At a very numerous and respectable meeting of the citizens of
Salem, "_opposed to Legislative interference in respect to the
religious observances of Sunday_," held at the Town Hall, Dec.
27, 1828, PERLEY PUTNAM, Esq., was called to the chair, and Dr.
BENJAMIN KITTREDGE, appointed Secretary.--The object of the
meeting having been stated by the Chairman, it was
_Voted_, That Messrs. George Cleveland, Leverett Saltonstall,
Stephen C. Phillips, John W. Treadwell, Perley Putnam, Nath'l
West, jun., Franklin H. Story, John Crowninshield, Jos. G.
Waters, Charles A. Andrew, David Pingree, and David A. Neal, be a
committee[2] to consider and report at an adjournment of the
meeting, what measures it is expedient to take for the purpose of
carrying into effect the objects of the meeting.
The meeting was then adjourned for one week.
[2] The committee appointed consisted of Episcopalians, Unitarians, and
Universalists.
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At the adjourned meeting on Saturday evening Jan. 3, 1829, the
Committee reported the following Resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:--
_Resolved_, That the observance of Sunday as a day of religious
worship and instruction is eminently adapted to extend the
knowledge and influence of truth and virtue, and thus to improve
the character and increase the happiness of individuals and of
the community.
_Resolved_, That under no circumstances has religion excited such
general interest, as when, not rendered odious by legal
restraints, it has addressed its claims for support to the
understandings and consciences of men.
_Resolved_, That a "_system of regulations_" for the purpose of
enforcing religious observances is opposed to the principles of
religious liberty and to our form of civil government; and it is
to be feared that any attempts to introduce such regulations will
re-act in consequences detrimental to the interests which it may
have been intended to promote.
_Resolved_, That neither the precepts of Christianity nor the
design of religious observances are incompatible with the prompt
and faithful discharge of the various duties which belong to our
social and civil relations; and the urgency of such duties may
frequently render it of importance to every individual to receive
or transmit intelligence with the least possible delay.
_Resolved_, That for the necessary accommodation of the
Government and citizens of this widely extended country, an
arrangement of the mails, by which letters and packages are
forwarded and delivered with the utmost despatch and safety, has
been for a great length of time maintained under the vigilant
superintendence of the Postmaster General; and such arrangement,
while it is productive of innumerable advantages to the
Government and to the citizens, is not allowed to interfere with
the public religious services on Sunday.[B]
_Resolved_, That any change in the present arrangement of the
mails which shall have the effect to subject to increased delay
and hazard the communication between distant parts of the country
is impolitic; and if authorized by Congress for the sole purpose
of enforcing religious observances, will be an exercise of power
for the accomplishment of an object not recognized by the
Constitution, and contrary to its spirit and the intentions of
its framers.
_Resolved_, That if Congress should prohibit the forwarding of
mails and the delivery of letters on Sunday, individuals and the
Government will be obliged to resort to such temporary
arrangements for transmitting intelligence as their respective
exigencies may require; and such temporary arrangements, while
they will be attended with increased expense, will be productive
of far greater inconvenience and disturbance to the religious
public, than can justly be complained of under the present
system.
_Resolved_, That a committee be appointed, who shall be
instructed to prepare a memorial to Congress expressive of the
views of this meeting, whenever in their opinion, circumstances
shall render it expedient to present such memorial; and such
memorial shall be submitted by them for approbation, at a meeting
to be called for that purpose.
_Resolved_, That the committee appointed in conformity to the
foregoing resolution, shall be authorized to call future
meetings, to correspond with citizens of other towns, and
generally to take such measures as they may deem expedient for
the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of this meeting.
The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to perform the
duties specified in the two last resolutions, viz. George
Cleveland, Dudley L. Pickman, Willard Peele, Perley Putnam,
Philip Chase, Stephen White, Gideon Tucker, Nath'l Frothingham,
Stephen C. Phillips. The Committee was authorized to fill any
vacancies that may occur in their number.
_Voted_, That an attested copy of the proceedings be published in
the several newspapers in this town, and in one or more of the
newspapers in the city of Washington, and that an attested copy
be also forwarded to the Post Master General.
The meeting was then dissolved.
PERLEY PUTNAM, _Chairman_.
BENJ. KITTREDGE, _Secretary_.
[B] _Extract from Regulations respecting Post Offices_.--"At Post
Offices where the mail arrives on Sunday, the office is to be kept
open for the delivery of letters, &c. for one hour or more after
the arrival and assorting of the mail; but in case that would
interfere with the hours of public worship, then the office is to
be kept open for one hour after the usual time of dissolving the
meeting for that purpose."
A very large meeting of citizens of New York, opposed to the
proposition to discontinue the mails on Sunday, was held at New
York this week. A similar meeting has also been held at Boston.
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