIAS Pi ait. Farmer. 
 
 John Van Ness Yates, Counsellor at Law, 
 formrrly Sec. of the Stale, now Commis- 
 sioner of Schools for the Stale. 
 Troy. 
 
 Derick Lane, Retired Merchant. 
 
 Samuel McCoun, Ret. Mer. now Mayor. 
 
 (JuRDON Corning. Druggi.'il. 
 
 Nathan Dauchv, 31erchaiit. 
 
 John p. Cushman, Coun. at Law, formerly 
 Member of Congress. 
 
 Jacob Bishop, Merclianl. 
 
 Joseph Russell, Merchant. 
 
 Micah Lyman, Druggist. 
 
 l.ansiriirlinrgh. 
 
 F,. W. WAi.BniDGK, Coimsellor al Law. 
 
 Elijah Jaies, Merchant. 
 
28 
 
 Jamks Rkid. Cashier of the Bank of Lan- 
 
 singburgn. 
 Caltin Barkek, Post-master. 
 E. Parmjelek &• Son, Brewers and Chand- 
 lers. 
 Romeo Walbridge, Stage-proprietor. 
 John Fitch, Master of a Hotel. 
 
 Waler/ord. 
 John Hot;sE, Flour Manufacturer. 
 
 Sackeit's Harbor. 
 Hiram Steele, Magistrate. 
 John M. CANFiEi-n, Col. of the Customs. 
 
 Rochester. 
 M. Chapin, First Judge, Monroe county. 
 H. Ely, Flour Manufacturer. 
 S. D. Chapin, in the Transport. Business. 
 William Groves, Clerk of the Court, 
 S. Chipman, Editor. 
 
 Jamaica, L. I. 
 Eliphalet Wickes, Post-master, 
 
 Yotmgstovm. 
 J. Johnson, Lieut. U. S. Army. 
 
 Granville. 
 Reuben Skinner, Merchant. 
 
 Durham. 
 W1J.LIAM Battell, Farmer. 
 
 Catskill. 
 Orrin Day, Wealthy citizen. 
 Benjamin W. Dwight, Merchant. 
 Samuel L. Penfield, Merchant. 
 
 Watertown. 
 Levi Beebee, Manufacturer. 
 
 Johnstown. » 
 
 T. A. Stoutenburgh, Post-master. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 Joshua Sands, Merchant. 
 A. Van Sikderen, Ret. Merchant. 
 Petzr W. Radcliffe, Coun. at Law. 
 
 Bedford. 
 William Jay, Judge' of the county. 
 
 Newark. 
 
 '1'heodore Frelinghuysen, Attor. Gen- 
 eral at the lime of signing, since elected 
 a Blcmher of the U. S. Senate. 
 
 Joseph C. Hornblower, Couii. at Law. 
 
 VVilliam Pennington, Coun, at Law 
 
 David D. Crane, Judge of the Com. Pleas. 
 
 Jesse Baldwin, Merchant. 
 
 John Ward, Physician. 
 
 James Tichenor, Manufacturer, 
 
 VVilliam Tuttle, Printer &. Editor. 
 
 Charles T. Shipman, Manufacturer. 
 
 L. H. Smith, Physician. 
 
 Ldther Go ble,' Manufacturer. 
 
 Philo Sanford, Merchant. 
 
 Robert B. Campfield, Manufacturer, 
 Elizahethtowji. 
 
 Caleb Halstead, Mayor. 
 
 Shepard Kollock, Ppst-master. 
 
 John M. Trumbull, Merchant. 
 
 Stephen P. Brittai.v, Merchant. 
 
 James P^arl, Merchant. 
 
 1). S. Halstead, Coun. at Law. 
 
 Foster Day, Manufacturer. 
 Priricton. 
 
 Robert Voorhees, Mavor. 
 
 Ebenezer Stockton, Physician. 
 
 .1. Wilson, Mprrhanl. 
 
 Z. Morford, Manufacturer, 
 
 JoHW C. ScHENCK, Merchant. 
 
 Trenton. 
 Charles Ewing, Chief Jus. of the Stale. 
 Robert McNeely, Mayor. 
 Daniel Coleman, Sec. of the State. 
 William L. Prall, Editor and Clerk of 
 
 Assembly. 
 Thoivv'S L Stryker, Merchant. 
 John McElway, Physician. 
 
