Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-20
THREATENED InVAs1nu

THREATENED INVASION.
The ssHarry Hotspurs'' of the Virginia Le-
gislatnre have been working themselves into a
terrible passion over the fact that citizen of
Virginia, named Parsons, was arrested in our
State, last fall, ona charge of attempting to
kidnap colored person. NJ Parsons under
took, 1t seems, without process of law, to cap
turc negrowhom he alleged to be his uncle's
slave, but was resisted by several persons and
frustrated in his design. Subsequently, Mr..
Parsons, as he should have been for proceed
ing without lawful authority, was arrested on
charge Of attempting to kidnap. He was
then taken before committing Magistrate,
and held in 50, ,000to appear and answer before
the Court, which commenced its session on
the Monday following the act for which Mr..
Parsons was arrested. At that term of the
Court, on the oath of several witnesses who
swore that the negro was a free man, the Grand
Jury Of Blair county found true bill against
Parsons, whereupon he gave bail in the sum of
S. 200 himself, and two sureties in like "a
mount, to answer the charge of attempting to
kidnap free man, at the term Of the Blair
| County Quarter Sessions, which commenced
| on the Fourth Monday of January, 1856. The
case came on at the term Of the Court desig-
mated, and after fair hearing and impartial
trial, as Pennsylvania Courts and Juries know
how to give, swithout fear favor or affection, .
unawed and unawable by threats from any
quarter, Parsons was acquitted Of the charge,
ard discharged from custody.
! So much for the history of the case. Now
for glimpse at the sschivalric'' action of the
! Virginia Legislature. The language they use
/ is mere bombast and ridiculous fal-de -ral.-
The whole act is laughabe in its ridiculous
ness, and If it had not been gravely entertain
ed and gravely passed by one branch of the
Legislature of Sovereign State of this Con-
federacy, would meet with but little notice
The Fourth Section OF the Act as it passed the
| House of Delegates, provides as follows, viz: +:
''SEc. 4. If the said james Parsons, Jr.,
shall hereafter be arrested and imprisoned up
on the charge aforesaid, or shall be arrested,
| tried and convicted upon the same, and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary of the State of Penn
! sylvania, or be therein confined, the Governor
of Virginia is directed to demand his imme-
date surrender and release from the proper
authorities of Pennsylvania, and in default
thereof, shall cause the writ of habeas corpus
TO be applied for, and such other proceedings
to be had as to him shall seem best on his be-
half. And if the said writ and proceedings
shall not effect the release of said James Par
sons, Jr., in such time as the Governor shall
deem reasonable under the circumstances, then
| it shall be tho duty of the Governor, and he
| is hereby directed 10 make proclamation of the
fact, and within ten days after said proclama-
tion 'he is directed to seize and imprson in
the Jail or pcnitcntiary all citizens and to
! seize and hold all property Of the State Of
| Pennsylvania, and all property of the citizens
| of said State, until the release and surrender
by the proper authorities of said State of the
said James Parsons, Jr., and his property from
all liability, by reason of the prosecution or
conviction for the charge aforesaid, any
| other charge against him, on account Of any
conduct connected with the attempt made by
him to recover the slave aforesaid. And until
the payment OF such demands as the said Jas.
Parsons, Jr., may have sustained by reason of
said prosecution, trial and imprisonment, and
IN all proceedings under this act, and for the
enforcement of the provisions Of the law, the
| Governor OF the Commonwealth of Yira ainia
shall have full power and authority to call up
on and demand the services of all civil and
military officers of the State and all private
citizens whatsoever are required under the
penalty of misdemcanor, to obey the call and
command of the Executive authority"