THE STAR OP THE NORTH.
B ffi Beaver Proprietor.]
VOLUME 7.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH
IS PUBLISHEP EVERY THURSDAY MORNING BY
R. W. WEAVER,
OFFICE— Up stairs, in the new brick build
ing, on the south side o) Main Steert,
third square below Market.
TERMS :—T wo Dollars per annum, if
paid within six months from the time of sub
scribing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived for a less period than six months; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
are paid, unless at the option of the editor.
ADVIRTISEMENTS not exceeding one square
will be inserted three limes for One Dollar
and twenty-five cents for each additional in
sertion. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the year.
gMMIaM;. "
MEOW GUEA THE KITTY.
Am—fop goes lite Weasel.
My hat is new, my boots are ton,
My girl is young and pretty,
My cares, alas! they would be few,
But meow ! goes the kilty.
CHORUS.
All around the country town,
All around the city,
How sweet to hear the DULL-SET sound
Meow I goes the kitty.
Bloomsburg girls are wondrous smart,
The boys are wondrous witty ;
But all, alas! tre sick at heart
With meow ! goes the kill y.
CHORUS.—AII around—&c.
Some sounds are dull, a few are sweet,
And more are harsh and gritty :
But all the yells of devils meet
In meow I goes the kilty.
CHORUS.—AII around—&J.
My vow. is made—l seize a stick—
" I'll form a ONE committee,
And put a stop most wondrous quick
To" meowl goes the kitty.
Cuonvs.
All around the country town,
And all around the city,
How sweet to hear the DULL SET sound
Meow ! goes the kitty.
APPETITE.
" Asking for," that is the meaning. Who
asks? Hature ; in other words, the law of
our being, the instinct of self-preservatior.,
wisely and benevolently implanted in every
living thing, whether animal, worm or weed.
Yielding to this -appetite is the preserva
tion of all life, and health, below man; he
alone exceeds it, and in consequence sick
ens and dies thereby, long before his prime,
in countless instances.
The fact is not recognized as generally as
it ought to be, that a proper attention to the
' 'askings' of nature, not only maintains health,
but is one of the safest, surest, and most per
manent methods of curing disease.
It is eating without an appetite, which in
many instances is the last pound which
breaks the camel's hack ; nature had token
away the appetite, had closed the house lor
necessary repairs, but, in spite of her, we
'forced down some food," and days and weeks
and months of illness followed, if not chol
era, cramp, colic, or sudden death.
In disease, there are few who cannot recall
instances, where a person was supposed to
be in a dying condition, and in the delirium
of fever, or otherwise, had arisen, and gone
to the pail or pitcher, and drank an enor
mous quantity o( water, or have gone to the
pantry, and eaten largely of some unusual
food, and forthwith began to recover. We
frequently speak of persons getting well hav
ing the strangest kind of an appetite, the in
dulgence of which reason and science would
T say would be fatal.
We found out many years ago, when en
gaged in the general practice of medicine,
that when the patient was convalescing, the
best general rule was, eat not an atom you
do not relish; eat anything in moderation
which your appetite craves, from a pickle
down to sole-leather. Nature is like a per
fect house-keeper; she knows better what is
wanting in her house than anybody else can
tell her. The body in disease craves that
kind of food which contains the element it
most needs. This is one of the most impor
tant facts in human hygiene; and yet we do
not recollect to have ever seen it embodied
in so many words. We have done so, to
render it practical; and to make it remem
bered, we alato a fact of recent occurrence.
Some three years ago, a daughter of Jss.
Damon, of Chesterfield, fell down a flight
of stairs, bringing on an illness from which
It was feared she would not recover. She
did however recover, except the loss of hear
' ing and sight. Her appetite for some weeks
called for nothing but raisins and candy, and
•ince last lall, nothing but apples were eaten.
A few weeks ago she commenced eating
}naple buds; since which lime she has near
ly regained her foimer health and activity,
{ynd her sight and hearing are restored.
