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."
VOL. II. NO. 41	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, MARCH 5th, 1821.	WHOLE NO. 93.

Mr. Editor,

      The concluding argument which Mr. Candidus brings forward in support of his theory is "that no prophet nor apostle, no inspired man in old or new testament times, ever dropped a word against Sabbath-breakers, among any other nation than the Jews. Amongst all the sins that proved the ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon and Ninevah, Greece and Rome that of Sabbath profanation is never mentioned. Nor was it until Constantine married the church and state that a civil law was passed requiring from all ranks and degrees of men a civil respect to this institution." ¹ It does appear as if Mr. Candidus, not contented with having advanced the truly wonderful doctrines which we have already noticed, intended to conclude his observations, with something that should quite amaze and confound his readers. The point to be proved by Mr. C is, that the laws of our state respecting vice and immorality are bad laws. How does he expect to bring the facts adduced in the above passage to bear upon this point? Oedipus himself could scarcely conjecture. Had he stated that "no inspired man ever dropped a word" about building bridges, making turnpike roads or digging canals, though we should admit the fact, we would not be greatly edified by the information, nor would it go far to support the point which Mr. C. has undertaken to establish. As irrelevant to the point in dispute are the facts he has stated. Coming from any ordinary writer, we should be entirely at a loss what to make of them, but Mr. C. has been so long writing in the papers, that we have become somewhat acquainted with his mode of argumentation. By the light which this circumstance affords us, we guess, that Mr. C. has intended the above statement to stand for the major proposition of a syllogism, leaving it to the reader to supply the minor and the conclusion, briefly

      Thus, it was no sin in the antient heathen nations to violate the Sabbath.

      But Pennsylvania is a heathen nation:

      Therefore it is no sin in Pennsylvanians to violate the sabbath, curse, swear and get drunk! Archimedes said "dos pou sto, give me a place to stand upon--and I will move the earth." Our logical Archimedes is never at a loss for the "pou sto" the place whereon to rest his lever.

      But, did Mr. C. really hope, that his reader would not be able to supply the maxim "They that have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law" and consequently to see, that there can be no just reasoning from the case of a people destitute of the light of revelation to the case of a people who possess it? Did he not perceive that every boy of ten years old, who read his essays, would be ready to say to him "Tell me nothing of what the inspired men of the old and new testament times said respecting the heathen, but what they said respecting that nation who enjoyed the light of divine revelation," and that on this ground he would be able to refute him with the following and innumerable other like passages, "If ye 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 Sabbath day: then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." Jer xvii. 27.

      Mr. C. has also mentioned it as a fact "worthy to be noted" that it was not "until Constantine married the church and the state, that a civil law was passed requiring a civil respect to the Sabbath." Yes! remarkable indeed, that Nero who made use of christians as torches to illuminate the city of Rome, and the other bloody persecutors who filled the imperial throne did not enact laws similar to these of our state respecting vice and immorality! "worthy to be noted," that the christians, who before Constantine had no more share in the government of the Roman empire than the blacks of Virginia have in hers, did not make laws enforcing the civil observance of the Sabbath! Worthy to be noted! Aye, Mr. Candidus, as worthy to be noted as this your declaration respecting it--for its acuteness. As for marrying the church and state, we hope, we are quite as much opposed to it as Mr. Candidus. But marrying church and state is one thing and enacting laws against profane swearing, gaming, drunkenness and sabbath breaking is another thing.--Thus have I gone through the examination of Mr. C's 9th No. which contains a summary of his views on the subject of our laws respecting vice and immorality. My review has not been tedious, but it has made me sick, tired, disgusted: and I am glad it is finished. Doubtless Mr. C. will take up his pen once more, but I am resolved to make no reply except to state a single sentiment for the use of Mr. Candidus himself. I have not intentionally treated any of his arguments with any unfairness. The public must judge for themselves.

[The Reporter, 5 March, 1821, p. 1.]