Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-31
AN for The Relief of james pafaons,

| suit nf fugitive save, tne property ~ th' u"
| Gle of raid Parsons: that said Parsons, ON get
ting into the cars at Gaysport, in the said State
| of pennsy WANNA. found on board OF them the SAID
| slave. who, "a soon as he saw Parsons. before
| any attempt was made 10 arresi INN. Jumped
from the cars aud fed; that said Parsons pur-
sued and npprohended him, having authority
from the owner So Ia do: TIM, said slave was For
chilly taken from the possession ct Parsons by
mob. Parsons himself seized aud maltreated.that
men were found 10 swear that sald slave was
free man. notwithstanding he had admitted both
| by actions and words that he was IA slave; that II
| Justice of the pence of The said county OF Blair
ordered the said PA sons 10 be confined IN prison
| unless he an utter stranger would give surely
| in the sum of four thousand dollars, to appear
| in the said county, at the next Court Of Quarter
| Sessions of the pence iherefor,to answer charge
of attempting t. kidnnp and breach Of the peace
that grand jury found Mt said Court of
Quarter Sessions. to indlct tho sad Parsons for
an attempt 10 kidnapa free negro, nh offence, by
the laws of Pennsylvania, punishable with con
fnement in the Prnitentiary; that the said Par
sons, upon the finding Of the said indictment.
was ngain required to enter into rccognzance
in the sum Of one thousand dollars, with surety
or surcties for the sum oftwo thousand dollars.
conditioned for the appearance of the said Par
sons, at The snd county of Blair, on the fourth
Monday of January. in the year 1856, and to be
tried on the charge aforesad,or TO be commiited
to prison; that the said Parsons finding. with diff
culty.two individuals willing TO become his sure
ties therein. entered into said last mentioned
cognizancc with them. That the General Assem-
bly,, satisfied that fair trial is not to be expec-
ted, is unwilling that the liberty Of any innocent
citizen of this Sinte should be put in jeopardy by
being tried upon the testimony Of negroes and
perjured persons. before jury summoned from
a community exhibiting such an utter disregard
Of the rights of others and tho laws of the land;
l therefore.
BE il enacted by the General Assembly Of
Virginia, That the Commonwealth Of Virginia
doth hereby assume, on behalf of the said James
Parsons, Jr., whom she feels called on to protect
to pay aud discharge all costs fines forfeiturcs,
penalties or other charges of whatsoever char
aoter, which he or his suretes may incur and
be adjudged TO pay by reason of his non appear
anoe as aforesaid, which may be incurred in
defending him or his surcties from liability un-
der the rocognizanco or bail for his appearance
aforesaid
Tho Governor of the Commonwealth IL hereby
authorized and directed to pay out of the civil
contingent fund any sums of money for
which by reason Of this act tho Commonwealth
of Virginia may become liable upon the proper
authorization of the fact which such pay
mcnt is made TO depend.
If the Commonwealth Of Virginia is required
to pay, and shall pay any sum of money by
son OF Judgment OF thc Sthte OF IfnnsANhNla
in their behalf, and under the provisions OF this
net, the Governor Of this State is hereby author
lied and required To demand the amount of said
payment. with til" ccs.s 8 offending tho said
james Parsons, Jr., and his ruretes, from the
State of Pennsylvania through tho Governor and
Legislature thereof.
Whenever hereafter, any citizen of Virginia
shall be arrested or convicted in non slavehold-
ing State. in consequence of acts connected with
or growing OUT of tho recapture of fugitive slaves
or the attempt To maintain the possession Of II
slave, and it shall be proven To the satisfaction
Of the Governor of Virginia that the said citizen
was engaged in the lawful prosecution or main
tcnance of his constitutional rights, or those OF
one of his fellow citizens. then he shall be emit
tied to all remedies herein provided in the case
of james Parsons, Jr., and the power and duties
of the Governor of Virginia in such eases shall
be the same are conferred and Imposed upon
him in the said case of james Parsons. Jr.
If the said James Parsons Jr. shall hereafter
be arrested and imprisoned upon the charge
aforesaid, or shall be arrested and convicted up
on the same. and sentenced to the Penltentary,
or be therein confined the Governor of Virginia
is directed to demand his immediate surrender or
release from the proper authorities of Pennsyl-
vanla. and in default thereof will cause tho writ
of habeas corpus to be applied. for,and such other
proceedings TO be had as to him shall seem best
!
ngs shall not elect the release and surrender of
the said James Parsons, Sr. in such time rs the
Governor shall deem reasonable under the cir
cumstanoes. then it shall become the duty of the
Governor, and he is hereby directed to convene
the Legislature il not in session, if in session
to communicate TO the General Assembly the facts
| of the cases to be provided for by law they
may think best.
In the Senate the following substitute for the
above bill was adopted:
Whereas it has been represented TO the Gen
cral Assembly of Virginia, that James Parsons,
Jr., citizen of this State. lately arrested
in Blair county, in the State of Pennsy lvania,
| and after examination before the court of said
county, was held to bail in the penalty of -
dollars, to appear and answer charge of kid
mapping and whereas, this General Assembly
| has good reasons to be satisfied that the said
| Parsons was, at the time of his arrest, in pur-
suit of his lawful rights under the constitution
and laws of the Federal Union and whereas. the
General Assembly is farther convinced that the
said proceedings against the said Parsons were
instituted and supported upon corrupt testimo-
ny, and that he cannot therefore have fair and
impartial trial, bat for want of legal evidence TO
establish his innocence of the charge So made
against him, and prosecuted upon such corrupt
testimony, he may, should he stand his trial be
subjected to Il heavy fine and Imprisonment in
the Penitentiary; now. therefore,
BE it enacted by the General Assembly Of
Virginia, That the Commonwealth ofNirginia
doth hereby assume, on behalf of the said James
Parsons Jr., whom she feels called on TO pro.
tect, to pay and discharge all costs, faes, for
FIXTURES penalties, or other charges, of whatso-
ever character. which he " his sureties NAV in
cur and be adjudged to pay by reason of his non
appearance in pursuance OF said recocnizance TO
be tried as aforesaid, or which may be incurred
in defending him or his sureties from liability
, under the recognlzaneo or bail of his appearance
aforesaid. And it shall be the duty of the Gov
ernor OF this Commonwealth To emplny counsel