New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-01
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Let we should be afc1sed OF doing Injustice TO
the Pennsylvania Doughfaees, we give to-day the
report Of the majority Of the judiciary Committee
OF their House Of Representatives on the question
Of the transit Of Shareholders and sayetraders with
their slaves through that State. The counter
report of the minority we have already printed.
This que ston is of the greater interest it is the
very point made in the Lennon case prosecuted
BY the State Of Virginia, and to come on shortly
for a hearing before our Court Of Appeals.
The State of Virginia seems just at this moment
to have its hands full of lawsuits growing ont Of
Slavery. We gave the other day an account Of
ridiculous bill, reported by a Special Committee
to the Virginia Legislature, touching the case of
James Parsons, jr., indicted in Pennsylvania for
an attempt at kidnapping. This bill, after setting
out that Parsons was only attempting to recaptdre
o runaway slave absolutely forbade him, under
heavy penalties, to appear to answer the indict
ment-notwithstanding he was under recognizance
to do 50; assumed to indemnify him for any sum he
might forfeit in consequence OF this non-appear-
ance; and provided, in case he should be ever
again arrested on this charge, for certain retalia
tory proceedings against the persons and property
of all citizens of Pennsylvania that might be found
in the State of Virginia
This bill, however, seems to have been intended
merely to let off little steam. 1t was recOmmit-
ted, and another was reported setting out Parsons
story in its preamble, declaring the unwingness
of the Legislature 4" to have him tried upon the
Testimony of negroes and perjured persOns;"
oil tha
ing out of his non-appearance authorizing,
the Governor to hand in the bill for the sum of
these expenses to the State of Penns lyana through
the Governor and Legislature; and also authorizing
similar proceedings in case of every other person
arrested under similar circumstances and in case
of Parsons's rearrest, directing the Governor to
demand his release, and to seek it by writ of
habeas corpus; and if without success, then to
call the Legislature together.
The bill, however, even in this modified form,
did not pass the House without warm debate.
Those VIII opposed its passage, not daring appa-
rently to state their real objections put their oppO
sitiOn on the ground of clause in the COnstltu-
ton of Virginia, which provides that no bill shall
emil race more than one object, whereas this, they
insisted, embraced two objects, if not more. In
spite however, of all objections a motion for re-
commitment was lest by ~ to 5l when the bill
was passed by lOl to II.
In the Senate, however, this House bill was
thrown out and another passed, merely providing
pecuniary indemnity for Parsons At the last
accounts the two Houses were engaged in very
pretty quarrel, in the midst of which Mr.. Parsons
ard his case seemed in danger of being forgotten.
The matter will probably be settled by leaving his
Pennsylvania friends, whom he had persuaded to
become bail for him, to pay the amount aud to
whistle for their money. What other treatment
have persons who become bail for slave.catcher
any RIGHT to eXpect