The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-03
TALK ABOUT OLD LAWS.
a Volume Which Throws Much Light
on the Ways Of Our Forefathers.
From the Bridgeton a. ~ Nc,cs.

From the Bridgeton (N ~ Nctcs
How they used to do in We olden tyne is
always matter of interest, and we have
before us a quaint and curious little volume
which throws much light on the subject,
particularly from legal standpoint, The
book is quaint in every particular; the sim
piest OF board binding, old time spelling,
etc. 1t was published in 1856. It's contents
are, perhaps, best told by quoting its some
what lengthy title page:
The Code of 1850, beng a compilation of
the earliest laws and orders of the General
Court of Connecticut; also, the constitution,
or civil corlpact, entered into and adopted
by the towns OF Windsor, Hartford and
Wcthersield III 1882. To which is added
some extracts from the laws and judicial
proceeGing,s of New Haven Colony, COM
monty called blue laws"
In the advertisement" which follows the
title page the compiler speaks of the pains
he has gone TO III searching the records and
preserving the ancient photography, and
closes as follows:
ITO this code may be traced the origin of
almost all our civil and religious instltu-
tions. Our ancestors have thus, in great
measure, transmitted to their poSterity
their present customs, manners, and civil
and religious opiAions. The laws were few
and siTlplo, yet they were such as the ext
gencles of tine commonwealth required, and
such as may be supposed TO exist in the in
fancy Of civil governments.
The trOntispiece is q curiosity. II is Ell
tilted, The Constable Selling a Tobacco
Iaker." ii represents one man clutching
another by the throat and exclaiming
Chew tobacco, will youP' Near by is u
mother surrounded by her children. One
child is saying: MAN, dad has catcht a
man chewing tobacco, - 10 which his mother
Is supposed to be replying: MY child, he
will have his deserts" The law in regard
to the using of "tobackon we find upon
page 96, and it is so amusing that we quote
it in full
'Fforasmuch as it is observed that many
abuses are crept in, and committed, by fire.
quent taking of tobacko.
1T is ordered by the authority of this
Courte, That no person under the age of 81
years, nor any other, that hath not already
accustomed himselfe to the use thereof
Shall take any tobacko, until hee has brought
a certificate under the hands of some who
are approved for knowledge and skill in
phisick, that it is USEFUL for him, and also.
that hee hath received lycense from the
court for the same-And for the regulating
of those, who either by their former taking
1t have, to THERE apprehensions, made 1t
necessary tOthem, Or upon due advice are
persuaded to the use thereof,
1t Is ordered, That no man within this
colonye, after the publication hereof, shall
take any tobacko, publiquely, in the street,
highways, or any barne yardes, or upon
training dayes, in any open places, under
the penalty of sixpence for each offence
against this order, in any of the particulars
thereof, to bee paid without gainesayings
upon conviction, by the testimony of one
witness, that is without just exception,
before any one magistrate. And the con
stables in the several townes are required
to make presentment to each particular
courte, of such as they doe understand and
can evict to bee transgresSors of this order "
There are many curiosities Of legal de-
cisions among these records of the old
courts. The capital lawes' are also given,
showing vastly different list from those of
the present tins. Each one is fortified by a
Bible reference, showing the scriptural au
thOrity for the law. We copy one:
IF any man have a stubborne and rebel
lious some of sufficient years and under
standing, viz. Sixteen years of age, which
will not obey the voice of his father or the
voice of his mother, and that when they
have chastened him he will not hearlen
unto them; then may his father and mother,
being his natural parents, lay hold on him
and bring him to the Magistrates assembled
in Courte, and testifie unto them that there
son is stubborne and rebellious and VIII not
obey their voice ard Chastlsement but lives
i'll sundry notorious Grimes, such some
shall bee put to death. Dut, 81, Xxx, XXI"