The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-05-23
THE BLUE LAWS.

| The following are few of the famons
old Blue Laws" of Connecticut. They
may be quite curiosity to some of oul
readers, as showing the very lenient anG
tolerant disposition of the Puritan fathers
as they are called. 1t is not to be Won
dered at that the descendants Of thes,
people should be the victims of every spe
cies Of fanaticism, and consign to Topetl
everybody who differs with them on polit
ical or moral questions:
The Governor and Magistrates convened
! in general assembly, are the supreme pow
or under God, of this independent dOmin
! ion. From the determination of the as
sembly, no appeal shall in any instanct
! be made.
Whoever says there is any other powel
and jurisdiction over this dominion, shall
suffer death and loss Of property.
No one shall be a free man or give a vote
| unless he be a member in full commu
Mon with one of the churches allowed il
| this dominion.
No one shall hold any office who is mo-
sound in faith, and faithful to his demon
nation, and whoever gives q vote for such
a person shall pay fine of Dos. for the
| first offense, and for the second shall bc
disfranchised.
Each freeman shall swear by the blessed
God to bear true allegiance to this domin
ion, and that Jesus is the only living anC
true king.
No lodging or food shall be offered to 9
| Quaker, Adamite or any other hereto.
If any person turns Quaker he shall bC
banished, and if he returns he shall suffer
| death.
No priest shall abide in the dominion
| he shall be banished and suffer death OF
| his return.
Priests may be seized by any person
without warrant.
No person shall cross the ferry but witt
an authorized ferryman
No person shall run on the sabbath, o.
walk to the garden or elsewhere; excep
| fervently to and from meeting.
| No person shall travel, cook victuals
make beds, houses, shave or cut hair OF
| the sabbath.
| No woman shall kiss her children OF
! the Sabbath or Fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset OF
Saturday.
None shall buy or sell land without per
| mission of Selectmen.
A drunkard shall have master appoint
ed by the Selectmen, who shall debar hin
the privilege of buying and selling.
| No minister shall keep school
| No person shall court a maid by perso
or letter without first obtaining the cor
sent Of her parents; SIS penalty for tn
first offence, lois. for the second, and fc
the third an Imprisonment during tn
pleasure of court.
Whoever sets fire to wood and burr
a house shall suffer death, and any perso
suspected of this crime shall bear impri
onment without the benefit of bail.
No person shall read common praye
keep Christmas, or Saints Day, max
mince pies, play cards, dance or play an
kind of music, except, trumpet or jev
harp.
No minister shall Join people in ma
riage; the Magistrate only shall join pc
pie in marriage, as they may do it wit
less scandal to Christ's Church.
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriage, the Magistrate is
determine the point
The Selectmen on finding children i
norant, may take them away from the
parents and put them in better hands
the expense of their parents.
Formation shall be punished by cor
polling marriage, or as the Court sha
think proper.
Adultery shall be punished with deaf
A man that strikes his wife shall pay
! fine of lois.
A woman that strikes her husbaI
shall be punished as the Court directs.
A wife shall be deemed good eviden
against her husband.
Married persons must live together
be imprisoned.
Every man shall have his hair cut rour
according to a cap.
Whoever brings cards or dice into tn
dominion shall pay fine of SIS.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed wit
gold, silver or blond lace, above two sh
lings yard shall be punished by Il
Grand Jurors and the Selectmen sha
tax the offender at three hundred poun'
estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing that he Ia
no estate, shall be let out and sold to NAL
I satisfaction.