Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-12
THE BLUE LAWS.
| The Famous Old Laws of the Nutmeg
State-Curious and Interesting.

The Famous Old Laws of the Nutmeg
State-Curious and Interesting
Everybody has heard of the famous
"Blue Laws" of Connecticut, though
everybody has not seen them. Here
they are-some of them smacking of
the widest tyranny, others salutary
and worthy of adoption:
The Governor and Magistrates con-
vened in general assembly are the SUI
preme power under God of this indie
pendent 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 not have single
vote in determining any question, ex-
cept casting vote, when the Assembly
shall be equally divided. -,
The Assembly of the people shall not
be dismissed by the Governor, but shall
dismiss itself.
Conspiracy against the dominion
shall be punished with death.
Whoever says there is power and
jurisdiction above and over this domin-
ion, shall suffer death and loss Of his
property.
Whoever attempts to change or over
turn this dominion shall suffer death.
| The judges shall determine all con-
troversies without a jury.
No one shall be freeman, or give a
vote, unless he be converted, and a
member in full communion of one of
the churches allowed in this 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, or d:ssenter from the
established worship of this dominion,
shall be allowed to give a vote for the
election of magistrates or any officer.
| No food or lodging shall be offered
to a Quaker, Adamite, or other heretics.
If q person turn Quaker, he shall be
baEished and not suffered to return
but on pain of death.
No Catholic priest shall abide in this
dominion; he shall be banished and
suffer death on his return.
Priests may be seized by anyone,
without warrant.
No one to cross river, but with an
authorized ferryman.
| No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, ex-
cept reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook victuals,
make beds, sweep house, cut hair or
shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her children on
the Sabbath or on fasting days.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a
nelghbor'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
confederates, and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
No one shall buy Or sell land without
permission of the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have a master ap-
| pointed by the selectmen, who are to
debar him from the privilege of buying
and selling.
Whoever publishes a lie to the preju-
dice Of a neighbor, shall be set in the
stocks or whipped ten stripes.
| No minister shall keep a 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, and e4 every
quarter, until he or she pay the rate to
the minister.
Men-stealers shall suffer death.
| Whosoever wears clothes trimmed
with gold, silver, or bone lace above Is
per yard, shall be presented by the
grand jurors, and the selectmen shall
tax the offender $500 estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall be let and sold to MAKE
satisfaction.
Whosoever sets a fire in the woods,
| and it burns house, shall suffer DEATH
and persons suspected of this crime
shall be imprisoned without benefit or
bail.
Whosoever brings cards or dice into
this dominion shall pay fine of e5.
No one shall read common PRAYER
books, keep Christmas or set days, eat
mince pies, dance, play cards, or play
on any instrument of music, except
the drum, trumpet and jews-harp.
No Gospel minister shall join people
in marriage. The magistrates only
shall Join them in marriage, as they
may do It with less scandal to Christ's
church. .
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 their parents expense.
An Interesting Relic.
| zr Nunda News.
A tomahawk thai has done service is
now in possession of Norman Seymour,
of Mt. Morris, as secretary of the Liv-