With crowds numbering in the thousands outside the court and spectators like Lucretia Mott and Passmore Williamson inside, George Earle, J. Miller McKim, and others had defended Daniel Dangerfield over two days, citing mistaken identity. As the case went on, the mayor deployed large numbers of police to control the crowds and prevent the kind of rescue recently seen in other parts of the country. On the third day, Commissioner Longstreth agreed that the case of identification was not certain and Dangerfield was released. He did not return to his Harrisburg Pennsylvania home, however, until the Philadelphia crowds had paraded him around the city in triumph. (By John Osborne)

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, an armed U.S. Marshal had arrested Daniel Dangerfield claiming that he was a fugitive from the slave ownership of Elizabeth Simpson of Athensville, Virginia. Marshals sent him immediately by train to Philadelphia so as to avoid demonstrations or attempts to free him in the town. Dangerfield appeared that same day in the court of Philadelphia Fugitive Slave Commissioner Longstreth who held the case over until the following Monday. With crowds numbering in the thousands outside the court and spectators like Lucretia Mott and Passmore Williamson inside, George Earle, J. Miller McKim, and others defended the prisoner over the next two days, citing mistaken identity. The Commissioner agreed and on April 6, 1859, Dangerfield was released to return to Harrisburg but not before the crowds had paraded him around the city in triumph. (By John Osborne)

At the Saturday morning market in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a  U.S. Marshal arrested Daniel Dangerfield claiming that he was a fugitive from the ownership of Elizabeth Simpson of Athensville, Virginia. News of the arrest spread quickly through the town and marshals sent him to Philadelphia that evening to avoid demonstrations or attempts to free him. In Philadelphia he appeared that same day in the court of Fugitive Slave Commissioner Longstreth who held the case over until the following Monday. (By John Osborne)

After a three day debate on the Queen's Speech to the newly elected Parliament, the opposition coalition of Whigs, Radicals, and Liberals rejected a Conservative attempt to continue minority government.   Earl Derby, the returning Prime Minister, resigned the following week and the Opposition coalition took power on June 18, 1859 with Lord Palmerston as Prime Minister. This was the first exercise of power by the newly formed Liberal Party. Palmerston would lead British policy during all the years of the American Civil War. (By John Osborne)

After a three day debate on the Queen's Speech to the new Parliament following the recent general election, the opposition coalition of Whigs, Radicals, and Liberals rejected a Conservative attempt to continue minority government. Earl Derby, the returning Prime Minister, resigned the following week and the Opposition coalition took power on June 18, 1859 with Lord Palmerston as Prime Minister. (By John Osborne)

Several times in the past, one member of the House of Lords, a Viscount Bury, had introduced a bill that would overturn the current ban in British law against a man marrying his dead wife's sister. This time, the bill had passed the House of Commons easily. Back in the House of Lords, however, the bishops who sat there took the laws of Leviticus quite seriously and after a day's debate, the bill was defeated 39 to 49 on its second reading. This marriage prohibition was not lifted in Britain until 1907. (By John Osborne)