THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD-- TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
[NEW SERIES----VOL. I.]	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, 1821.	[NO. 24.

      Mr. T's 5th argument is, "That there are political reasons for the observance of the Sabbath." These political reasons are as follows: "Let it be made lawful to labor for the seven days of the week, and the consequence will soon be that the laborer would obtain no more for the labor of seven days than he now does for the labor of six days."¹ A strong argument truly. To keep up the price of labor the rich and poor must keep the "Sabbath." If politicians are to legislate on the observance of "holy times" to enhance the value of labor, it would be good policy to compel the rich and poor to observe the seventh day or Jewish Sabbath, and the First day also; then the number of working days would be reduced to 5, and the price of labor would be enhanced. But what would be done with that class of the community called clergy who generally earn wages 7 days in the week; many of them being farmers, some of them being president's of colleges, store-keepers, &c. who make money every day, but especially on the "Sabbath." But perhaps it would be a sin to diminish the number of their working days, as they are a privileged order. It is however a good rule that works both ways, and perhaps the number of their working days ought to be diminished.

      "In the house of Representatives of Connecticut, May 27th, 1821, an act for the observances of the Sabbath was taken up and debated, mr. Welch said, that we had begun at the wrong end of the commandment--we should enforce that part of it which directs us to labor six days before we enforce the keeping of a Sabbath."

N. H. Patriot.

      I think mr. Welch's opinion is as good as mr. T's and I would recommend mr. T. to consider it. Consistency is the greatest ornament of character, and essentially necessary to recommend our professions, and to demonstrate our sincerity.

      Mr. T's second political reason is, "That the benevolent Author of the Sabbath, we have reason to believe even had respect, in that institution, to the laboring animals, that they might enjoy a periodical relaxation from the toil imposed on them by the tyranny of man." This is surely beating the air. Who does not know that tens of thousands of "laboring animals" which labor six days in the week are also doomed, by the strictest observance of the Sabbath, to carry themselves and their families to meeting, from 2 to 10 miles, and there to stand tied up and deprived of their wonted food. So that they actually suffer more pain on the first day of the week than on any other. Few farmers can keep horses exclusively for the saddle, and it certainly is more wearisome to a horse who works 6 days to be rode on the seventh to the meeting and to be deprived of his regular food, than to do his usual share of labor on working days. Again it is the most zealous part of the community and the most strict Sabbatarians, that are most apt to ride their horses so far & so frequently to meeting, so that so far from the observance of the "Sabbath," as mr. T. pleads, being favorable to the "laboring animals," it is quite otherwise. Mr. T's 5th argument is no more.

      A compulsory observance of the ordinances of Christ is the most incongruous and contemptible thing in the world. It is the quintessence of folly in them who compel, and in those who are compelled. It is in direct opposition to every precept of christianity and even to the constitution of a good civil government. What an insult on christianity, to see an overawed, constrained and intimidated assembly, meeting either to save their fines, or to keep fast, or to maintain the appearance of devotion! How unlike to the true worshippers, who worship in spirit and in truth. The true christian regards the day to the Lord, from a love which constrains to obedience. The language of his heart, his views of the day, his motives of obedience may be learned from the following hymn. It expresses our views of the day and the reasons of the christian's observance of it.

CANDIDUS.      

      P. S. We have read two pieces, we believe both written by Timothy the one signed "Ploto," the other "Lector."² The means employed in those to aid mr. T's cause remind us of an answer which the Jews once gave to one, the latchet of whose shoes we would not have been worthy to stoop down and unloose, when they could not refute his arguments, they said--"Say we not well of thee, thou art a Samaratin and hast a devil.

C.      

[The Reporter, 5 November 1821, p. 4.]