The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-09
Blue Laws of Connecticut.

| The following abstract of the ancient
| Blue Laws of Connecticut will prove in
! teresting to many of our readers:
The Governor and magistrates con.
vened in general assembly, are the su
preme power under God of this inde.
pendent dominion. From the deter.
minatiOn of the assembly no appeal shall
be made.
Whoever says there is a power anG
jurisdiction above and over this dOmin'
ion, shall suffer death and loss of prop.
erty.
Conspiracy, attempting to change OF
Overturn this dominion, shall suffer
death.
The judges shall determine controver.
sy without a. jury.
No one shall be freeman, or give q
vote, unless he be converted, and mem.
Der in full communion with one of the
churches allowed in this dominion.
No man shall hold any office who is
not found in the faith, andfaithful to his
dominion; and whoever gives a vote tC
such person, shall pay fine OF twenty
shillings for the first offence, and for the
second he shall be disfranchised.
Each freeman shall swear by the bless
ing OF God to bear true allegiance to his
dominion, and that Jesus is the only
King.
No Quaker or dissentcr from the wor-
ship of the established dominion shall
be allowed to gives vote for the election
of magistrates or any officer.
No food or lodging shall be afforded a
Quaker, Adamite, Or other hereto.
II any person turns Quaker, he shall
be banished, and not suffered to return
but on point of death.
No priest shall abide in this dominion
he shall be banished, and suffer death on
his return. Priests may be seized by any
without a warrant.
No one is to cross ferry, but with an
authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in the garden, or elsewhere, ex-
Cept reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals, cut
hair, or shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child 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 during
the night shall be judged guilty, unless
he clear himself by his oath.
w hen it appears that an accused has
confederates, and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
No one shall buy or sell lands without
permission of the selectmen.
Whoever publishes lie to the preju-
dice of his neighbOr, shall sit in the
stocks or be whipped fifteen stripes.
Whoever brings cards or dice into this
dominion shall pay a fine of G5.
whoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver, or bone lace, above two shil-
lings by the yard, shall be presented by
the. grand jurors, and the selectinen
shall tax the offender at E300 estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing hehas no
estate, shall be let out, and sold to make
satisfaction.
Whoever sets fire in the woods and
burn a house, shall suffer death and
persons suspected Of this crime shall be
imprisoned without benefit of bail.
No one shall read common prayer,
I~eep Christmas or saints days, make
minced pies. play cards, or play an in
strument of music, except the drum,
trumpet and jews harp.
No gospel minister shall join people
in marriage; the magistrates only shall
join in marriages, rs they may do it with
less scandal to Christ's Church.
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrate
shall determine the point.
Adultery shall be punished with death.
Fornication shall be punished by com
pelling marriage, as the court may direct.
A man that strikes his wife shall pay
q tine OF 41O; woman that striks her
husband shall be punished ut the dis
CretiOn of the court,
No man may court a maid in person,
or by letter, without first obtaining the
consent of her parents. G5 penalty for
the first offence; 21Of0r the second and
the third, imprisonmentd during pleasure.
Married persons must live together, or
be imprisoned.
Every male shall have his hair cut
round, suiting to a cap.