We all, perhaps, have observed that cats
fcnd other animals, when apparently ill, go
but and crop a particular grass or weed. In
Applying those facts, let us remember to in
dulge this "osfang for" of Nature, in aick-
Desa especially, in moderation; felling our
way along by gradually increasing amounts;
thus keeping on the safe side. We made
(his one of oar earliest and most inflexible
rules of practice. — Hall's Journal of Health.
A lady said to a gentleman who had ao
companied her and her sister to church,
• Wfty, it rains, send and get an umbrella.'
• Why,' said the beau, 'you are neither
sugar nor aalt, rain will not hurt you.'
•No,' said the lady, 'but we are lasses.'
He sent for one immediately.
OT God's people are like stars, they shine
more brightly in the darkest night.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY. PA., THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 8. 1855.
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR WRIGHT.
The address of His Excellency, JOSEPH A.
WEIGHT, Governor of Indiana, at the New
York Agricultural Slate Fair, at Elmira, on
the subject of agriculture—its relation to the
sciences, arts, education, society, and our
national prosperity—is the best and most in
telligent document on this Biibject that has
come within our observations. We are sor
ry that our space will not permit us to give
it entiro ; but the following promiscuous ex
tracts convey an idea of the tenor of the
whole.
" The worst of all depredations are those
which ignorant and reckless men commit on
their mother earth —the source and support
ol organic life—when they destroy or impair
the fertility of the land, either by their igno
rance, or by their neglect of the means by
which it may be improved or preserved. It
is our duty to leave the earth in a condition
as good, at least, as when we found it.
"In many parts of our country the people
seem to believe that the earth is possessed
of a constitution so strong, so stout, and so
healthful, that no extremo of bad usage can
affect it injuriously : but Time, the great in
structor, is demonstrating our folly, and warn
ing us to change our modes of farming.—
While the husbandman carries forward his
works ol agricultural improvement, he musl v
not forget ths injunction, 'Let the earth bring
forth grass.' If, disregarding this mandate,
he shall continue to neglect the investigation
and cultivation of grasses, the annual depre
ciation of his crops of corn, and other grains,
i will ultimately qualify him to appreciate ful-'
[ly the force of the|Belgian maxim—'No grass, |
no stock—no stock, no manure—no manure,
no crops.'
In the severe drought of last fall, that blight
ed the hopes of the husbandman throughout
the gieater part of the northwestern Slates,
when the croaking of ruined crops had at
tained its highest point, a close observer
could not fail to see, here and there, a field
green and luxuriant in the midst of surround
ing desolation. If you stopped to inquire in
to the cause, and asked for an explanation,
you would learn that no special showers had
visited those favored fields, but they had
been subsoiled, or deeply ploughed, well
sdrred and kept in a condition to absorb all
the moisture afloat in the atmosphere, which
compensated for the showers that come not.
Instead, then, of repining, we should profit
by the lesson, and go and do likewise.
"On the first and second days of June last,
portions of Indiana were visited by severe
and destructive frosts; a few days afterwards
tne farmers might be seen in anxious groups,
with long faces, exhibiting specimens of
their ruined crops, with all the evidences of
despair over the gloomy future. But, on vis- |
iting the fields, you would find that the inju
ry to the wheat was confined to that which
was in bloom; the Mediterranean and early
Alabama varieties, many fields of which
were then in full flower, were injured, while
the great body of the crop, consisting of oth
er and late varieties, wholly escaped, and we
had more than an average crop after all the
panic. From this let us learn the lesson,
that early wheat is in danger of frost, even on
the 4olh degree of latitude.
"In low moist grounds, the corn fields suf
fered severely, while thecorn-4n more eleva
ted and better drained land was uninjured.—
The undrained ground was cooled down, by
evaporating even to the freezing point, while
the absorbed rays of ycsterday'6 sun kept the
drier soil at a temperature above injury.—
1 Drain, drain, drain, was the voice of this
friendly admonition from Providence, and
we should receive all such admonitions with
thanksgiving, instead of croaking.
f'Tlie mandate that requires man to'eat
bread in the sweat of his brow,' contem
plates the subjecting of men to a schooling,
a discipline, that shall quality them to con
tend successfully against the great and nu
merous difficulties which arise in their path
through life. It is not the lot of the tiller of
the soil to struggle against ordinary foes. He
finds giants by the wayside of life. He must
contend with the elements of earth and air.
