Daily Alta California, Volume 23, Number 7827, 27 August 1871 — VIRGINIA. [ARTICLE]

VIRGINIA.

Some of the Blue Laws of Connecticut

and the Old Dominion.

Virginia was styled the "Old Dominion," because, during the Protectorate of Cromwell, something like an attempt was made to invite Charles II., it is said, then a refugee, to establish an independent dominion within her territory. Many of the socalled " blue laws " of Virginia are, in their way, as laughable as those of any other of the colonial governments. We may well wonder if posterity will laugh at us in future time, twenty years from now. as we love, in the present generation, to poke fun at our ancestors, or rather, as we should say, at our neighbors' ancestors.

Well, the :" blue laws" of Virginia—these are a few extracts : In 1610, attendance at church twice every Sunday was enjoined, " upon pain for the first fault, to lose their, provisions and allowance for the whole week following; for the second, to lose said allowance and also to be whipped:, and for the third, to suffer death. The laws were subsequently modified as follows, the Governor publishing several edicts : "That every person should go to church Sundays and holidays, or lie neck and heels, that night, and be a slave to the colony the following week ; for the second offence, he should be a slave for a month; for the third, a year and a day."

I do wish we had such a funny law in our time It would make the lazy folks get up early in the morning on Sunday.

1662 — "Every person who refuses to have his child baptized by a lawful minister (of the Church of England) shall be amerced 2,000 pounds of tobacco The whole liturgy of the Church of England shall be thoroughly read at church or chapel every Sunday."

1653 —"If any Quakers or other separatists whatsoever in this colony assemble themselves together to the number of five or more, of the age of sixteen years or upward, under the pretence of joining in a religious worship not authorized in England or this country, the parties so offending shall forfeit and pay for the first offence five hundred pounds of tobacco, and for the third offence shall be banished front the colony." Puritanical intolerance, indeed Mr Royalist !

They did not let people travel on Sundays in Connecticut. They tell amusing stories about the selectmen stopping people on the highways there in ancient times. Well, they did nothing of the sort in Virginia ! Of course not. Let us see :

1662—" Enacted, That the Lord's day be kept holy, and no journeys be made on that day, unless upo necessity. And all persons inhabiting in the country, having no lawful excuse, shall every Sunday resort to the parish church or chapel." Good ; this was jolly. Again :

"The Court in every county shall cause to be set up near the Court House a pillory, a pair of stocks, a whipping-post and a ducking-stool, in such place as thty shall think convenient; which not being set up within six months after the date of the Act, the said Court shall be lined 5,000 pounds of tobacco." Funny, decidedly; but the funniest part of this tale is the ducking or ducking-stool. This was a sort of a long beam or pole, moving on a pivot at the middle and having a seat fastened at the further end, wherein a scolding woman being placed, was conveniently let down and ducked in a pond or stream of water.

This was a favorite pastime of the royalists in early days. I have never discovered that the Puritans practiced it in New England. Not they. They were too straight-laced for any such amusements. And the method of punishing scolds was introduced into the city of New York by the royalists of England — most ungallant fellows:— and not by the Dutch, and the practice prevailed there for a long period. There is a city ordinance that one be erected as early as 1692. The machine then stood on the wharf in front of the old Stadt Huys of City Hall in Coenties' slip.

But one more and I have done,

1679 — " The first offence of hog stealing shall be punished according to the former law— to pay 1,000 pounds of tobacco, and, in case of inability, serve two years ; upon a second conviction, the offender shall stand two hours in the pillory and lose his ears; and for the third offence, he shall be tried by the laws of England, as in case of felony." The following is a transcript of some sections of the primitive judicial code which existed in the State of Connecticut during the time of its first settlers and their immediate descendants, and known as the "Blue Laws of Connecticut:" 1. Tho Governor and Magistrates convened in General Assembly are the supremo power, under God, of this independent dominion. 2. Erona the determination of the Assembly no appeal shall be made.

3. The Governor is amenable to the voice of the people. 4. The Governor shall have only a single vote in determining any question, except a casting vote, When the Assembly may be equally divided. 5. The Assembly of the people shall not be dismissed by the Governor, but shall dismiss itself.

6. Conspiracy against the dominion shall be punished with death.

7. Whoever says "There ia a power holding jurisdiction over and above this dominion," shall be punished with death and loss of property. 8. Whoever attempts to change or overturn This dominion shall suffer death.

9. The judges shall determine controversies with out a jury.

10. No one shall be a freeman or give a vote unless he be converted or a member in lfull communion of one of the churches allowed in this dominion. 11. No one shall hold any office who is not sound in the faith, and faithful to this dominion; and whoever gives a vote to such a person shall pay a line of one pound. For the second offence he shall be disfranchised.

12. No Quaker or Dissenter from the established worship of this dominion shall be allowed to give a vote for the election of Magistrate or any officer. 13. No food and lodginps shall be allowed to a Quaker, Adamite or other heretic. 14. If any person shall turn Quaker he shall be banished, and not suffered to return on pain of death.

15. No Priest shall abide in this dominion. He shall be banished and suffer death on his return. Priests may be seized by any one without a warrant. 16. No one shall cross a river but with an authorized ferryman.

17. No one shall run of a Sabbath Day, or walk in his garden or elsewhere, except reverently to and from church.

18. No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep houses, cut hair, or shave on the Sabbath Day. 19. No woman shall kiss her child on Sabbath or fasting day.

20. A person accused of trespass in the night shall be judged guilty, unless he clears himself by oath. 21. When it appears that an accomplice has confederates, and he refuses to discover them, he may be racked.

22. No one shall buy or sell l lands without the permission of the selectmen.

23. A drunkard shall have a master appointed by the selectmen, who is to debar him the privilege of buying or selling.

24. Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice of his neighbors shall sit in the stocks or be whipped fifteen (15) stripes. 25. No minister shall keep a school.

26. Man-stealers shall suffer death.

27. Whoever wears clothes trimmed with silver or bone lace above two (2) shillings a yard, shall be presented by the grand jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at the rate of three hundred (300) pounds estate. 28. A debtor in prison, swearing he has no estate, shall be let out and sold to make satisfaction.

29. Whoever sets fire to the woods, and it burns a house, shall suffer death, and persons suspected of the crime shall be imprisoned without the benefit of bail.

30. Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of five (5) pounds. 31. No one shall read common prayer, keep Christmas or Saints' day, make mince pies, dance, play on any instrument of music except the drum, the trumpet, and the jew's-harp.

32. When parents refuse their children suitable marriages the magistrate shall decide the point.

33. The selectmen, on finding children ignorant, may take them away from their parents and put them into better hands at the expense of the parents.