The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-31
THE BLUE LAWS.

but in reality are the laws governing the
New Haven Plantation. which formed a
part of the present state of Connecticut
the colonies of New Haven and Connecticut
being united in 1885. Whether the name
comes from the laws being printed on blue
paper, or was applied in derision, with a
meaning similar to some of the slang words
of to-day. is uncertain but that the name
finally applied to the rel gious sentiment of
the time which we find ingrafted into these
crude laws there can be no doubt. There
is much Of interest in these rules for the
government of people whom many per-
sons now living are glad to claim as an
cestOrs. Let he who laughs at their strange
declarations pause and think whether there
is not little of their spirit in existing laws.
and whether the process of elimination
might not 90 on for another two hundred
years and still fail to reach a perfect code.
The natural disposition of the American
people is to accept a law as right without
applying it to the same test of reason that
scrutniZes our common affairs of life. A
little more reason and little less of the Old
spirit of persecution would result in general
good to our nation:
The governor and magistrates convened in gen.
eral assembly are the supreme power, under God,
OF this independent dominion.
The governor is amenabIe to the voice of the
people.
The assembly of the people shall not be dis
kl>a
Conspiracy against this dominion shall be pun
ishable with death.
Whoever says there is power and jurisdiction
above and over the dominion shall suffer death
and loss of property.
Whosoever attempts to change or overthrow the
dominion shall suffer death
Judges shall determine no controversy without
jury.
No one shall be freeman give a vote unless
he be converted and member of one of the
churches allowed in the 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 dssenter from the established
worship of this dominic shall be allowed to give
a vote for the election of a magistrate or any
other officer.
NO IOOQ or lodgings snail be OftereQ to en-
Adamite or hereto.
If any person turns Quaker he shall be ban
ished, and not suffer ed to return of death.
No priest shall abide in the Kingdom. He shall
be banished and suffer death on his return.
Priests may be seized by any one without a war
rant.
No one shall cross river the Sabbath unless
regularly authorized clergyman.
No shall run or walk in his garden, or else
where, except reverently to and from meeting.
No shall travel. cook victuals, make beds
sweep house, cut hair or shave on the Sabbath
day.
No woman shall kiss her children on the Sab
bath fasting days.
The sabbath shall begin at sunset on saturday.
To pick an ear of corn growing in neighbors
garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of trespass in the night shall
be adjudged guilty, unless he clears himself by
his oath.
When it appears that the accused has confed-
crates, and he refuses to disclose them he may
be racked.
None shall buy or sell lands without permission
of the selectmen.
A drunkard shall have master appo inted by
the selectmen, who is to bar him from the liberty
of buying and selling.
Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice of his
neighbor, shall be set in the stocks be whipped
ten stripes.
No minister shall keep school.
Man steaers shall suffer death
WhOsoever clothes trimmed with gold
silver, bone lace above one shilling per yard,
shall be presented by the grand jurors. and the
selectmen shall tax the offender 500 l. estate.
dohfOr in nris bo
shall be let out and sold to make satisfaction
Whosoever sets fire in the woods. and it burns
a house shall suffer death: and persons suspected
of the crime shall be imprisoned without the bene-
fit of bail.