The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Saturday Morning, January 20, 1905.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE.

| The House bill for the relief of James Parsons
/ was read the first time.
| Mr. CAMpBrIL moved its reference to the Com
mittee of Courts. Messrs. TAzEwELL and IHoM
As urged a select committee. Mr.. TAZEwEIL pre-
ferred bill simply for the relief of Parsons Mr.
CAMPBELL preferred the Committee of Courts, but
| would make no opposition to q select committee
Mr. ARMSTRONG said this was very important
| matter. DIR. Parsons is now here; he viii have 70
be in Pennsylvania next Monday, unless the bill
passes, and he hoped the bill would pass imme'
diately.
Mr.. AaBLER was anxious that the Senate should
act cautiously in the matter. He read from au'
| thorites to show that In a similar case the whole
subject had been adjudicated by the Supreme Court
of the United States (case of Prigg the State OF
Pennsylvania). He thought the matter could be
maturely considered in time to protect the rights
| and person Of Mr.. Parsons
| Mr.. WHITE called for the reading of the bill
| Mr. TAZEwELL proposed to amend Mr. CAMP
| EELL's motion to refer TO a select committee, by
| instrueting the committee to report bill for the
| relief of James Parsons, Jr.
| Mr. TAZEwELL remarked that the original bill
made casas detii of this subject. He did not be
ieye the bill right. because he understood that Mr.
Parsons had no authority in writing to pursue the
| fugitive referred to- He would not dodge this
| question He acknowledged himself pugna
cious as others, but the South have been insulted
by nearly all the non-slaveholding States, and he
was now anxious to be right in his action.
| Mr.. ARMSTRONG pressed the immediate passage
| Of the bill. He said that James Parsons, Jr., ac-
| companied his uncle, who the owner of the
slave and verbal authority was entirely sufficient.
Parsons was liable at any moment to arrest and
| would the Virginia Legislature have him incarce-
rated IL the Pententiary with felonsl AS an hon.
orable man, Mr.. Parsons must be in Pennsylvania
| next Monday unless the bill passed
| Mr.. OLD contended that it was absolutely essen
tia that this bill should 60 before committee
lie doubted if he would vote for it, without serious
| amendment The ryder did not in his opinion, go
| far enough. lie could conceive no reason for the
lnA alnro yn1
| where. lie denounced the Pennsylvania law as
in violation of the constitution, aud he desired our
action to be such as TO command q unanimous ap-
pToval.
Mr.. JONES doubted if subject could como be.
fore the Senate more urgently demanding the ma
ture consideration of OF the committees of the
| Body. He sympathized with the position of Mr..
Parsons, but he not disposed to be hurried in-
to its consideration. lie was not prepared to take
80 responsible step as to vote for this bill now
| We shall find, ii this gentleman stands his trial,
the laws of the country already sufficient to
| furnish him redress. If he takes the benefit of
these, it may be useless for us to act at all The
Supreme Court has decided that the laws of Penn
sylYania from which he has suffered are null and
| void. He hoped the Senate would vote down the
resolution of instruction, proposed by the Senator
from Mecklenburg (hr TAZEWELL-) He might
be disposed to vote relief for Mr. PARSONS, but he
wanted all the facts TO be ascertained by a COM
mittee of this body. Such course would have
more weight with Pennsylvania and other States.
The Fugitive Slave Law was of Virginia origin,
and he was opposed to going beyond that statute
at this time
Mr. CAMPBELL thanked his friend from Peters.
burg (Mr. jones' for the remarks he had submit
ted. He narrated succinctly the details of TIE
BILL but he (Mr. CO represented the largest slave
holding constituency on this floor, and while he
was anxious to protect Mr.. Parsons, he would not
step beyond the bounds of proprety to redress his
wrongs. He was charged on the oath of citizen
of Pennsylgania with being guilty of kidnapping.
