SALEM, (Mass.) Feb. 9, 1829.
_To the Hon. Richard M. Johnson, Chairman of the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads, Washington._
SIR:--The subscribers, a committee appointed at a meeting of the
inhabitants of this town, on the 3d January last, to take such
measures as they may deem expedient to oppose any attempts to
interfere for religious purposes with the transportation of the
Mails and opening the Post Offices on Sunday, have read with
pleasure the report of the Committee of the Senate on that
subject.
Previous to receiving that report, they were about petitioning
Congress--and the public sentiment in this place is so universal
against an interference for religious reasons, that a very
respectable and numerous subscription could readily have been
obtained.--But the report from the Senate represented the subject
in so powerful a light--demonstrated so clearly the want of power
in the government to legislate for the reasons given by the
petitioners, and showed so conclusively, that if they had the
power, they certainly had not the ability to determine for all
the people of the United States, what God's law was--that we
have concluded it would not be necessary at the present session
of Congress to take any further steps in the business. We have
thought, however, that tho' constituting but a small part of the
United States, yet it might not be uninteresting to the
committee, to know how much in accordance with our views are the
sentiments expressed in their report and to assure them for
ourselves, and those whom we represent, that we shall at all
times consider them engaged in the highest and most momentous
acts of legislation, whenever their efforts shall tend to prevent
an interference of the religious with the civil power--all union
between church and state--all attempts of religious zealots to
enforce by law, what _they_ may term divine truth.
You will please to convey to the gentlemen of the committee, our
sense of their proceedings, and for yourself, sir, accept the
assurance of our respectful consideration.
GEORGE CLEVELAND,
GIDEON TUCKER,
DUDLEY L. PICKMAN,
WILLARD PEELE,
PERLEY PUTNAM,
NATHANIEL FROTHINGHAM.
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