Phenix Gazette

ALEXANDRIA
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1828

We copy the following article from the Baltimore American, edited by a gentleman well known and esteemed in Alexandria.

Having come to the determination of closing our office, and of suspending all labor in it on the Sabbath day, we deem it proper to inform our readers and advertising friends of the fact.

The custom of working in morning newspaper offices upon the Sabbath, if we mistake not, had its origin in this country at those eventful periods of our history, when our existence as a nation was involved in doubt, and when the receipt of important intelligence presented a plea of necessity for an occasional encroachment on that day. But whatever may have given rise to the custom, it is a melancholy truth that of late years it has become so common, that at present the ordinary labors of the morning newspaper office are prosecuted as regularly on the Sabbath, as on any other day of the week.—

Now we apprehend, and, indeed, feel confident, that every reader who bestows a moment's reflection on the subject, will agree with us, that there can be no necessity for such a state of things; no plea nor excuse whatever for this habitual and regular violation of the Divine Commandment which enjoins us to "keep holy the Sabbath day," and to "do no manner of work" thereon, as plainly as it declares "Thou shalt do no murder." We have endeavoured, for some time past, so to arrange our affairs that as little labour as possible might be performed here on Sunday; but the attempt has proved as might be readily supposed, futile and unsatisfactory; and we have therefore come to the conclusion that it is only by an entire and conscientious suspension of the ordinary business of this office on the Sabbath, that we can be just either to ourselves, or those in our employ. According to this determination, the paper which issues on Monday morning, will be closed on the preceding Saturday night, instead of being kept open for the mails which arrive on Sunday.

Thus enjoying the privileges of the Sabbath in common with all other classes of the community, we shall come to our duties at the opening of the week with renewed energy and zeal for their efficient and faithful discharge. This arrangement, we wish our readers to be assured shall not cause them to be in arrears with any intelligence of interest which the Sunday mails may bring; as it is our intention to issue such intelligence in an extra-sheet, at an early hour on Monday morning.

Our readers must agree with us, that this is an example worthy of imitation. We know not whether we could with safety pursue the same course: we would like to know what our subscribers think of it. There is one suggestion we would take this opportunity of making. and that is the propriety of our advertising customers handing in their favors on Saturday, in the day time, if they wish them to appear on Monday. Printers are compelled to work on THE SABBATH constantly. We hope our friends will consider this.