The Hickman courier., 1871-05-06
From the Boston Courier.
The Blue Laws.

have probably never had an opportunity
of perusing that famous code. The ter
ritory now comprised in the State OF
Connecticut was formerly two colonies
Connecticut and New Haven. The colo
ny of Connecticut was planted by emf
grants from Massachusetts, at Windsor,
in 1888, and at Hartford and Wethers-
field in 1886 aud 1886. The other colo
ny, styled by its founders the Dominion
of New Haven. was settled by emigrants
from England in 1888. The two colo
nies were united in 1865.
| The statutes copied below, from an
ancient volume relating to the history OF
the American colonies, were enacted by
4 the people of the dominion of New
i Haven"
Il The governor and magistrates, con.
gened ia general assembly, sa<s tbs<sn'
preme power under God, of this indepen.
dent dominion.
From the determination of the assem-
| bly, no appeal shall be made.
The governor is amenable to the voice
of the people.
The governor shall have single vote
in determining any question, excepr a
casting vote, when the assembly shall be
equally divided.
The assembly of the people shall not
be dismissed by the governor but shall
dismiss itself
Conspiracy against this dominion shall
be punished with death.
Whosoever says there is power and
jurisdiction above and over this domin-
ion, shall suffer death and loss of prop
erty.
Whoever attempts to change OF over
turn this dominion, shall suffer death.
The judges shall determine controyer-
sizes without jury.
No one shall be freeman, or give
vote unless he be converted, aud mem
Der in full communion of one of the
churches allowed in this dominion.
Each freeman shall swear by the bless
ed God to bear true allegiance to this
dominion, and that Jesus is the only
king.
No quaker, or dissenter from the es.
| tablished worship of this dominion, shall
of magistrate or any other officer
No food or lodgings shall be offered
to quaker. adamite. or hereto.
Hany person turns quaker, he shall
be banished and not suffered to return,
but on pain Of death.
No priest shall abide in the dominion;
he shall be banished and suffer death on
his return.
Priests may be seized by any one with
out warrant.
No one to cross river but with an
authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day
or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, ex
/ cept reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals.
make beds, sweep house, cut hair or
shave on Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her ehildrsr on
the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday
To pick an ear of corn growing in
neighbor's garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of trssspass in the
night shall be judged guilty, unless he
clear himself by his oath
When it appears that an accused has
confederates. and he refuses to discover
them, be may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands without
peFulsSIOu VI the SetecIme0.
A drunkard shall have master ap
pointed by the selectmen, who are to de.
bar him from the liberty of buying and
selling.
Whoever publishes lie, TO the preju
dice Of his neighbor, shall be set in the
stocks, or be whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep a school.
Every rateable person who refuses to
pay his proportion to support the minis
ter Of the town or parish, shall be fined
by the court 2 l. and /. every quarter,
until he or she pay the rate to the min
ister
Men stealers shall suffer death.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver or bone lace above IS per
yard, shall be presented by the grand
jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the
offender 800 l. estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has no
estate, shall be let out and sold to make
satisfaction.
Whosoever sets fire in the woods, and
it burns a house, shall suffer death; and
persons suspected of this crime shall be
imprisoned without benefit of bail.
Whosoever bangs cards or dice into
this dominion, shall pay fine of five
pounds.
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas or set days. eat
minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on |
any instrument of music except the drum,
trumpet, and jews harp.
No gospel minister shall Join people |
in marriage. The magistrate only shall
he. IL, 4 -
with less scandal to Christs church.
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrates
shall determine the point
The selectmen, on finding children ig-
norant, may take them away from their
parents. and put them in better hands, at |
the expense of their parents.
Fornication shall be punished by com
pelling marriage, or as the court shall |
think proper.
Adultery shall be punished with death.
A man that strikes his wife shall pay /
a fine of ten pounds.
A woman that 8rikes her husband |
shall be punished as the court directs.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence /
against her husband.
No man shall court maid in person.
or by letter. without FIRST obtaining con
sent of her parents: 5 l penalty for the
first offense; 10 l. for the second; and /
for the third. imprisonment during the
pleasure Of the court.
Married persons must live together or
be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut
round according to cap.
TNoTE-The above laws were origi-
naIly printed on blue paper, on which ac
count they were called the BlueLaus.
THAT was not SO bad joke on the