The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-28

-uickerbocker's New York as a vera
rinus history, since the latter does con-
ain a little truth, while the blue laws
are fictitious from beginning to end
in this the American Historical Record
AIDE reply:
In the year 1855 the general court of
Inc New Haven colony ordered that some
able, judicious and cody man should be
appointed to form q cOCe OF laws for that
colony Governor Eaton was chosen for
that labor. He examined the laws of
Massachusetts and Plymouth, and from
them. and the Discourse on Civil Govern
ment in a New Plantation. by the Rev.
Mr. Cotton also from some unWTitten
statutes in his own colony he compiled
a collection that was satisfactory to his
employers. These were the first printed
laws used there. The sheets were bound
tn blue covers. and were afterwards
known as the Blue Laws of New Haven
hearing date of 1876 They we're quite as
much the blue laws Of Massachusetts. for
they were chiefly re-euactments of the
statutes of that colony. They were the
Jaws of bigots in On age OF bigOtry; and,
iu4ged by Christian ethics now prevail
~ amongst enlightened people appear
Snsxcusably harsh, iutolevant and san
culinary. 1t hardly seems possible that
some OF them should have been in force
.9 n Christian land Il ought to be said,
however. that laws OF the early periods
ir the history Of New York, Maryland,
Virginia, South Carolina and Barbados.
English colonies. were quite as subject
tr charges Of intolerance and bloodthirst-
iuesS rs were the blue laws Of New Ha-
ven ana Massachusetts.
'The Rev. Samuel \. Peters. Connec-
iicut Tory and refugee. published anony-
mously in London. in ISL History Of
Connecticut and gave in it what pIr-
r0rted 10 be a code known as The Blue
Iqws of Connecticut He seems to have
raken some of the most Objectionable ones
from Eaton's code and then added some
dlsgracefui laws, for the purpose of stig-
I'll 81 ts-F
was in a great degree the design Of his
history. so called. It IS difficult 10 sepa-
rate IN. genuine from the spurious blue
laws
The statement that the blue laws were
uurely fictitious and without any other
foundation than the brain of a practical
Joker is far from being correct
Il have in my possession a book pub
Hshed at Hartford. in 1895 that is prob
ably Just what il purpOTts to be in Its
title page-a reprint OF The Code Of 1850
Being a Compilation of the Earliest Laws
and Orders of the General Court Of Con
ncCticut. also. the Constitution or Civil
o. Compact Entered Into and Adopted by
the Towns of Windsor Hartford and
Weathersfield in 1898 and 1893 To Which
Is Added Some Extracts From the Laws
and Judicial Proceedings Of New Ha-
ven Colony. Commonly Called Blue
Laws"
Below are given selections from the
blue laws quoted in this volume. that
were no doubt taken among the most
striking and obnoxious; and I in turn give
such as seem offsprings Of bigotry and
fanatic zeal
Nside from the mingiing Of religious
faratiCism with secular affairs (the pre-
Naling church being in the saddle, ,
and the obsolete and often severe punish
ments melted out to evildoers. these laws
seem to have been framed with an eve to
fne upbuilding OF the community accord
trE to the enlightenment Of the times.
In fauatiCai excess they seem mild COM
cared with the atTOcioUs and bioodthirsty
lrhcugh unwritten) edicts to which during
re carly days OF Utah the adherents OF
The Mormon church bowed down. Say
nothing Of the Mountain Meadow masss-
ere which according to the confession ot
John d Lee was commanded by an or
der ~ the churCh-which then now
dominated. directed and controlled the civ
n government OF Etah-there were in
stances without number OF murderOuS Vio-
Icnce and blood atonement' (ordered)
OF which there are reputed witnesses
stu living. Very many persons OF the
present day. who are neither puritanicai
nor blgoted would rejoice II restrictions
Ike those on the nasty chewing habit.
swearing and the use OF vile language on
the streets. ana gaming were LOW IN
fQrce, and enforced. Also they would
- glad IL the whipping-post and even
f77,Astocxs were revived, for the correction
Of husky Migrants mischief makers. m
corrgibles and petty crImlnals-InanN OF l
whom find the Jail where there IS warmth
on their usual experience in the low es-
tate into which they have fallen, and
premium rather than punishment Tor their
shortcomings. a liking for rum and other
strong water seems to have been an
Inheritance and SO general among the
sanity PIIrftans that prohibition and To-
cal option sentiments were rare amcnE
then. and other than regulating measures
scant action was taken affecting the sale 1
OF liquors
As there seems nothing IN this quaint old
history more suggestive or interesting. ]
maze these several quotations and intro
cvcc them with the Introductory clause o.
n Constitution Of 1888.
Fo-asmuch as it hath pleased the Al
TuightY God, BY the wise disposition OF MS |
divine providence so to order and dis
pose OF things that we the inhabitants
end residents OF Windsor. Hartford and
Westhersfield, are now cohabIting ana
dwelling in and upon the river OF Con
necticutt. and the lands theTeunto ad-
joining. and well knowing when peo-
pic are gathered together the word OF
Cod requires that to meinteine the peace
and union Of such a people there should |