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A

SYSTEM

OF THE

LAWS

OF THE

STATE of CONNECTICUT.

IN SIX BOOKT

BY ZEPHANIAH SWIFT.

VOLUME I.

80

WINDHAM: PRINTED BY JOHN BYRNE, FOR THE AUTHOR,

1 7 9 5. - 9 a

194742

A SYSTEM of the LAWS

OF THE

STATE of CONNECTICUT.

INTRODUCTION.

Of Law and Government.

SECTION FIRST.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,

EVERY citizen in the state, ought to acquire a knowledge of

thofe laws, that govern his daily conduct, and secure the invaluable bleffings of life, liberty and property. The best method to diffuse this knowledge thro all ranks, is to fimplify, and fyftematize the laws. No country is favored with a more perfpicuous code than the ftate of Connecticut; yet in no country is it more arduous and difficult to obtain a fyftematic understanding of the law. The cause of this fingular inconvenience merits particular investigation.

The common law of England is obligatory in this state by imme morial usage, and consent, so far as it corresponds with our circumftances and fituation. As we have no treatise upon our laws, we are under the neceffity of becoming acquainted with the English code for the purpose of understanding our own. The operation of the English common law, is afcertained by no general rule, and is bounded by no known line: it can be learned only from the decisions of our courts. A common law peculiar to ourselves, refulting from our local circumstances, has been established by the decifion of our courts; but has never been committed to writing. A differ ence in the form of the government, the manners of the people, and the circumstances of the country, furnished cafes to which the com

VOL. I,

B

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