 Bridgton. 
 
 L. Q. C. Elmer, U. S. District Attorney. 
 I)aniel Elmer, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Burlington. 
 William Rossell, U. S. Dis. Judge. 
 Abraham Brown, Surrogate. 
 Samuel J. Reed, Clerk of the County. 
 John W. Sterling. 
 Joseph C. Clark. 
 Samuel Wqolman. 
 
 Westjield. 
 Samuel Downer, Merchant. 
 CoRKA OsBORN, Physician. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Robert Ralston, Merchant, 
 Alj:xander Henry, Retired Merchant. 
 Gen. William Duncan, Merchant. 
 Col. Caleb North, formerly Sheriff of the 
 
 city. 
 Otis Ammidon, Treasurer and Agent of the 
 
 Lehigh Coal Company. 
 Solomon Allen, Dealer in Exchange, 
 Joseph H. Dulles, Merchant. 
 Ambrose White, Merchant. 
 John Stille, Merchant, 
 Thomas Elmes, ftlanufacturer, 
 John W. Claxton, Merchant. 
 Joseph BIontgomery, Merchant. 
 Gen. R. Patterson, Merchant. 
 James WiLLBANK, Merchant. 
 Ennion Williams, Merchant. 
 Jacob S. Waln, Merchant, 
 Pittsburgh. 
 William Wilkins, U. S. District Judge, 
 
 recently elected a Mem. of the 2Ist Cong. 
 E. Pentland, Recorder of Pittsburgh. 
 Hugh Davis, U. S. Marshal, 
 Isaac Harris, Merchant, 
 
 Butler Coun/y, 
 John Parker, Judge. 
 
 Mercer County, 
 Walter Oliver, High Sheriff. 
 Samuel B. Foster, Coun. at Law. 
 Robert Glenn, Farmer. 
 
 MABVZ.AITD. 
 
 Baltimore. 
 
 N. Brice, Chief Jud^e of the City Court. 
 Peter Hoffman, Merchant, 
 Robert Gilmer, Merchant. 
 Luke Tiebnan, Merchant. 
 John IMcKim, Jun. Merchant. 
 R. L. Colt, Merchant. 
 Joseph King, Jun. 3Ierchant, 
 William Wilson & Sons, Importers. 
 Hugh Boyle, Merchant. 
 James Cox, Cash, of the Bank of BaWmore. 
 William Birckhead, Physician. 
 James H. M'Cullock, Collector of the Port. 
 G, BrowN; Merchant. 
 
29 
 
 R. H. DouoLASS & Co. Merchants. 
 Thomas Kf;i.so, Dealer in Provisions. 
 CusHiNG & JjfiWETT, Hooksellcrs. 
 Chaui.es Howard, CoLiiisullor at Law. 
 William Norris &. Son, Merchants. 
 John Giuson & Co. Importers. 
 William H. Freeman, Coun. at Law. 
 Mitchell, Henry & Co. Auctioneers. 
 Thomas Tyson, Flour Manufacturer. 
 James Bkundige, Commission Mercbaut. 
 Gerard T. Hopkins, Merchant. 
 William Bayley, Drug-gist. 
 William H. Murray, Cash. ofMech. Bank. 
 
 AIiJiXILNBIilA, D. O. 
 
 Colin Auld, Wealthy Citizen. 
 A. C. Ca/.enove, Merchant. 
 John C. Vowell, Merchant 
 Humphrey Peake, Collector of the Port. 
 Thosias Vowell, Pres. of Mechaxiics Bank. 
 William Gregory, Merchant. 
 Thomas Sanford, Mechanic, 
 N. R. FiTZHUGH, Merchant. 
 C. Page, Cashier. 
 P. H. Hoof, Cashier. 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 
 Fredericksburgli . 
 Basil Gordon, 31crchant. 
 Daniel Grinnan, Merchant. 
 Alexander Henderson, Merchant. 
 
 Petersbnrrrh. 
 Hugh Nelson, ISlcrchant. 
 James Dwight, Merchant. 
 William M. Atkinson, Coun. at Law. 
 BoswELL, Merchant. 
 
 Morgan County. 
 John Jones, High'Slierid". 
 