Kidnapping was an offence in Virginia He may
be guilty, but he (Mr. CO had no conception that
he was but suppose he was? Do we mean to
say that he shall not go to Pennsylvania So far
as the tribunals of Pennsylvania know, Parsons
may be guilty or innocent. If he took charge of
his own slave the U. S. Constitution and the Fu-
gitive Slave Law both protect him. When the
rights of citizen are assaed, defend him. but not
till then. All the provisions of the bill predi-
Gated upon the supposition that Mr.. Parsons does
not want to go to Pennsylvania Pass this bill,
and you offer bonus for people to go to Pennsyl
vania and violate its laws. Because Mr. Parsons
is charged with violating the laws of another State
is that reason for Virginia to step in and take the
responsibility Let him go and stand his trial If
convicted OF kidnapping, when he is pursuing his
fugitive slave, then is the time for Virginia to take
her position, and defend her citizens to the last
drop of blood If the constitution and laws of our
country are no longer sufficient for prot ection
| let us call q convention and solemny declare So
Shall we insist on one side of the Potomac that the
| Constitution and Laws are supreme, and on the
| other deny that they are so!
| Mr. TAzEwELL was not in favor of hasty legis-
lation. He referred to the action of the Virginia
| Legislature the subject of the abolition of the
| slave trade in the District of Columbia when they
| passed resolutions which they afterwards backed
out from. He did not believe that the dissolution
| of this Union would ever come from a case like
| this; and when that time should come and prov.
ocaton sufficient for it be given every heart would
| be in the contest, aud every sword would lean
| from its scabbard. He closed by withdrawing his
| amendment
| Mr. WHITE was surprised at the arguments of
| the Senators from Petersburg and Nottoway
/ (Messrs. JONES and CAMPBELL) particularly the
| latter. Were not the atidayits of Asa Hiett and
Jas d. Armstrong sufficient to convince his friendsl
| Do not the gentlemen know that, under the law of
Pennsylvania as soon as a slave enters it. he in
free man' The jury will find Parsons guilty of
| Kidnapping and how can the Supreme Court find
| the law unconstitutional BY his vote no citizen
of Virginia should stand trial in such case one
in which he is compelled to be convicted He
preferred the reference, but was willing TO vote
for the bill as il stands '
/ Mr.. ARMSTRONG explained that he was not re.
sponslble for the bill. 1t originated in the House
OF Delegates and had been endorsed by that body.
He had done his duty in urging its passage He
hoped the committee would report early II the
bill did not pass to-day, Mr.. Parsons would start
tonight, in order to be ready to stand his trial on
| Monday next He thought it better to pay the
| bail than enter into contest with the State Of
Il
| Slave Law did not protect Mr. Parsons He had
caught his slave the slave admitted he was slave;
he was, however, rescued by mob, and Mr. p
| was arrested for kidnapping an offence under the
laws of Pennsylvania. He did not see any hope
| for his escape, if tried.
| The question Of reference was carried-ayes 80.
noes not counted. The President appointed the
following committee Messrs. Campbell, Jones,
Chapman, Armstrong, White, Weleh, Braxton,
| Douglas, Amber and Huddleson.
| A large number of bills ON the calendar were ad
| vanced stage.
On motion of Mr.. CATLETT, the Senate took q
recess till O'clock p. NJ to hear the report of the
| committee.
AT o'clock, the Senate was called to order by
| Mr.. JOHNSON, and the Select Committee, through
Mr. CAMPBELL, reported substitute for the House
Bill. The substitute merely provides for paying
the bail of Mr. Parsons in case he does not return
| to the State of Pennsylvania
After discussion, in which Messrs. DESEALE
| TALIAFERRo, WHITE, CATLETT, TAZEwEII
THOMAS and THOMPSON participated, Mr.. DE
sEALE offered amendment, that If Parson
should be hereafter arrested or punished for thi
offence, the Governor shall interfere in his behalf
| in the manner prescribed in the House bill Th'
amendment was lost-ayes l6, noes 49,
Mr.. DENEAIE, at the request of the friends o
Mr. Parsons, moved the indefinite postponemen