The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-29
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
SATURDAY, Jan. 20, 1856.

pEpgRRRp DEBATE on THE PARSONS CASE.
Mr.. Srscr. AIR favored laying on the table as the
proposition csme from the friends OF the measure.
He conjured the House to sink an personal eohsiae
atious-the moment Parsons had introduced the SUD
ject there his individuality WAS merged IN the sue
ject 1t became affair Of the State, and should oe
considered a. became the dignity and nonoroi tne
State He expressed his Difference 70 the genera
Judgment of the House. his respect for the gener-
al Judgment of the Senate. lie did not .ie-
sire to indicate his concurrence in any objection
made to the action of either body, and urged :hat
II proper to approach the subject. free from a
personalities all pride of opinion, and 50 TO act as
best preserve the honor and rights Of the state
Mr. GRE6oRr was for immediate action-consid
cred the House right, and hoped the Senate would
recede--was for protecting both eastern ana west.
ern Virginia from Northern aggression-trusted
that Tirginians would be found now, as here
tofore, ready to act together.
Mr.. WKsT, from Wetzel (on the 0hio,) voted for
the House bill-not because it was sucha bill as
the emergency demanded bnt that he feared he
could get 10 better because it was the best re-
buke and best messenger we could send to our
neighbors of Pennsylvania. Yet il was not such
bill as should emanate from Virginia, whose con-
stitutionaI rights had been violated and one OF
whose humble citizens had been beaten and kick
ed by negroes, and taken into custody just beyond
our borders. Had it gone further-had it threat
ened the drawing of the sword to protect the rights
of Virginia, he would have voted for 1t. Times
were portentous-there were strange diylsions
seemed IL be treadiug doubtful ground-they
pass q bill and send it TO the Senate and that
body secede il toto. They mako the question one
of dollars ana CENTS and seem to forget the honor
aud dignity of the State. lie would not postpone
the subject an hour. II wo intend TO defend our
rights now is the time. Ii We intend to recede be-
fore the fanatcism and fury OF PennSylVanla let
ua recC1e before the world and say we are not
ready 10 defend Our rights.
liC.o inquiry made by Mr. BoEDURASr,
whether it was in order now to move the reference
OF the natter TO COMMITTEES of conference. The
speak 81 decided thai it was not; but afterwards
changed bis opinion IL tue intoflEl, however, Mi
tlA..HLTT moved that the House disagree with the
.lUaato IL their amendments and this motion, tie
Speaker decided took Precedence as being just
made, over tho nl0ton for committee 6f confer
euce, which, (l reply 10 IA. SIAHAIsD) lie did not
regard privileged question.
Mr. G 4RSETT since l.o Lad heard the debate,
was determined not to T6LaS his motion to lay on
the table; but would L-oV3 TO disagree with the
Senate. The vote OF tho House of 80 to &, was
better entitled to bereg the sense OF the peo
ple than the action OF the Senate. The House was
fresh froIa the people, elected this year-not SO
with the cd fogies the fossil remains, the antidelu
Yians of the Senate of two years standing.