Snows, storms, frost, hail, and oven rains,
dews, and the blessed sunshine are his ene
mies while he remains in ignorance of their
influences. He who wages a warfare with
the elements of the earth and the air, in
order to compel them to deliver up to him
their rich treasures, will without doubt or
question, sufler a defeat disastrous in propor
tion to his ignorance of the laws by which
bis adversaries are governed. But the far
mer who understands these laws, will be
able utider the favor of Heaven, not only to
bring forth treasures from the earth, annually,
but to explain the means by which he accom
plishes his great work.
"He studies the nature, condition and
quality of his lands; and his fields are impro
ved, not exhausted, by cultivation. His
knowledge, experience, and judgment, ena
ble him to adapt the crop to the soil, or to
prepare the soil for the crop. He reasons, he
reads, he reflects, he makes experiments,and
he discovers new methods of overcoming old
obstacles.
" In this great work, we want for leaders,
men whose examples and precepts will ex
oite the enthusiasm, and win the confidence
of their fellow-laborers in the field of agri
culture. In eveiy farming district, through
out the vast extent of our fertile domain, we
I want more men qualified by their knowl
edge, their experience, their skill, and their
enterprise, to ins'ruct and encourage their
fellow-men, in the task of "subduing the
land." When we shall have the whole body
of our practioal farmers engaged, not merely
physically, but mentally, in illustrating the
power, beneficence and dignity ol the science
of agriculture, the 'wilderness and solitary
places shall be glad for them; and the desert
shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.'
" According to the census of 1850, one
eighth of our entire population live in cities
whose population is over ten thousand ; and
at least one-fif'h of the whole population are
residing in towns, villages, and cities. Ta
king into view our extent of territory, the
sparseness of our population to the square
mile, the cheapness and fertility of our lands
and the facility for exchanging all commodi
ties, and productions of skill and industry, I
do not believe that the history of the world
shows an instance in which the people of a
civilized nation exhibited such a preference
for a city and village life.
I " When our population shall become two
hundred millions, one half of the people will
be crowded in cities, towns, and villages—
unless the popular sentiment of the nation, af
ter overcoming the general aversion to man
ual labor, and subduing the hot thirst for
professional and mercantile pursuits, shall
awaken in the American mind a strong love
for rural life. The present condition of our
country is well described by the poet:
"Trade wields the world; and Agriculture
leaves
Her half turned furrows; other harvests fire
An avarice of renown."
► ' ltis on occasions and places like the
present, that hints and suggestions should be
freely given and reoeived, which may lead
to the most successful blending of specula
live discoveries with peaceful knowledge.
One great object of these assemblages,should
therefore, be to diffuse general intelligence
and scientific truths among agricultural
communities; thereby aiding, not only in the
increase of their material thrift, but in the
development of the mighty resources of the
earth.
" Another class of subjects should not be
overlooked. I allude to the connection be
tween enlightened agriculture and the devel
opment ol the social and moral nature of
Man. The connection between agriculture
and independence—between agriculture and
the sacredness of domestic relations and en
dearments —between agriculture and the re
cognition ol that Providence upon whose
care the farmer, more than any other man,
should, from the nature of his pursuits, re
ly.
" The tendency of agricultural pursuits is
to give distiuclness and strength to home as
sociations and influences. The greater com
munities are mode up of the smaller; and as
the community increases in magnitude, it
decreases in its local power aud influences.
At the base of all lies the divinely appointed
institution of the Family, where the greatest
power is concentrated in the hands of the fa
ther—who is the Patriarch, Legislator, Judge
and Executive of his household estate. Liv
ing on his own domain, with his woodlands,
pastures, meadows, hills and streams about
him, he is supreme, with only those few and
necessary limitations whioh the larger com
munity throws around him. It is here that
the influence of women—man's firat, last,
best comforter on earth —is f elt and recog
nized. It is here that 'she openeth he: mouth
with wisdom, and her tongue is the law of
kindness.' It is here (hat 'she lookelh well
to her household, and ealeth not the bread
of idleness.' It was at home that King Lem
uel learned the good and wise 'words that
his mother tadght him.' Mother! The sweet
est word in all the babbling languages ot
men! It is the mission of woman—it is the
holy mission of the mother—to impress upon
the young mind the first lesson of truth, vir
tue, wisdom, and courage. Her empire is
in the affections of her husband and children,
who 'arise up and call her blessed.'
