The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-11
R. W. WEAVER, EDITOR
Bloomsbury, Thursday, Oct. II, 1855.
HISTORY OF sUMPTUARY LAWS.

4
be fit for cool reflection and rational counsel.
So let us reason together:-
| II is little more than year ago since the
leaders of the Temperance party sold them
selves 10 TO the Know-No,hiugs, and the cause
of moral security was prostituied to the selfish
purposes Of political partnership. For John.
sion, Cameron, Hamilton and men Of that
class the temperance party was sold in return
for few offices, from q Flour r-Inspeciorship
town 10 poor-overseership. The homes, por-
ton of the temperance men were deluded
and those were sickened with hvpocrilical
cant who had helped to educate and mould
public opinion until the Buckalew law placed
| sound landmarks upon the statute book, and
the Sunday liquor law told that another step
had been taken in the right direction. The
popular will was insulled by The passage Of a
law which was founded on no correct prin-
cipls of morals or public policy, and con-
s.ructed without consistency or the least knowl-
edge OF Jurisprudence. Members of the le-
gislature voted for the law because they had
promised the temperance party 10 do SO in re-
| turn Tor its votes, and not because thoy be.
lieved in any moral principle Of abstinence or
self-denial. Indeed men went for il whose
lives and habits are scandal 10 any prelence
of moral reclitude; and who were delight
ed 10 think that the law would in year be
repealed.
Legislation alone is not moral reform, any
more than definitions and recila,ions in them
selves are learning. There must be stam-
ma behind in the minds of men, ard q spir,
| to inspire, before we can look fo- any good
result. If legislation could create wealth,
labor would become obsolete; and If statutes
alone could make men moral there would no
longer be any need 10 teach and preach.
| Il does not prove that a man is fit for law
maker because he can dive deeper and come
up dirlier than come other man in the cess.
pool Of political profigacy. To legslais WISE
ly requires full knowledge of the human
mind and an integrity that knows no fear
There are many strange corolaries in mental
philosophy. But there are only two ways 10
treat the aggregate mind Of the public. Fl.
ther the virtue and intelligence of the mass
is sufficient guard against the frailly ofhuman
nature in individuals, or the government of
the rulers is the only safety and security TO
"proect' and think for the many, The first
is the basis Of republican fra,ernity-lhe last
the creed oI patriarchal despotism.
II seemed 10 US last winler that very few
il any members of the Legislature were con-
versant with the history Of sumptuary laws.
They are no ''new hing" but as old as the
twelve tables Of ancient Rome which cnn-
lrolled the wastefulness Of prodigals, and
unnecessary expenditure at funerals. The
appetite for luxury increased with dominion
and riches, and sumpiuary laws were from
time 10 time enacted from the 566th year Of
The city down 10 the time of the emperors,
restraining, by severe checks, luxury and ex-
travagance in dress, furniture and food. They
were absurdIy and idly renewed by the most
exlravagant and disspsted rulers-by such
conquerors as Sylla, Julius Cesar and Angus
tus.
During the middle ages, lhesEnglish, French
and other governments were accustomed to
limit, by positive laws, the extent OF private
expenses, entertainments and dress. Some
traces of these sumptuary laws existed in
France as late as the beginning OF the last
century, and in Sweden in the latter part of
il. The statute OF 10 Edw. iii. prescribed
the number of dishes for dinner and supper,
and The quality of the dishes. The wages of
labor and the prices accommodates and econ
omy in dress were regulated by law in the
earliest settlement of thai Massachusetts
colony which buried the witches a, Sa.
lem. In 1778 there were acts of the legis.
lature Of Connecticut and New York limiting
the price of labor, the products Of labor, and
tavern charges. The statute of New York
was suspended within three months after it
was passed, and repealed within the same
year.
10 the Blue Laws the Puritaus with terri.
BILE erseness enacted -" No Quaker shall re-
ceive nonrishment or lodging. Whosoever
shall turn Quaker shall be banished and il
he return be hanged.n The following are
some further extracts from the same code -
"Ayi. xvii. No one shall run on the Lords
day, nor walk in his garden nor elsewhere,
bu, shall only walk 10 and from church wiki
gravity.
Art xviii. No one shall travel, nor cook,
nor make the beds, nor sweep the house, nor
cut hair, nor shave on the Lords day.
Art. XXI. AT are forbidden to read the
Eugiish Liturgy, to keep Christmas, 10 make
mime pies, TO dance, TO play upon any in
slrumenl except the drum: the trumpet, or The
jspshLrp.
Lying was punished with stripes, basphe-
my with pillory; and the use Of tobacco was
rigidly prohibited. "No man shall use to-
bacco without having exhibited 10 the magis-
tra,e certificate signed by physician, set.
ting forth that the pss Of tobacco is necessary
for him. Then he shall receive license and
may smoke. Itis forbidden 10 all nhabi-
tsnts of this colony to use tobacco upon the
hiohwaysD Extracts from the judicial rec.