Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-30
HOUSE OF DELEG ATES.
SArI.pnAY Ian 0H Is

THE PARSONS CASE.
Sundry bills from the Senate were read by their
titles and appropriately referred.
The Senate retained the House bill for the
"Protection of james Parsons, Jr., and other
citizens of Virginia in the assertion Of their law
full rights" with substitute, which changes the
title to that of bill for the relief of james Par
sons, Jr.," and which provides simply for the
payment of the amount ofthe recognizance which
may be forfeited by Mr. Parsons.
Mr.. Imhoden regretted that he was confined to
his bed the other day when this subject was act
ed on by the House. He concurred with the
gentleman from Essex (Alr. Garnett in the opin
ion that this was one Of the most serious and i'm
porant questions that has ever engaged the at
tcntion of the General Assembly. tits ques.
ton whether Virginia has the power and the will
to protect her citizens in their lawful rights, and
redress wrongs and outrages perpetrated on
them. The time has cIme when this question
must be met, and he would not shrink from the
issue no,o. The people are aroused by the OPP
eretons of the underground railroad" and ex-
poet us to do something worthy of Virginia. in
vindication of our ghts. He did not like the
bill sent down from the Senate. nor did he APP
prove the original bill sent from this House
Neither of those bills in their details met the
igennies of the case. He would not discuss the
details of those measures now, further than to
say that he thought they placed the State in
false position. lie desired Virginia now and at
all times, to take no position that she could not
maintain before the whole country. We lave
had idle resolves long enough; we now want eff
fcctive action. Let us proceed to our Judgment
deliberately, calmly and dispassionately, hut
firmly, and resolved to make our action effective.
lie favored the motion to lay the bin on the TIA
Bile, in the hope that further consideration would
result in maturing such alaw as could be main
tanned before the country, and would accomplish
lis objects. Neither the House or Senate bill
proposes to redress more than one hall the lnju-
~ complained of. He was not only i'll favor of
protecting Parsons from an uni ust prosecution
and imprisonment, but he wanted to enforce the
payment of tho value of the rescued slave, and
and to that end lie wonld offer Il Substitute for
the whole bill. which he read to the House, in
order that it might so upon the table with the
bill and be considered with it. One idea of this
substitute (the garnishee clause originated i'll
neighboring State, (Georgia) and might be OBJ
jected to as ofdoubtful constitutionality. lie
submitted that cases like this, of gross violations
of constitutional rights, called for action that
might seem to be above the constitution, but he
humbly thought was not contrary toit
Mr.. Langht thought that the subject ought to
be laid on the table for the present.
Mr. IToge was willing to devote the whole of
the day to the discussion of this interesting sub
lect; he thought there was great principle in
volyed; Pennsylvania had nulllied the fugitive
slave law, and he, representing county deeply
interested in the protection of slave property,
thought that the time had come when Virginia
should take the protection of her citizens into
her own hands. he defended the house bill at
length. He adverted to similar case which
had occurred in the case of citizen
of Maryland. in which that State had taken meas
ures not only TO protect her citizen, but to vim
dictate her rights and the consequence was that
Pennsylvania jury had iiot dared to render a
verdict against that citizen
Mr. Seddon supported the views taken by Mr.
Iloge. He said that a bill was before a select
committee which was intended to protect the slave
property of Eastern Virginia: he was an east tern
man. but if this House refused to protect the in
terest of western citizen, if he were a western
man. he would refuse to vote for the bill for the
protection the slave property of eastern men;
he was willing to sit all day, in discussion of
this question, and II any member could be found
to defend the Senate he tNlr. s. was ready to
abe the champion of the House"
Mr. Garnett. after the mantle staton of the
sentiment of the House, which was fresh from
the peope"-none of them representing the ante
dIluvian formation of old fogyism, elected two
years ago, willing to Withdraw his motion to
lay on the table, and he moved that the House
disagree to the amendmant of the Senate.
Mr.. Rutherford supported the motion to disa-
gree.
Mr. Stanard thought that Committee of Con-
ference would be tble to agree on bill on which
the whole Legislature could present an unhro-
ken front. He hoped that no member wished to
force members into false position He was not
satisfied with the House bill which offered a
premium to abolitionis,s to invade our rights
Mr.. Carter could vote for the motion, to disa-
gree: he thought the Senate had done what the
House had failed to do, he had objected to the
haste with which the house bill had been passed
through, MIR. c. advered to the inception of this
measure.-The gentleman from Hampshire had
himself offered a resolution asking for money
for the relief of Parsons; and now. that gentle
man. and the gentleman from Stafford, who had
presented himself as the champion Of the House.
talked about the insult offered tn Parsons
by the Senate Bill, which did the very
thing Mr. Hiett hat first asked for. Mr. C thought
that the House should take caro- whilst it pro
tected the rights of all her citizens. 10 do nothing