" That spirit of inquiry, investigation and
enterprize that has been awakened at your
township, county and Slate Fairs, by compe
tition for premiums on household fabrics,
and on products of the dairy, the farm, and
the shop, may justly be regarded as a link in
the chain of home education; and this is a
very proper direction for things to take at this
period in our history.
" The truth is, we must talk more, think
more, work more, and act more, in reference
to question* relating to home.
"The training and improvement of the
phyeical, intellectual, social, and moral pow
ers and sentiments of the youth of our coun
try, requires something more than the school
house, academy, college, and university.—
The young mind should receive judicious
training in the field, in the garden, in the
barn, in the workshop, in the parlor in the
kitchen—in a word, around the hearth-stone,
at home.
" A great proverbial economist ha* said,
'Take oars of the pence, and the pounds
will take care of themselves.' We may with
a slight modification, apply the proverb to
government. Let us take care of the small
er communities, and the larger will take care
of themselves. I recently asked a friend of
mine, an intelligent farmer, ' For whom did
you vole for township trustee V Well, really
1 have forgotten,' was his answer. ' Forgot
ten !' I replied, 'Forgotten! What! Do you
not know the man to whom you have entrus
ted the management of affairs most intimate
ly connected with the moral and intellectual
welfare of your children 1 Do you forget
the person who is to have charge of your
schools and to choose teacher for the future
men and women of your country ' Why, my
dear sir, never be so forgetful again. Here
alter select the most useful and intelligent
man in your towntbip, for trustee, but never
forget the oh< ioe you make. After this, se
lect the beet man for county commissioner,
to direot yonr municipal government. If yon
have another great man, send bim to the
legislature, to speak par voice In (ramlng
Truth and Right God and our Country.
laws to protect your person, properly,! and
character.while you live and the rights ol
your widow and children, when you shall be
no more.) Then, if your'catalogue of great
men is exhausted, you have one left with
about half sense, *scnd,him to Congress."
'' The progress of a happy change is visi
ble in every part of our country.-- During the
course of the present year, one-fourih of the
whole nation will have as6emblediat our nu
merous State and County Fairs; and the most
favorable results will follow these exhibitions
of the enterprise, skill, and,, industry ol the
people.
"fn many parts of the Union, the people
are organizing Agricultural Schools,'and Col
leges, in which the science of planting' and
cultivating will bo taught in place of human
butchery. The schoolmaster is beginning to
be regarded as one whose profession is noble
as that of the buttoned gentleman. The
public mind seems to have awakened to the
realization of something practical. Each man
is asking, for himself, infoiiualion with re
spect to the best system—the best mode—
the bed manner, of reaping the reward of
labor bestowed upon the earth, or in the ma
king of those articles which are found neces
sary for his comfort and condition in life. In
the investigation of these questions, men are
willing to exchange views and opinions with
their neighbors. They are not only willing,
but anxious, to become acquainted, by per
sonal observation, with modes of labor, ma
chinery, and the productions of the earth; in
a word to have the full history of all that is
around them.
" The mechanic has access to the farmer
—the farmer to the mechanic—they meet
and consult together. At these exhibitions
the most distinguished mechanics are pres
ent; and ihey bring with them not only the
work of their brains and bands, but„autive
and observing minds inquire into the wants
of ths country; and they return to their work
shops to perfeot the inventions that have
been suggested by these means. The farmer
too, has a favorable opportunity, at these
fairs, to make himself well acquainted with
who: is new aud useful, and to see the best
productions of different portions of the coun
try.
"Perhaps, the most convincing evidence
of recent great improvements in the business
of farming, will appear, on instituting com
parison between the present condition or the
agricultural interest of your Stale, and that
condition in which these interests existed
before the organization of these associations.
There are, I doubt not, those present, who,
if they will look back over a period of twen
iy-five years, can make the comparison to
which I refer.