 Prince Edward Couviij. 
 Richaad N. Venable, Coun. at Law. 
 James D. Wood, Merchant and Planter. 
 Henry N. Watkins, Coun. at Law. 
 James Madison, Merchant and Planter. 
 
 (ireenbrier County. 
 A. W. Arbuckle, Wealthy Citizcui, 
 
 Hanover Cuunty. 
 Benjamin Pollard, Planter. 
 
 Greenville County. 
 Robert Doake, Planter. 
 Samuel Fin ley. Planter. 
 
 Albemarle County. 
 Andrew Hart, Planter. 
 
 Bedford County. 
 Michael Graham, Magistriiie. 
 
 Atigiista County. 
 Joseph Cowan, Merchant. 
 John C. iSowf.rs. Meichajil. 
 Charles A. SruART, JMagistralc. 
 W. Clarke, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 NORTH CAROIiINA. 
 
 Gen. Calvin Jones, of Wake Forest, near 
 
 Raleigh. 
 
 In the preceding list, no names of clergymen appear. It was 
 thought most desirable to select names of gentlemen, engaged in 
 secular pursuits, who are fair representatives of the more active, en- 
 terprising, and intelligent portion of our citizens ; whose business is 
 most affected by the proper management of tlte post-office ; and who 
 
 SOUTH OAROXiINA. 
 
 Charleston. 
 Thomas Napier, Merchant. 
 Charles Edmondston, Mer. and Factor. 
 John Lowden, Merchant. 
 John Haslet, President of Fire and Marine 
 
 Insurance Company'. 
 Frederick G. Fraser, Mer. and Factor. 
 M. King, Counsellor at Law. 
 Ker Boyce, Merchant and Factor. 
 Keating Simons, Pres. of the Baiikof S.C. 
 John Robinson, Merchant. 
 Jasper Corning, Merchant. 
 Charles A. West, Merchant. 
 John Gadsden, U. S. District Attorney. 
 Thomas Flemming, Merchant. 
 Thomas Chapman, Merchant. 
 James Calder, Merchant. 
 Duke Goodman, Merchant and Factor. 
 John Kirkpatrick, ftlerchant. 
 Thomas S. Grimke, Coun. at Law. 
 Charles McIntire, Merchant. 
 James Adger, Merchant. 
 James Black, Merchant. 
 Charles Kershaw, Merchant. 
 James Mitchell, Planter. 
 Charles H. Tunis, Merchant. 
 Joseph Tyler, Merchant. 
 G. Gibes, Merchant. 
 John Stoney, Merchant. 
 William Birnie, Merchant. 
 
 Camden. 
 William Blanding. 
 J. 31. Dessaussure. 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 
 Augusta. 
 
 Thomas Cumming, President of the Branch 
 of Augusta. 
 
 Jonathan Meigs, Merchant. 
 
 William T. Gould, Counsellor at Law. 
 
 Brewster & Prescott, Wliolesale Gro- 
 cers. 
 
 Joel Catlin, Jeweller. 
 
 OHIO. 
 
 Cincinnati. 
 Isaac G. Burnet, Mayor of the City. 
 Enos Woodruff, Judge of the Com. Pleas. 
 Stephen Burrows, Merchant. 
 Morgan Neville, Counsellor at Law. 
 Samuel Ramsay, Physician. 
 David E. Wade, Mechanic. 
 Samuel Lowry, Merchant. 
 Henry B. Funk, Mechanic. 
 
 Zanesville. 
 Robert Fulton, Merchant. 
 S. P. Herrick, Counsellor at Law. 
 Edwin Putnam, Merchant. 
 I. Spangler, Counsellor at Law. 
 G. Buckingham, Merchant. 
 
30 
 
 are competent, both on account of their practical knowledge, and their 
 large acquaintance with human affairs, to form a correct judgment of 
 the subject, in all its bearings. It is not necessary that the selection 
 should be perfect, in order that the great end of it may be answered. 
 Clergymen, as well as laymen, of different religious denominations, 
 are found among the petitioners. That so delightful a union, for so 
 hitTh and holy a purpose, may be apparent, the following sixteen names 
 are published, in regular sequence, without transposition or omission, 
 as they stand together, and form a part of the names upon the petition 
 from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Thus standing together, these 
 names bear a consentaneous and united testimony to the value of the 
 Sabbath, pleasing, it is believed, to the eye of God, and gratifying to 
 the hearts of good men. 
 
