The Winchester appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-03-15
Beginning Of the End.

beginning OF the End.
A very interesting case, and an &C
oftde greatest Importance to the South
has very recently been before the Leg.
islature of Virginia.-We proceed to
detail the facts:
James Parsons, .jr., citizen ofVir.
ginia, some time ago, followed into
Pennsylvania, and arreste d, under the
provisions the of Constitution, a negro
Slave, named Jacob Green, the proper.
ty of his uncle Isaac Parsons, The
slave was rescued by a mob, and
young Parsons arrested on the charge
of kidnapping and assault and held
in a penalty Of $4,000 to appear at
the county Court of Blair county, Pa,
and answer the charge in a criminal
prosecution; whereupon, a bill was
brought before the Legislature of Vir.
ginia, for the protcctionof Parsons,
the following are the provisions: The
lst clause prohibits Parsons under a
penalty of $4,000, from appearing OR
pleading to the above charge, the
State of Virginia, assuming all re-
sponsibility and expense Parsons or
his securities may be subjected, pro-
vided however, that said James Par
sons, jr., and securities, shall with 9th
er pleas and answers, which may be
proper, defend themselves from liabil-
ity on the ground that his righttul
sovereign, the State of Virginia has
prohibited him; the said James Par
sons, .jr., fohm appearing to the same
I'd. The Governor is authorized and
directed to pay all expenses arising
from this act, out of the contingent
fund
Sd. If If Virginia be compelled to
pay any money by reason ofthe judy
ment Of any court of Pennsylvania, I'm,
der the provisions of this law, the Gov,
of Virginia is authorized to demand
the amount from the State Of PennSyL
vania, and if the demand be not paid
within year thereafter, the Govern.
or of Virginia is directed, through the
proper officer, to seize any property
belonging to Pennsylvania, or any Cit,
izen thereof, and dispose Of the same
to liquidate the amount.
18th. If Parsons should hereafter be
arrested or imprisoned in PcnnSyIva-
MIA, on the above charge, the Govern
or Of Virginia is to demand his re-
lease; if that fail, TO cause the writ OF
habeas corpus to be applied for, and
in case that will not effect his release,
to imprison every citizen Of PcnnsyI,
vania found in Virginia, seize and
hold the property of the State. and OF
every citizen ofPcnnsylvania, till Par.
sons has been released, and all the eX-
penscs he may have incurred be paid
And lastly, the Governor OF Virgin
ia is requested to send q copy OF this
act to the Governors Of all the sister
slave-holding States, and recommend
their Legislatures to enact similar
laws.
This act has passed the Legislature
of Virginia, and is now a law OF that
Commonwealth.-We look upon it as
very grave and important movement
to the South, and to the entire Union
1t is just and right, as far as it goes
but il does not 90 far cnOugh-doeS
not embrace the whole case. 1t Is
right to protect the liberty of Parsons
an idemnify him from any fine on ac'
countof his conduct, which was strlckt'
ly constitutional; but where is the ne,
gro that was rescued, and why did not
Virginia peremptorily demand his re-
storation to his master!