" In the lapse of that limo, what improved
modes of cultivating various soils have been
discovered and adopted by the farmers of
New Vork ! How many new kinds of agri
cultural implements have been brought into
profitable use! How many farmers would
now be willing to go back to the use of the
old farming implements and the old method
o( farming f How many new varieties of
grains, fruits, and vegetables, have been in
troduced, to iucroase the value of yourcrops I
What changes have taken place, with re
spect to the number and value ofyour breeds
of cattle, horses, sheep, swine and poultry !
What Improvements have been made in the
management and value of your dairies I
What is the value of the stimulous that has
imparted to your home industry by the en
couragement which agricultural associations
have been to the manufacture of household
fabrics, and other articles of domestic pro
duct ion ! -
" The present national greatness of the
United States is mainly attributable to two
obvious principles—the influence of law up
on our citizens, and their attachment to their
own municipal and local governments. Just
in proportion as we have departed from the
strictest observance of law, and looked a
broad into the domestic institutions of our
neighbors, have we been led into difficulties
and trials. There is no higher duty of the
citizen—than to maintain by word, deed,
and action the absolute supremacy of law.—
We should bear in mind this great truth,
the first public act of disobedience to the
low is the first fatal Slop in the downward
road to anarchy.
" Let the American citizen discharge,
faithfully, not only his national obligations,
but his publio and private local duties. This
can be done, in the most effective manner,
by guarding against the slightest encroach
ments upon the compact whioh makes us
one people ; by a strict observance of law ;
and by a true discharge of those essential,
religious, political and social duties whioh
lie al the foundation of society. Let us, like
our fathers, be watchful and faithful at the
fireside—on the farm—in the school district
—in the township—in the county—in the
State. Let us establish and maintain good
morals. Let us encourage the growth of the
arts and sciences, and til branches of useful
industry. Let us continue our efforts to ad
vance agricultural, mechanical and manufac
turing interests of the Union. And finally,
let ua teaoh the rising generation to love
their whole country, and all parts of it—es
pecially their own hearthstones— their own
homes."
A SICK LXWTER.—A lawyer being siok,
made hit last will and testament, and gave
all his estate to fools and madmen I Being
asked the reason for so doing, he said, ' From
Sbch I got it, and to such I return it again.'
POLITICAL CONCHOLOQT.—Hard Shells, Soft
Shells No Shells (Whigs), Half Shells (Fu
sion), and AU Shells (Liberty.)
SUNDAY MAILS.
Report of Mr. R. M. Johnson, of Kentucky, to
the Senate of the United States, Jan. 18, 1829.
The committee to whom were referred the
several petitions on the subject of mails on
the Sabbath, or the first day Of the week, re
port :
That some respite is required from the or
dinary vocations of life is an established prin
ciple, sanctioned by the usages of all nations,
whether Christian or pagan. One day in sev
en has also been determined upon as the
proportion of time; and in conformity with
the wishes of the great majority of citizens
of this country, the first day of the week,
commonly called Sunday, has been set apart
to that object. The principle has received j
the sanction of the national Legislature, so
far as to admit a suspension of all public
business on that day, except in cases of ab
solute necessity, or of great public utility.—
This principle the committee would not
wish to disturb. If kept within its legitimate
sphere of action, no injury can result from
its observance. It should, however, be kept
in mind that the proper object of govern
ment is to protect all persons in the enjoy
ment of their religious as well as civil lights,
and not to determine for any whether they
ahull esteem one day above another, or es
teem all days alike holy.
We are aware that a variety of sentiment
exists among the good citizens of this nation
on the subject of the Sabbath day ; and our
government is designed for the protection of
one as much as for another. The Jews, who
in this country are as free as Christians, and
entitled to the same protection from the laws,
derive their obligation to keep the Sabbath
day from the fourth commandment in the
decalogue, and, in conformity with that in
junction, pay religious homage to the seventh
day of the week, which we call Saturday.—
One denomination of Christians among us,
justly celebrated for their piety, and certainly
as good citizens as any other class, agree
with the Jews in the usual obligation of the
Sabbath, anil observe the same day. There
are also many Christians among us who de
rive not their obligation to observe the Sab
bath from the decalogue, but regard the Jew
ish Sabbath as abrogated. From the exam
ple of the Apostles of Christ, they have cho
sen the first day of the week, instead of that
day set apart in the decalogue, for their re
ligious devotions. These have generally re
garded the observance of the day as a de
votional exercise, and would not more read
ily enforce it upon others than they would
enforce secret prayer or devout meditations.