Mr. RUTBERFooRD cordially supported the mo-
ton lust made. The Senate bill afforded merely
pecuniary relief. The House bill protected
right. Both equally assumed, in their preamble
and enacting clauses, that right had been viola
ted But the Senate bill afforded no redress. 1t
Il O
ragged But it is only money that you will be unlaw-
fully and unconsttutionally required to pay Stay
at home, and Virginia. though her treasury is not
oyerfowng, will pay it for you This was all, ex-
eept that the State afterwards to appear as an
humble suitor for redress before the trbunsl which
had trampled upon her rights. The House BILL on
the other hand asserted the sovereignty Of Nirgi
mia, and upheld her dignity. 1t protected not
merely the rights of Parsons, but the rights of
every citizen Of the State. Virginia assumed the
place of Parsons but not subnassvely to endure his
wrongs. AS a sovereign State, she sppealed TO q
sovereign State to redress them, and not TO the
subordinate agents whose aggressions were the
subject of her complaint
The property of Yirginian had been wrested
from him by mob violence on the soil OF PennsylVa-
MIS- For prosecuting his constitutional rights, he
had been arrested in that State aud summoned to
stand his trial upon a charge of felony. For bold
ly asserting right dear to us all he was in danger
of incarceration q convicted felOn in the peni-
tertiary of Pennsylvania The Senate bill, con-
cedng all this made no provision for his safety
But the House bill, in this event, required that tho
constitutional writ Of habeas corpus should be ap
peaed TO in his behalf and if ii failed to secure his
liberty, then that the General Assembly of Virg
MIA should be convened to consider the mode and
measure of redress
This was the difference between the bills 1t
was enough for him Words and distractions they
had had In abundance st previous sessions. Now,
for the first time WAS action proposed. Itwas de-
nouneed as hasty legislation. But when would
the blow ever be struck, If not at the time when
the insults was gyeni 1t was said there was ne
csssty for cautious deliberation. But there were
some wrongs of a nature TO convert deEberation
and delay into ruin and disgrace some questions
which the heart decided more wisely than the
head The quick and heavenborn instinct Of
wounded honor was its own best guard and pro-
tector For States, no less than individuals there
was peace and policy in boldness and the instant
resentment always of wrong and aggression. The
people were tired Of much talking and little acting
by their delegates. They had said SO, by limiting
their sessions-to little purpose, If every measure
excited protrncted debate and encountered never
ending delays. Already, during the present ses-
sion, in discussing the college bill and one short
railroad track, they had consumed more than dou-
BILE the time that their brave fathers of 76 requr-
ed to establish in defiance of the world, the first
independent government in this country--to frame
and adopt unanimously the noblest model OF re-
publican constitution ever devised by the wisdom
of man. When Governor Dunmore dissolved the
house of Burgesses in IA how many hours, he
asked, wero needed by these great men-great In
their deeds, but sparing in their words not to re
solve but to begin revolution. He had spoker
hastily and unguardedly, but was not afraid to
trust to his feelings and impulses as citizen o
Virginia in any question which involved the
rights and honor of the Commonwealth.
Mr STANARD approved the Senate bill; but wa,
In favor of conference with the Senate. There
was no reason for haste. Parsons had gone t.
stand his trial, and be had done right He ap
plauded him for II BIZ. GARTER expressed some
what similar views.
Mr. DICKINSON, of Richmond, was for disagree
ment with the Senate, who had made the question
one of dollars and cents. He considered IL a grav'
constitutional question r--
Mr. BURwELL considered the matter so grav,
that he could not afford to get angry. The injury
inflicted on the State, through the personal outrage
-! on Parsons, was too serious. Ii was great IN
justice inflicted, in pursuance of plan of system
attic outrage which had been perfected, and perilet
| the lives of our citizens who tried to secure thef
| property, and to which Gorsuch had fallen (.
/ bloody victim The subject required deliberatiou
| He was not afraid to deliberate nor the House
| They should keep themselves in the right. Virgins
could not afford to lose the advantages she hadil
this sissue Mr. b. enforced his views at some length
| rsmarking upon some difficulties which had present
| ed themselves to the Senate, and which should b
| deliberately considered
| We are told that Parsons has gone to stand hi
| trial before . Pennsylvania jury. He has chose
| to do so voluntarily. He has done against tn
persuaslons of his friends, and Notwithstanding th
bill which had passed this House warranted him /
1 refusing to redeem his recognizanee He has eht
| sen 10 stand his trial that those hondsmen wh
| have undertaken for his appearance may be di
| charged OF liabilities incurred by their humanit,
He has chosen to do so that no stigma may rest VI
an an honest name for having violated his bond {
aed RI. country 10 avoid Its laws. Sir, honor tn
| man for his courage and fidelity. He goes 20 jud