Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-02
THE BLUE LAWS.

Many OF our readers who have offer
heard of the Connecticut "blue laws >
have probably never had an opportunity
of perusing that celebrated code. The
| territory now comprised in the State OF
/ Connecticut was formerly two colonies
! Connecticut and New Haven. The col.
| ony of Connecticut was planted by emf.
| igrants from Massachusetts and Wind
! sor, in 1858, and Hartford and Weathers-
| field, in 1635-36 The other colony.
styled by its founders the dominion OF
I New Haven was founded by emigrants
! from England, in 1868. The two colonies
were united in 1865. The statutes copied
| below, from an ancient volume relating
/ to the history of the American colonies.
were enacted by the people of the 'Do-
miniOn Of New Haven.u and being
on blue paper came to be known as blue
laws: III
The Governor and Magistrate conven-
ed in General Assembly, are the supreme
power, under God, Of this independent
dominion.
From the determination Of the Assem-
bly, no appeal shall he made.
The Governor. is amenable to the voice
of the people.
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.
Whoever says there is power and ju-
risdiction above and over this dominion
shall suffer death and loss of property.
Whoever attempts to change or over
turn the dominion shall suffer death.
The Judges shall determine no cOntro-
veTsies without jury.
No one shall be a freeman, or give q
vote, unless he be converted and a mem
Der Of one of the churches allowed in the
dominion.
Each freeman shall swear by the
blessed God to bear true allegiance to
this dominion and that Jesus is the only
king.
No Quaker, no dissenter from the es-
tablished worship of this dominion,
shall be.allowed to give vote for the
election Of magistrates or any other Of
fieer.
No food or lodgings shall be offered to
Quaker Adamits or hereto.
If any person turns Quaker be 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 a warrant.
No one to cross a river but an author
lied ferryman.
. No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, ex-
cept reverently, to and from meeting.
No oue shall travel, cook vietuals,
make beds, sweep house, cut hair or
shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her children on
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 tresspass in the
night shall be judged guilty, unless he
clears himself by his oath.
When il appears that the accused has
confederates, anu he refuses to discover
them, he may be Tacked.
None shall buy or sell lands without
permission of the selectmen.
A drunkard may have a master ap-
pointed by the seleetmen, who are to
bar him from the liberty Of buying and
selling.
Whoever publishes lie, to the pref
udice Of his .neighbor, shall be set in
stocks, or be whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep a school.
Every ratabie person who refuses to
pay his proportion to support the minis
ter of the town or parish, shah be fined
by court fifty-one pence and foTty-one
every quarter until he or she
pay the rate of the minister
Men stealers shall suffer death.
Whoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver or bone lace, above one shil- !
ling per yard, shall be presented by the |
grand jurors, and the selectmen shall !
tax the offender three hundred pounds |
estate.
4 debtor in prison, swearing he has |
no estate, shall be let out, and sold to |
make satisfaction.
Whoever sets a fire in the woods, and |
il burns house, shall suffer death; and |
persons suspected Of this crime shall be |
without benefit Of bail.
Whoever brings cards OF dice into this /
dominion shall pay a fine of five
pounds.
No one shall read common prayer
books, keep Christmas or set days, eat
nince pies, dance, play cards, or play
iIy iusGuLHtub Oh music except the
irum, trumpet and Jew's harp.
No gospel minister shall join people In
marriage. The magistrate only shall
orn people In marriage, as he may DO it
With less scandal to Christ's church.
When parents refuse their children
onyenient marriages the magistrate
hall determine the point
The seleetmen, on finding children fg-
lorant, may take them away from their
,arents, aud put them in better hands
It the expense of the parents.
Fornieation shall be punished by COM
leliing marriage, or as the court shall
hink proper.
Adultery shall be ppnished with
leath.
A man that strilses his wife shall pay
. fine OF ten pounds.
A woman that strikes her husband
hall be punished as the law directs.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence
against her husband.
No man ahall court maid IN person
n bs lsstsr, without frst obtaining son