Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-05-27
THE BLCE LAWS.

Many of our readers vino have often
heard Of the Connecticut "blue laws"
have probably never had an oppOrtu-
nifty of perusing that famous code.
The statutes copied below, from an
ancient volume relating to the history
of the American colonies, were enact
ed by the people Of the Dominion 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 tie A..
sembly, no appeal shall he made.
The governor is amenable to the
voice of the people.
The Governor shall have u single
vote in determining any question and
a casting vote, when the assembly
shall he equally divided.
The 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 dissenter from the es-
tablished worship Of this dominion,
shall he allowed to give vote for the
election of magistrate or any other
officer.
No food or lodging shall be offered
to a quaker, Adamite, or hereto.
If any person turn quaker, he shall
I've banished and not suffered TO return
on pain of death.
No priest shall abide in the domin-
ion; lie shall be banished, and suffer
death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one
without 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 house, lut 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 All ear of corn growing in a
neighbor's garden shall be deeIassdd,
theft.
Aperson accused of trespass i'll 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 discOv-
er them, he may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands without
permission of the selectmen.
4 drunkard shall have master APP
pointed by the selectmen, who are to
debar him from the liberty of buying
and selling.
Whoever shall publish lie, to the
prejudice 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 proportions to support the min
lister OF the town OF parish, shall he
fined 10y the court /. and 4 = every
i. quarter, unit he or she pay the rate
to the minister.
Whoever wears cl0thr, trimmed
with gold, silver or bone lace above 2~.
per yard, shall he presented by the
grand jurors, and the selectmen shall
tax the offender 800 |. estate.
\ debtor in prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall lie let out and sold to
make satisfaction.
Whosoever sets a fire in the woods
and ii burns Il house, shall suffer death;
and persons suspected OF this crime
shall he imprisoned without benefit of
bail
Whoever brings cards OF dice into
this dominion, shall pay fine of five
pounds.
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas, or set days,
minced pies, dance, play cards, orplay
: on any instrument of music, except
/ the drum, trumpet and jewsharp.
f When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the Magistrates
shall determine the point.
The selectmen on finding children
ignorant, may take them away from
:heir parents and put them in better
hands, at the expense of their parents
Adultery shall he punished with
ieath.
A man that strikes hi, wife shall
pay fine of ten pounds.
A woman that strikes her husband
shall he punished as the court directs
: 4 wife shall he deemed good evi
dence against her husband.
No man shall court a maid in per
, son Or by letter, without first obtaining
consent of her parents: ; |. penalt,
for the first oilense; 10 !. for the see
; Ond; and for the third, Imprisonment
during the pleasure of the court.
Married persons must live togcthc
or be imprisoned.
a Every male shall have his hair Gu
: round according to a cap.
: [NOTE.-The above laws were ori
1 ginally printed on blue paper, on whicl
i account they were called the Blu
p Laws"