 Rev. Philip Milledoler, D. D. President of Rutgers College, and Professor of Theology 
 
 in the Seminar}' of ilie Reformed Dutch Church. 
 Rev. James S. Cannon, D. D. Professor of Ecclesiastical History. 
 Rev. John De Witt, Professor of Theology. 
 
 Theodore Strong, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. 
 Joseph Nelson, Professor of Languages. 
 
 Rev. George G. Cookman, minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Rev. John Croes, U. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New Jersey. 
 Rev. James R. Hardenbergh, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church. 
 G. S. Webb, Pastor of the Baptist Church. 
 Joseph H. Jones, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. 
 Rev. Daniel Dodge, (residing in New Brunswick,) Pastor of the Baptist Church iu Pis- 
 
 cataway. 
 R. McChesney, "1 
 
 JosEP^ Mcc'Snet, \^^^Ses of the Court of Common Pleas. 
 Jacob Van Winkle, J 
 
 Col. John Neilson, Retired merchant, a revolutionary officer of merit, and one of the 
 most venerable men in the country. 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 From what has appeared in the preceding pages, it must be mani- 
 fest to every candid mind, that the petitions to congress, in relation 
 to the transportation and opening of the mail on the Sabbath, did not 
 originate in any transient feeling, nor in any narrow, or local, or per- 
 sonal views ; but that they were the result of much reflection, and a 
 solemn conviction of duty, in regard to a subject, which is deemed by 
 the petitioners to be vitally important to their country and to individu- 
 als, — to the present generation and to posterity. It is plain, therefore, 
 that the purpose of the petitioners cannot be relinquished, and that no 
 suitable means of attaining it should be neglected. 
 
 The reasons, which they assign, are of the gravest character, resting 
 on a sense of obligation to obey an express command of God, — a full 
 persuasion that a disregard of this command will bring down upon our 
 land the displeasure of Heaven, — a deliberate opinion, that the Sab- 
 bath is one of the most glorious proofs of the divine beneficence ; — 
 that it is eminently calculated to make communities, wherever it is 
 properly observed, virtuous, prosperous and happy ; that the loss of 
 this institution would be a calamity so awful, as that any well-ground- 
 ed ap})rchension of it might reasonably excite the most gloomy fore- 
 bodings ; that the present regulations of the post-office tend strongly 
 toward the abolition of the Sabbath ; that they are, therefore, in the 
 
31 
 
 highest sense, adverse to the public good ; that, as the preservation of 
 moral integrity, or a sense of responsibility to God, extensively among 
 the people, is confessedly essential to the continuance of a republican 
 government, — every enlightened patriot, as well as every true Chris- 
 tian, must cherish the institutions of religion, as the great means of 
 perpetuating our free government ; that the laws of the several States 
 are disregarded, and the religious privileges of the people invaded, by 
 the present regulations of the post-office ; and that the inconvenience 
 of having the mails at rest and the post-offices closed on the Sabbath, 
 is very small, compared with the great and alarming evils of a con- 
 trary course. 
 
 All these topics, and many others of a kindred nature, are urged by 
 the petitioners with great sincerity and earnestness. Though some 
 misapprehension may have existed, as to the motives and the design of 
 the petitioners, no candid man, who peruses the foregoing pages, can 
 doubt, whether the motives assigned are not the true and operative 
 motives, — and the only motives generally entertained by the numerous 
 "writers, as well as by the signers, of the memorials. This being ad- 
 mitted, no statesman of enlarged and comprehensive views can deny, 
 that the subject of these memorials is as well worthy of solemn con- 
 sideration, as any subject which has ever been presented to the assem- 
 bled representatives of the nation. 
 
 It has been asserted, that all the petitions proceeded from one pen ; 
 — a striking instance of the carelessness, willi which assertions are fre- 
 quently made, by persons who know nothing about the subject on 
 which they write. The preceding quotations are made from about 
 ninety original petitions ; and there were, in fact, considerably more 
 than a hundred petitions of this character ; all uniting in the same re- 
 quest, and speaking the voice of conscientious and reflecting citizens 
 from Vermont to Alabama, and from Maine to the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi. Besides the petitions, many letters were written, in corrobo- 
 ration of them, to the postmaster general, and to members of congress. 
 The fact that God, in his holy providence, brought forth so loud an 
 expression of public sentiment, is hailed with joy by numerous friends 
 of their country and of mankind. It is acknowledged with tears in 
 the closet, and around the domestic altar, and is recognized as a bles- 
 sed token that the Lord of the Sacbatu will not give up this holy 
 day to desecration and contempt. 
 
