Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-21
PERSONAL LlBERTY Law or

PERSONAL LIBERTY LAW OF
VIRGINIA.
We fnd the following Personal liberty
Law in tue code of Yirginin:
CODE OF YIRGIS1A Revision, August
Is, ls49. page 464 chapter cvi. Of Suits of
Freedom.
SECTION l. Any person conceiving him
self unlawfully detained ar Slave, may,
petition the circuit court, or court of the
county or cooperation in which he mny be
detained, for leave to- sue for his freedom:
or be may complain to Justice
SEC, @ If the complaint be made to
jnstice, be shall, by precept or writing give
the complainant in charge to the sheriff or
other officer. TO be produced before the
circuit court, or court of the county or.
corporation, as the complainant may. elect.
at the next term thereof; and in-tile mean
time to be safely kept, at the expense of
the person claiming to be the owner, aud
shall cause snctl person to be notified
thereof.
SEC. 2. the person claiming TO be the.
owner, or some one for him., will enter
into bond, approved by the officer having.
tue complaiuaut in charge, ina penalty
equalto dOublethe value Of the complain
ant, supposing him to be slave. condi.
tionnl to have him forthcoming before the
said court at the next term thereof. such
officer shall deliver to him the complainant.
SEC. The court in which such petition
may be presented shall assignthe petition
ercounsel, who, without reward, shall aid
him in the prosecution of his snit, aEd
until the person claiming to be the owner,
or some one for him, will cntcrsiuto bond
before the bonrd orits clerk in such penal.
tsas the court shall direct. coniIitionally
to have the petitioner erforthcoming to abide
the Judgment of the court, anu in the
mean time to allow him reasonable oppor-
tunity to prepare for trial, shall deliver.
him in charge to the proper officer for safe
keeping ut tue expense of the person so
claiming to be the owner; but thcpeti-
ttoner may in the mean time be hired out,
if the court so order, and the hire shall be
disposed of As the court shall direct. The
petitioner shall have. free of cost, all nee,i-
tnl process, serving of officers and attend
ance of witnesses.
SEC. 5. Itshall be tie duty of the coun-.
selto file with the clerk statement in
writing ofthe material facts of the case,
With his opinion thereon; and unless 1T
appear manifest thercfrom that the suit
ought not to be prosecuted, the courtshall.
cause the person claiming to be the owner
to be summoned 10 answer the petition.
SECS. The case may be tried, without.
regard to place onsthe docket, at the term
of the. courtto which the summons shall.
he returned, executed, and n Jury, free
from exception, without the fDrmality of
PLEADING, sltall Beiempaneledf toitry Wlleth-
er the petitioner he free or not.
Sec. q. IF the verdict be for the peti-
toner, the jury may find damages for his
detention pen ndiugsthctsuiti and the Court
shall adjudge the petitioner to be free,
and award Aostlim damages und costs.
tits be observed that the very sub
stance and spirit of the Massachusetts laws
the very provisions which nre denounced
as illegal aud 3unconstItHtional. arc en-
bodied in this chapter of the code. of Vir-
ginia s ss
Any person. issauthoriEed to sue for hiss
freedom: SuchSpersons during the produ-f
cling of'the suit must be kept in custody
at the expense of the person claiming to-
be the owner. Ortfe claimant may take
the custody Of such person on giving
bonds in n penalty of double the vdlile Of
the petitioner $1,000 by the fugitive slave
Law to hare him Forthcoming on the.
triaL Counsel is assigned the. petitioner
by the State to prosecute his suit, and he
is lowed! free of cost all sneedful gpro-
cess, services ofEotf1Gers anditttendadce of
The suit has precedence of
all other cas- on the docket sof the court;
all formal ties tof. pleading are waived,
aud tbesq question! of freedom or slavery 5iisfi
to he tried by jury. Ifsthe petitioner ob24s
faini iasYerdt in his ftfy or be TO be de-
laEedifme, and the claimant is lnulctetiI
ia damages anGl;eosts.