Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-31
The Blue Laws.

Many of our readers who have often
heard of the Connecticut "blue laws"
probably never had an opportunity of
perusing that celebrated code. The ter
ritory now comprised in the state of Con-
necticut was formerly two colonies, Con
necticut and New Haven. The colony
Of Connecticut was planted by immi-
grants from Massachusetts and Windsor
in 1888, and Hartford and eathersfeld,
1635-S6. The other colony, styled by
its founders the dominion of New Haven,
was founded by emigrants from Eng
land, in 1888. The two colonies were
united in 1866. The statutes copied be-
low, from an ancient volume relating to
the history of the American colonies,
were enacted by the people of the DO
minion of New Haven" and being
printed on blue paper came to be known
as the blue laws:
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 assem-
bly, no appeal shall be 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.
Whosoever says there is power and
Jurisdiction above and over this domin-
ion, shall suffer death and loss of prop
erty.
Whoever attempts to change or over
turn the dominion, shall suffer death.
The judges shall determine no contro-
VERSES without jury.
No one shah be 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 bless.
ed God to bear true allegiance to this
dominion, and that Jesus in the only
king.
No Quaker, no dissenter from the es.
tablished worship of this dominion, shall
be allowed to give vote for the electine
OF magistrates or any other officer.
No food or lodging shall be offered tc
Quaker, Adamite or hereto.
If any person turns Quaker he 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 beseized by any one with
out warrant.
No one to cross river but an author
lied ferryman.
No one shall run on the Sabbath dav
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 OF
shave on the Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her children OF
Sabbath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin at sunset OF
Saturday.
10 pick an ear of corn growing in I
neighbours garden shall be deemed theft
A person accused of trespass in tn,
night shall be judged guilty, unless h,
clears himself by his oath.
When it appears that the accused hai
confederates, and he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands withou
permission from the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have a master an
pointed by the seleetmen, who are to ba,
him from the liberty of buying and sell
ing.
4 Whoever publishes lie to the preiu
dice of his neighbor, shall be set in tn,
stocks or be whipped ten stripes.
No minister shall keep a school.
Every ratable person who refuses {,
pay his proportion to support the minis
ter OF the town or parish, shall be finec
lby court old. and Ais. every quarter