 The only objections, which have appeared to weigh in the minds of 
 considerate men, against granting the prayer of the memorialists, are 
 these two ; viz. that the delivery of letters on the Sabbath is promo- 
 tive of commercial proi^perittf ; and that the transportation of the mail, 
 especially on the great roads, is necessary to prevent the sending of 
 expresses, on the Sabbath, by which that day would be violated, and 
 advantage would be taken of recent commercial intelligence, in such 
 a manner as to injure the honest merchant. 
 
 By a little attention it may be seen, that the importance of these 
 objections is vastly over-rated. 
 
 As to the first, the petition of merchants of Baltimore, (which was 
 written, as the compiler has reason to believe, by one of the most in- 
 telligent, experienced, and honorable merchants in the United States, 
 and which is expressed with great candor and good sense,) regards 
 
32 
 
 the inconveniences, which would result from the regulations prayed 
 lor, as being " very inconsiderable." 
 
 Again, the example of London is better than a volume of arguments. 
 Some of the most active merchants of that metropolis have declared 
 it to be a great relief io have one day in seven, on which the laborious 
 and exhausting process of reading and answering letters is necessarily 
 intermitted. 
 
 As to the second objection, it has been strangely magnified for want 
 of attention to facts. How often is intelligence received, which would 
 warrant the expense of sending expresses 1 Will any considerate 
 merchant say, that, for the last ten years, intelligence of this kind has 
 been received fourteen times a year, on an average 1 The compiler 
 does not believe it has been received seven times a year. But take 
 fourteen as the number. As intelligence of this kind would not be 
 more likely to arrive on or near the Sabbath, than on or near any 
 other day, the probability is, that there would be no inducement to 
 send expresses on more than two Sabbaths, in a year, on an average. 
 Shall the mails be carried, in every part of the \]mon,jifty two Sab- 
 baths in the year, as the only expedient to prevent expresses being 
 sent, on a. few great roads, two Sabbaths in a year? 
 
 Again, expresses may easily be sent, as the mails now go, every day 
 in the year, so as frequently to anticipate the mail, in all our great 
 cities, from ten hours to fifty hours, according to the distance of the 
 cities from each other : and yet how seldom are expresses sent 1 
 
 If important commercial intelligence should reach New York, on 
 Monday, at 4 o'clock, P. M., it might easily be sent to Boston, so as 
 to arrive from 20 to 24 hours before the steam-boat mail, which would 
 leave New York on Tuesday afternoon, and 26 or 27 hours before the 
 land mail of Tuesday morning. The same intelligence might be sent 
 to Philadelphia, so as to anticipate the steam-boat and land mail more 
 than 12 hours, giving to the New York speculator all the business 
 hours of Tuesday, for the practice of his skill, in the markets of 
 Philadelphia. He might, of course, greatly distance the mail at Balti- 
 more, and onward to the south-west. 
 
 Intelligence is very apt to arrive at New York from abroad, in the 
 morning, or in the forenoon. In all these cases, the mail might be 
 distanced in every direction ; and this may be done every day in the 
 year. Yet, how very seldom are expresses sent ? 
 
 This subject might be set in a still stronger light, by an examination 
 of more particulars ; but the limits of these pages do not allow it. 
 
 In conclusion, the people of the United States have it in their 
 power to secure their religious freedom, their civil institutions, and 
 their national prosperity, to themselves and to future ages, if they will 
 sanctify the Sabbath, and thus enjoy all its benign, restraining, and 
 enlightening influences ; but if they unwisely disregard the voice of 
 experience and the voice of God, it may be said of them, by the Su- 
 preme Lawgiver, as it was said of the Jewish commonwealth ; J^ut 
 i/^yc will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to 
 bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sab- 
 bath day ; then 1 7cill kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall 
 devour the pcdaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. 
 
 T. R. Marvin, Printer. 
 
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