Urging the fact that neither the Lord nor His
pisciples, though often ennaured by their ac
cusers for a violation of the Sabbath, ever
enjoined its observance, thay regard it as a
subject on which every person should be ful
ly persuaded in his own mind, and not co
erce others to act upon his persuasion. Mar.y
Christians again differ from these, professing
to derive their obligation to observe the Sab
bath from the fourth commandment of the
Jewish decalogue, and bring the example of
the Apostle, who appear to have held their
public meetinga for worship on the first dsy
ol the week, aa authority (or so far changing
the decalogue as to substitute that day for |
the seventh. The Jewish government was a |
theocracy, which enforced religious obser
vances; and though the committee would
hope that no portion of the citizens of our
country could willingly introduce a system
of religious coercion in our civil institutions,
the examnle of other nations should admon
ish us to watch rareltil.'y against its earliest
indication.
With these different religious views, the
committee are of opinion that Congress can
not interfere. It is not the legitimate pro
vince of the Legislature to determine what
religion is true, or what is false. Our gov
ernment is a civil and not a religious institu
tion. Our constitution recognizes in every
person the right to choose his own religion,
and to enjoy it freely, without molestation.—
Whatever may be the religious sentiments
of citizens, and however varieut, they are
alike entitled to protection from the govern
-1 ment, so long as they do not invade the
rights of others.
The transportation of the mail on the first
day of the week, it is believed, does not in
terfere with (he rights of conscience. The
petitioners for its discontinuance appear to
be actuated from a religious zeal, which may
be commendable if confined to its proper
sphere ; but they take a position belter suited
to an ecclesiastical than to a civil institution.
They appear, in many instances, to lay it
down as an axiom that the practice is a vio
lation of the law of God. Should Congress,
in their legislative capacity, adopt the senti
ment, it would establish the principle that
the Legislature is a proper tribunal to deter
mine what are the laws of God. It would
involve the legislative decision in a religions
controversy, and on a point in which good
citizens may honestly difler in opinion with
out disturbing the peace of sooiety, or en
dangering its liberties. If the principle isonce
introduced, it will be impossible to define its
bounds. Among all the religious prosecu
tion with whioh almost everj page of mod
ern history is stained, no victim ever suffered
but for the violation of what government de
nominated the law of God. To prevent a
similar train of evils in this country, the
constitution has wisely withheld from our
government the power of defining the devine
law. It is a right reserved to each citizen,
and while he respects the equal rights of
others, he cannot be held amenable to any
human tribunal for his conclusions.
Extensive religious combinations to effect
a political object are, in the opinion of the
committee, always dangerous. The first ef-
fort of the kind calls for the establishment of
a principle which, in the opinion of the com
mittee, would lay the foundation for danger
ous inovations upon the spirit of the consti
tution, and upon the religious rights of the
citizens. If admitted, it may be justly ap
prehended that the future measures of gov
ernment will be strongly marked, if not even
tually controlled, by the same influence.—
All religious despotism commences com
bination and influence; and when that influ
ence begins to operate upon the political in
sliiutions cf a country, the civil power soon
bends upon it; and the 'catastrophe of other
nations furnishes an awful warning of the
consequences.
Under the present regulations of the post
office department the rights of conscience
are not invaded. Every agent enters volun
tarily, and, it is presumed, conscientiously,
into the discharge ol his duties, without in
termeddling with the conscience ol another.
Post offices are so regulated as that but a
small proportion of the first day of the week
is required to be Occupied in official busi
ness. In the transportation of the mail on
that day no one agent is employed many
hours. Religious persons enter into the busi
ness without violating their own conscience,
or imposing any restraints upon others.—
Passengers in the mail stages are free to
| rest during the first day of the week, or to
pursue their journeys, at their own pleasure.
