Allegheny-Philadelphia County PA Archives News.....Old Blue Laws Enforced January 10, 1893
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Blum-Barton lab56@bellsouth.net September 6, 2006, 10:01 pm

The Weekly Constitution, Atlanta, Ga. January 10, 1893
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Affirms the Judgment Punishing a Publisher.
Philadelphia, January 3.--The supreme court with a full bench today affirmed 
the validity of the old blue law of 1794 in relation to the publication of 
Sunday newspapers.  The case was that of Thomas Mathews, publisher of The 
Pittsburg Sunday Leader, convicted of publishing and issuing his paper on 
Sunday under the act of 1794, which prohibits the following of worldly pursuits 
on the Sabbath, save those that are an absolute necessity for the wants of the 
community.

The supreme court in affirming the decision of the lower court, gives its 
opinion that the law upon the subject is plain and it could do nothing but 
interpret as it did and confirm Matthews's conviction.  The court says that the 
framers of the act of 1794 could not foresee the growth of newspapers or that 
the would possibly have exempted them under the provisions of the act.  The 
court in conclusion commends the act but says that too literal an enforcement 
of its provisions may lead to its repeal and that it is in more danger from its 
friends than its foes. 

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