Litchfield enquirer., 1862-02-06
COLONIAL LAWS.


 Steel to steel, cling-clang! ---~ e-~-- COLONIAL LAWS.
 The early laws of Connecticut have been the occasion of much comment. Some of them were stringent, but their aim was good order good morals, and the best good of the citizen | Many of the laws were called forth by the pe- culiar exigencies of the times. Here Is an early law of the colony.
 GUARD AT MEETING.
 "N is ordered by Mis Cou,te, That there shall bee guard of twenty men every sabbath and lecture day, compleat in theire armes, in each several towne upon the river and at Sea brooke and farmington eight a piece; each town uppon the sea side in this jurisdiction, ten; and as the number of men increase in the townes, there guards to increase. And it is further that each man in the guardes aforesaid shall be allowed halfe pound of powder yeare- ly, by their several townes.'' Here was law for
 ''His ordered etc., That no person howse- holder or other shall spend his time idley or un- proftably under pain of such punishment as the courte shall thinke meete to infict, and for this end it is ordered that the constable of every place shall use speciall care and diligence to take knowledge of offenders in this kinde, espe- cialy of common coasters, unproGtable fowlers and tobacko takers"
 1NNKEEpERs. "That no person licensed for common enter tainment shall suffer any to be drunken or drink excessively, viz, above half a pynte of wyne for one person, at one time, or to continue tipplng above the space of halfe an hour, or at unsea. sonable times, or after of the clock at night in or about any of their howses on penalty of five shillings." The victim was fined ten shillings, " if hee bee thereby disabled in the use of his understandings" For "excessive drinkinge" where reason was not dethroned, 3s. 4d For tibbling at unreasonable times or after o'clock, 5s. And if these fines were not paid, then fol- lowed imprisonment and settinge in the stocks in some public place from one to three hours"
 For the second offence double fynes, for the third trebble fynes and ten lashes. The fourth time these penalties and imprisonment till two sufficient sureties are pledged for their good be. havior.
 l "That every person of the age of discretion which is accounted fourteene yeares who shall willingly and willingly make or publish any lye which may be pernicious to the public veal, or tending to the damage or injury of any particu- lar person, to abuse the people with false newes or renortes, such person shall be fyned los, and if unable to pay shall be sett in the stocks not over three hours. For the second offence 50s twenty stripes, and so los. additional for each offence, and not more than forty stripes Chil- dren under l4 years SO violating to be we'll cor rected in the presence of the magnates." | The reporters of that day must have had . sorry time of it, if they reckless of state. ments as they are now.
 "MILIrARY AFFAIREs. "That all the soulgers within this iurissdic ton shall be trained at least six times yearly, in the months of March. April, May, September, October, and November, by the appointment of the captain or chefe officer in the several townes"
 "There shall be magazine of powder and shott maintained in each towne, viz, ! Wyndsor l-2 barrills powder, 450 pounds lead, 100 fathom match and cotton coates or corseletts, and seryiceable pikes to either of them.
 Hartford 2 barrills powder, 600 lbs. lead, 6 score fathom match and 20 cotton coates or 1 them.
 | Pequott halfe barrill, &c. 1 And every male person above the age of 16 years, whether magistrate, minister or any other, shall have in readynes by them halfe pound of powder, two lbs. serviceabe bullitt, or shott, and two fathom match to every match lock, upon penalty 5s. month"
 PRoFANE SWEARING. "For every such offence he shall forfeitt to the common treasure los. or in default of pay meut from to hours in the stocks" "scHooLEs.
 ct being one chiefe project of that old delu- der Sathan to keep men from knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times keeping them in an unknowne tongue, so in these latter times by perswading them from the use of tongues, 50 that at least the true seuce, and many of the originall might be clowded with false glosses of salt seeming deceives; and that learning may not be buried in the grave of our forefathars in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting us in our endearors: It is ordered, &c." 'ToBAcxo. "fforasmuch as it is observed that many ahu. sss are crept in and committed by freuuent ta. king of tobacko, It is ordered that uo person under the sge of twenty.one years, nor any other that hath not alreadge accustomed himself to tha use thereof, shall taes any tohaeko until he haths brought under the hands of some that ar. approved for knowledge and skill in physic that it is usefull to hlm, and also that he. hathe re- ceived alycenca from the courte for the same, tis ordered. That no man within the colonye shall take t0baeko puhlikuely in the streett- highwayes or barne yardes. or upon training dayes, in any open places upon paine of 63 1yne for each offence in any particular thereof 70 oe paid without gainsay.ngs upon convlc1ion' Gc
 Notwithstanding some of these are denomanae e ted Blue Laws, yet it is singular now many oI the old Puritan laws. have come down 10 us d. [most verbatim. It shows that the general legls. ilatIon of our forefathsrs has stood the test Of tcenmatious, though few stringent laws nave had to be modified