The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-09-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Blue Laws.

Everybody has heard of the famous
"Blue Laws of Connecticut, though eve
rybody has not seen them. Here they are,
some of them smacking of the widest tyr
ranny, others salutary and worthy of adop-
ton:
The Governor and Magistrates convened
in general assembly, are the supreme pow
er, under God, of this independent domin-
on.
From the determination of the Assem-
bly, no appeals shall be made.
The Governor is amcnable to the voice of
the people.
The Governor shall not have n single
vote in determining any question, except
casting vote, when the Assembly shall be
equally divided.
The Assembly of the people shall not be
dismissed by thy Governor, but shall dis
miss ITSELF
Conspiracy against the dominion shall
be punished with death.
Whoever says there is power and juris-
diction above and over this dominion,
shall suffer death and loss of his property.
Whoever attempts to change or to over
turn this dominion shall suffer death.
The Judges shall determine all contro-
versies without jury.
No one shall be a freeman, or give vote,
unless he be converted, and member in
full communion of one of the churches al
lowed in this dominion.
Each freeman shall swear by the blessed
God to bear true allegiance TO this domin-
ion, and that Jesus is the only king.
No Quaker, or dissenter from the estab-
lished worship of this dominion, shall be
allowed 10 give vote for the election of
magistrates or any officer.
No food or lodging shall be offered to
a Quaker, Adamite, or other heretics.
If any person turn Quaker, Ire shall be
banished and not suffered to return but on
pain of death.
No Catholic priest shall abide in this
dominion he shall be banished, and suf-
fer death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one, with
out warrant.
No one shall cross a river, but with an
authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his garden, or elsewere, except
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
neighbours garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of trespass in the night
shall be judged guilty, unless he clear him
self by his oath.
None shall buy or sell land without the
permission of the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have master appoint
cd by the selectmen, who are to debar him
from the liberty of buying and selling.
Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice
of his neighbor, shall be set in the stocks
or whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep school.
Every rateable person who refuses to
pay his proportion to support the minis
ter of the town, or parish, shall be
fined by the court GA every quarter,
until he or she pay the rate to minister.
Men-stealers shall suffer death.
Whosoever wears clothes trimmed with
gold, silver, or bone lace above 2s per yard,
shall be presented by the grand jurors, and
the selectmcn shall tax the offender $500
estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has no
estate, shall be lot and sold to make salts
faction.
whatsoever sets II fire in the woods, and
it burns a house, shall suffer the death pen
atty; 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 instru-
ment of music, except the drum, trumpet
or jewsharp.
No Gospel minister shall join people in
marriage. The magistrates only shall Join
them in marriage, as they may do 1t with
less scandal to Christ's church.
When parents refuse their children con-
venient marriages, the magistrates shall de-
termine the point.
The selectmen, on finding children ig-
norant, may take them away from their
parents and put them in better hands, at
the expense of their parents.