The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-21
COMMUNICATIONS

For the considers ron of the 3Ie7u6ers oftbe
LeStslafure Of Pirginia. no4u assembled
lhe ohJeetof punishment for offences against So
cier, vs. certainly rather produce benefit 10 the
community AT large, than to infc, particular pains
or penalties on the individual culprit. The propr:
ETY. or advantag-s kissing from reprieyin. or pardon
ing criminal, IN ally case whore the crime has
oeen compietey sscertaineh, has often been quesii-
ohei These observations are at this time made
with reference to particular case.
In August 1918, negro man slave was tried he.
iore tne county court o! Prince Wiliias, charge
OF highway robbery, and thereof convicted on
the e'esrest testimony it is believed no circuro
stance whatever iii eXtenuaton or mitigation OF his
suh appeared on the trial; on TIE contrar,, there
was soou cause Tor presuming that murder was also
attempted or intended The sentence of death was
OF course pronounced, aud DAY appointed for his
execution accord ng to law. Shortly after this sem
tence, petition to he Executive wss prepared by
those who were Interested or DESTROYS of saving the
lie OF this negro, which was subscribed by nun
per OF perfons, doubtless from motives Of HUMANITY
Tor the purpose OF obtaining retrieve or pardon for
num- "Hasr me fdes vestng the Executive with such
PoNer' IN tn's peuuon no circumstance was sl-
iedgeh IN favor of the criminal. il was entirely
founded on the supposed severity of the law. The
effect was respite for short ::fne which was spb
sequently extended to the 18th of December 1878,
o. "hch dFy (no further respite Having been Oh.
tanned, tho had been earnestly solicited1 iii. ~
Serao'e human being was launched inte eternity
pursuant 10 his first sentence Of condemnation
. ny tue constitution Of Virginia the Governor
state. We
me power OF granting Repreves and Parlons exeept
where tie prosecution shall have been carried on Iy
the l1ou oi Delegates, or the Intv shall ofheyuse
pdrficHt~I drect. This power must evidently
have ecen by the Constitution vested in the Exeet:
I'VE ior tue express purpose Of exercising sorod
discretion in granting Reprieves or pardons in
wheh mgbtappear extremely hard, doubtful. or nj.
.en"eu win circumstances strongly operating in ex
tenuat'on or nit CATION Of the offence charged In
the present case, it is presumed if the first sentence
had been promptly carried into effect the er0,,bIc
would have had beneficial tendency inasrnuch as
the justice OF the conviction was uniyersslIy sdn;.
ted' The delay Of execution oceasioneJ bv ,bn.e
resp,tes, mus have been attended with na;nFu ,,,c
cession OF hopesand fears the part of the unbsn
Ply criminal, and excited the feelings of the
nifty generally, so far rather 20 cause nm irnrss
on OF pity for the cuprit than Of horror at his crime
In tact this sentiment universally prevailed The,
cart to carry this miserable being 10 the rI,ce oe
execution, could not be procured on any term, nm.
~ The necessity OF the case required The interro,i,;
on OF magistrate, by whose authority cart for
that purpose was obtained by f1neress,oent.
From the above quotation from the C;ons,i,u,ior
II sppe9rs the Legislature have, thereby :.
authority ny idS0 to modify the .rs or the Eys
cut've respecting granting Reprieves and Pard,ns in
al csses--its conceived the subject peculiarly me.
ris their attention. '
n tytizea Of Prince JViHian.
Dumfres, Dec. 10, 1919.