Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-20
THREATENED INVASION.

10h6h1 lNS 4 91OH.
The "Harry Hotspurs'' of the Virginia lie
gislature have been working themselves into
terrible passion ever the fact that citizen O
Virginia, named Parsons, was arrested in on
State, last fall, on charge of attempting t,
kidnap a colored person. Mr.. Parsons under
took, it seems, without process of law, to cap
ture negro whom he alleged to be his uncle
slave, but was resisted by several persons anc
frustrated in his design. Subsequently, Mr.
Parsons, as he should have been for proceed
ing without lawful authority, was arrested OF
a charge of attempting to kidnap. lie wa
then taken before committing Magistrate
and held in 50, 600 to appear and answer befor,
the Court, which commenced its session or
the Monday following the act for which Mr.
Parsons was arrested. At that term Of the
Court, the oath of several witnesses who
swore that the negro was a free man, the Grand
Jury of Blair county found 4 true bill against
Parsons, whereupon he gave bail in the sum OF
s. 900 himself, and two sureties in like al
mount, to answer the charge of attempting ID
kidnap free man, at the term Of the Blst
County QuaIter Sessions, which conimencei
on the Fourth Monday of January, 1856. The
case came on at the term Of the Court desig-
mated, and after fair hearing and impartial
trial, as Pennsylvania Courts and Juries laow
how to give. s'withoGt fear, favor or Affection
unawed and awFble by threats from any
quarter, Parsons Wfs acquitted Of the clErgc,
ard discharged fros custody.
SO much for ths history of the case. Now
for glimpse at the sFchivalric'' action of the
Virginia Lcgislatut,. The language they use
is mere bombast fd ridiculous fal-de- rail-
The whole act is lhlghable in its ridiculous
ness, and if it had rot been graveiy entertain
ed and grayely passed by one branch of The
Legislature of SdTcreign State of this Con-
federacy, would mdst with but little notice.
The Fourth Section OF the Act as it passed the
House Of Delegates, provides as follows, viz:
''SEc. /. If the said James Parsons, Jr.,
shall hereafter be arrested and imprisoned up
on the Charge aforesaid, or shall be arrested,
tried and convicted upon the same, and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary of the State ofPenn-
sylvania, or be therein confined, the Governor
of Virginia is directed to demand his imme-
diate Surrender and release from the proper
authoritis Of Pennsylvania, and in default
thereof, shall cause the writ of habeas corpus
to be aIAlied for, and such other proceedings
to be hatas to him shall seem best on his be-
half. AID if the said writ and proceedings
shall not effect the release of said James Par
sons, Jr-, IL such time as tho Governor shall
deem reasonable under the circumstances, then
1t shall be thoduty of the Governor, and he
is hereby direct.d to make proclamation of the
fact, and withina.en days after said proclama-
tion 'he is directea to seize and imprison in
the jail or penitentisry all citizens and to
seize and hold all PROPERTY of the State of
Pennsylvania, and ell property of the citizens
of said State, until the release and surrender
by the proper authorities Of said State of the
said James Parsons, Jr., and his property from
all liability, 10y reason of the prosecution or
conviction for the charge aforesaid, or any
other charge against him, on account of any
conduct connected with the attempt made by
him 10 recover the slave aforesaid. And until
the payment Of such demands as the said Jas.
Parsons, Jr, may have sustained By reason OF
said prosecution, trial and Imprisonment, and
In all proceedings under this act, and for the
of the provisions of the law, the
Governor of the Commonwealth of Virg inia
shall have full power and authority to call up
on and demand the services of all civil and
officers of the State and all private
citizens whatsoever are required under the
penalty of misdemeauor, to obey the call and
command of the Executive authority.''