The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-07-20
The Blue Laws.

MANY OF our readers who have often
heard Of the Connecticut "Blue Laws"
have probably never had an opportunity
Of perusiug that famous code. The
statutes copied below from an ancient
volume relating to the history Of Amer
lean colonies were enacted by the people
of the "Domiuion of New Haven"
The governor and magistrates con-
vened in general assembly, are the su-
preme power under God, Of this inde.
pendent dominion.
From the determination of the assem-.
bly, no appeal shall be made
The governor is amcnable to .he
voice of the people.
The Governor shall have single vote
in determining any question and a cast
ing vote, when the assembly shall be
equally divided.
Tho assembly of the people shall not
be dismissed by the Governor but shall
dismiss itself.
The judges shall determine contro.
versies without jury.
No Quaker or dssenter from the es.
tablished worship of this dominion, shall
be allowed to give vote for the election
Of magistrates or any other officer.
If any person turn Quaker, he shall
be banished and not suffered to return
on pain of death.
No priest shall abide in the dominion,
he shall be blnished, and suffer death
on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one
without a warrant.
No one shall cross a river, but with
an authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his garden or elsewhere, ex
cept revercntly to aud from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals,
make beds, sweep houses, cut hair, or
shave on the sabbath day.
No womaa shall kiss her children on
the Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a
neighbor's garden shall be deemed
theft.
A person accused Of trespass in the
night shall be Judged guilty, unless he
clear himself by his oath.
When it appears that an accused has
coniederates, and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands without
permission Of the selectmcn.
A drunkard shall have master ap.
pointed by the selcctmen, who are TO
debar him from the liberty of buying
and selling.
Whoever shall publish a lie, to the
prejudice of his neighbors 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 min
lister of the town or parish, shall be fined
by the court IS Id and A. I'd every
quarter, until he or she pay the rate to
the minister.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver or bone lace above 9, per
yard shall be presented by the grand
jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the
offender $4,000 estate.
A debtor in prison swearing he has
no estate, shall be let out aud sold to
make satisfaction.
Whosoever sets fire in the woods
and it burns house, shall suffer death,
and persons suspected of this crime shall
be imprisoned without benefit of bail.
Whoever brings cards or dice iuto
this dominion shall pay a fne of five
pounds.
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas, or set day, eat,
minced pies, dance, play cards, or play
on any instrument OF music, except the
drum, trumpet and jewsharp.
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the Magistrates
shall determine the point.
The selectmen on finding children
ignorant, may take them away from their
parents and put them in better hands at
tue expense OF thelr parents.
Adultery shall be punished with
death.
A man that strikes his wife shall pay
a fine oil ten pounds.
A woman that strikes her husband
shall be punished as the court directs.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence
against her husband.
No man shall court maid iu prison
or by letter, without first obtaining the
consent of her parents; e5 penalty for
the first offence, gl0 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 lis hair cut
round according to a cap.
NorE-Thc above laws were origi-
nally printed on blue paper, on which
account they were called the "Blue