While the mail is transported on Saturday,
the Jew and the Sabbatarian may abstain
from any agency in carrying it, from consci
entious scruples. While it is transported on
the first day of the week, another class may
abstain from the same religious scruples.—
The obligation of government is the same to
both these classes; ana the committee can
discover r.o principle on which the claims ol
one should be more respected than those of
the other, unless it should be admitted that
the consciences of the minority are less sa
cred than those of the majority.
It is the opinion of the committee that the
subject should be regarded simply as a ques
tion of expediency, irrespective of its religi
ous bearing. In this light it ha 9 hitherto
been considered. Congress have never leg
islated upon the subject. It reßts, as it ever
has done, in the legal discretion of the post
master general, under the repeated refusals
of Congress to discontinue the Sabbath mails.
His knowledge and judgment in all the con
cerns of that department will not be ques
tioned. His intense labors and assiduity have
resulted in the highest Improvement of every
branch of his department. It is practised
only on the great leading mail routes, and
such others e9 are necessary to maintain their
connexions. To prevent this would, in the
opinion of tbe committee, be productive of
immense injury, both in its commercial, po
litical, and, and in its moral bearings.
The various departments ol government
require frequently in peace, always in war,
the speediest intercourse with the remotest
parts of the country; and one important ob
ject of the mail establishment is to furnish
tbe greatest and most economical facilities
for such intercourse. The delay of the mails
one whole day in seven, would require the
employment of special exnreeses, at great
expenee, and sometimes n itb great certain
ty-
The commercial, manufacturing and agri
cultural interests of onr country are so inti
mately connected as to require a constant
and the most expeditious correspondence
betwixt all our seaports, and between them
and the most settlements. The delay of the
mails during the Sunday would give occasion
to the employment of private expresses to
such an amount that probably ten riders
would be employed where one mail stage is
now running on that day ; thus diverting the
revenue of (hat department into another
channal, and sinking the establishment into
a state of pulsilanimily incompatible with
tbe dignity of the government of which it is
a department.
Passengers iil the mail stages, if the mails
are not permitted to proceed on Sunday, will
bo expected to spend that day at a tavern
upon the road, generally under circumstances
not friendly to devotion, and at tbe expense
which many are but poorly able to encoun
ter. To obviate these difficulties, many will
employ extra carriages for their conveyance,
and become ths bearers of correspondence,
as more expeditious than the mail. The
stage proprietors will themselves often fur
nish (he travelers with those means of con
veyances, so that the effect will ultimately
be only to stop (he mail, while the vehicle
which conveys il will continue, and its pas
sengers become the special messengers for
conveying a considerable proportion of what
would otherwise constitute the contents of
the mail.
Nor can the committee disoover where the
system conld consistently end. If the obser
vance of a holiday becomes incorporated in
our institutions, shall we not forbid the
movement of an army, prohibit an assault in
time of war, and lay an injunction upon onr
naval officers to lie in the wind while upon
the ocean on that day ? Consistency would
seem to require It. Nor is it certain we
should stop here. If the principle is onoe es
tablished that religion or religious obser
vances shall be interwoven with our legisla
tive acts, we mu6t pursue it to its ultimatum.
We shall, if consistent, provide for the erec
tion of edifices for the worship of tbe Crea
tor, and for tbe support of Christian minister*,
If we believe such measures will promote
the interests of Christianity. It is the settled
conviction of the committee that the only
method of avoiding these oonsequences with
their attendant (rain of evils, i* to adhere
■triotly to the spirit of tbe oonatitntioD, whioh
[Two Dollars per Annii
NUMBER 42.
f regards ibe general government In no other
- light than that of a civil institution, wholly
- destitute of religious authority.
