Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-07-28
THE "BLUE LAws.n

1
! ManyOf our readers who have offer
heard of the Connecticut "blue laws. j,
have probably never had an Opportu.
nifty of perusing that famous code
| The statutes copied below, from an an
| cient volume relating to the history OF
| the American colonies, were enacted
| by the people of the Dominion OF
New Haven" :"
The Governor and magistrate con-
vened in General Assembly, are the
supreme power under God, OF the in
dependent dominion.
From the determination of the As
sembly. no appeal shall be made.
The Governor is amenable to the
voice of the people.
The Governor shall have a single
vote in determining any question, and
casting vote when the Assembly shall
be equally divided.
The Assembly of the people shall
not be dismissed hy the Governor, but
shall dismiss itself.
The judges shall determine contro-
versies without jury.
No Quaker or dissenter from the es-
tabiished worship of his dominion
shall be allowed to give a vote for the
election of magistrate or any other of
ficer.
No food or lodging shall be offered
to Quaker or hereto.
If any person turn traitor, he shall
be banished, and not suffered to return
on pain of death.
No priest shall abide in the dOmin-
ion; he shall be banished, and suffer
death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one
without q warrant.
No one shall cross river, but with
an authorized ferryman. .
No one shall run OH the Sabbath
day or walk in his garden, or else
where, except reverently to and from
meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals,
make beds, sweep the house, cut hair,
or shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman 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 neighbours garden shall be deemed |
theft.
A person accused of trespass i'm the |
night must be judged guilty, unless |
he clear himself by his oath.
When it appears that an accused |
has cOnfederates, aud he refuses to |
discover them, he may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands with
out permission of the select men.
A drunkard shall have master |
appointed 10y The select men, who are |
to debar him from the liberty of buy |
ing and selling.
Whoever shall publish lie, TO the |
prejudice Of his neighbOr, shall he set |
in the stocks, or be whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep Il school.
Every rateable person who refuses |
to pay his proportion to support the
minister of the town or parish, shall \
be fined by the court e2 Is. and a 2s.
every quarter, until he or she pay the
rate to the minister.
Whoever wears cloths trimmed with |
gold, silver, or bone lace, above Is. per |
yard, shall be presented by the grand
Jurors, and the select men shall tax |
the offender 30O1. estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has |
no estate. shall he let out and sold to |
make satisfaction,
/
and il burns o house, shall suffer death, |
and persons suspected of this crime |
shall be imprisoned without benefit OF |
bail.
Whoever brings cards or dice into |
these dominiOns, shall pay fine Ofhve |
pounds.
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas, or set days, eat |
pies, dance, play cards, or play
on any instrument of music, except |
the drum, trumpet and jewsharp.
When parents refuse their children
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 the expense Of their parents.
Adultery shall be punished with
death.
A man that strikes his wife shall
pay fine of ten pounds.
A woman that strikes her husband
shall be punished as the court directs.
A wife shall be deemed good evil
dence against her husband.
No man shall court a maid in per-
son or by letter, without first obtain
ing consent of her parents: 60 Is. for
the penalty for the first oflense ElO Is.
for the second: and for the third, inn
prisOnment 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.
T NOTE.-The above laws were Orgl-
nally printed on blue paper, on which
account they were called the Blue