What other nations call religions toleration
i we call religious rights. They are not exer
cised in"„Urtue of governmental indulgence
but as rights, of which government cannot
deprive any portion of citizens, however
■ small. Despotic power may Invade thdbe
rights, but justice still confirms them. Let
the national Legislature once perform an aot
which involves the decision of a religious
controversy, and it will have passed its le
gitimate'bounds. The precedent will then
be established, and the foundation laid for
that usurpation of the Divine prerogative in
this country which has been the desolating
scourge to the fairest portions of the old world,
i Our constitution recognises no ofhfc? power
j than that of persuasion for enforcing religious
j observances. Let the professors of ChriMi-
I anity recommend their religion by deeds of
benevolence, by Christian meekness, by
lives of temperance and h blifrees. Let theta
combine their effort to instruct the ignorant,
to relieve the widow and the orphsn, to pro
mulgate to the world the Gospel of their Sa
vior, recommending its precepts by their ha
bitual example, government will find its le
gitimate object in protecting them. It can
not oppose them, and they will not need its
aid. Their moral influence will, then, do in
finitely more to advance the true interests of
religion than any measures which they may
call on Congress to enact.
The petitioners do not complain of any in
fringement upon their own rights. They en
joy all that Christians ought to ask at the
hand of any government—protection from all
molestation in the exercise of their religious
sentiments.
Resolved, That the committee be dischar
ged from the further consideration on the sub
jbot.
THANKSGIVING DAV.
Governor Pollock has issued a Thanksgiv
ing Proclamation, in the following style
Pennsylvania, sr.—ln the name and by the
I authority of the Commonwealth of .Pennsyl
vania, Jafacs Pollock, Governor of Com
monwealth:
A PROCLAMATION.
FELLOW CITIZENS A public recognition
of the existence of God, as the Creator of all
things and the Giver of "every good and
perfect gift,'' with a humble acknowledgment
of our oonstant dependence upon the provi
dence of Rim, " who rules in the army of
Heaven aud among the children of men," is
alike the duty and the privilege of a free anil
Christian people.
" He has crowned the past year with his
goodness and caused our paths to drop with
fatness." He has blessed our country with
peace. The Union of the States—our free
institutions—our civil and religious privileg
es—tight of conscience ami freedom of wor
ship have been oontinued and preserved.—
The great interests of education, morality
and religion have been onconrSged and pro
moted—science and art advanced—industry
rewarded—and the moral and physical con*
' dition of the people improved.
The goodness of God has signally blessed
our Commonwealth. War with its desola
tions—famine and pestilence with their hor
rors, have not been permitted to come near
us; and whilst the ravages of disease and
dtath bave afflicted the citizens of other
Stales, we have enjoyed the blessings of
health and unusual prosperity. ThosdaSons
in their annual round, have come and gone,
—"seed time and harvest" have not failed,
—smiling plenty cheers the husbandmen ;
and, surtohuded by the abundant fruits of
autumn, lie rejoiues in the rich rewards of
his toil. "The pastures are clothed with
flocks—the vallej s also covered over with
corn—they shout for joy—they also sing."
Acknowledging with grateful hearts these
manifold blessings of a beneficent Provi
dence, we should "offef unto God thsnksgiv
ing and pay our vows unto the Most High."
Under the solemn conviction ol the impor
tance and propriety of this duty, and in con
formity with the wishes of many good citi
zens, I, JAMES POLLOCK, Governor of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby
appoint Thursday, the 22d day of November
next, as a day of general thanksgiving and
Praise throughout this State ; and earnestly
implore the people that setting aside all
worldly pursuits on that day, they unite in
offering thanks to Almighty God for his past
goodness and meroy, and beseech Him for a
continuance of his blessings.
Given under my hand, ar.d the Great Seal
of the State, at Harrisburg, this 22d day of
October, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five, and of the Com
monwealth the eightieth.
By the Governor.
A. G. CURTIN, Sec. of the Commonwealth.
i ■< pjp
In the year 1784, the Legislature of Penn
sylvania, to abolish the practice then pre
vailing, passed the following resolution, after
considerable opposition :
1 That hereafter no member shall come in
to the chamber barefooted, nor eat bischeese
on the steps of the Capitol.'
BP* " Why don't your father take a news
paper? said a man to a little boy whom he
caught pilfering his paper from his doorstep.
" Coz, be sends me to take it," answered
the urchin.
A remarkably bard drinker, who was ex
piring, begged one ol his friends to bring
him a goblet of water, tellieg him, 'On our
death -beds we must be reeoaoiled to out
enemies.'