Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-13


DANGEROUS EXERCISE OF PowER.-By the fol-
lowing article, copied from the Adams (Pa.) Scl.-
tinc Of Monday morning, it will be that
Gov Porter has stole march upon the laws OF
Pennsy ivanIa, and pardoned certain partIZan ed
itors who were about to be tried indict-
ment charging them with gross lbel-on tho
citizens of Getiysburg-bcforc conriction! This
is something new in the history of pariizln Gov
ernors, aud certainly most startling and danger
Gus exercise of the paTdonIn9 power. y free
pardon of the offence or crlmo alleged, before
,riaI.-Ths is one grea. step towards breaking
down the securities of the citIzcn and destroy lag
the legal and moral sanctions, which his
shield for the enioymen, of life, liberty and prop
ertv The next step in order would be the graz
ting of permission before hand. To do certain acts
forbidden by the laws of the land. And the next,
would be, for an executive officer, clothed with
this high attribute OF sovereignty, to grant these
permits to his partzan followers, for 1t consider
ton! Arc the American people prepared tor such
progress and such n result?
From the Adams Sentinel of Feb. l.
GOVERNOR PoRrER.- Despotic porrer rerired
1t is with pain record the fact that the pre-
sent Governor eft Pennsy lyania has exercised
power during the past week, II not contrary TO the
letter of the Constitution, certainly never was
contemplated by those men who conferred upon
the Executive tho ''pardOning power"-and is Il
matter which calls loudly for immediate Legisa-
tive action. The principle is too dangerous to be
encouraged; and the power, II 1t does exist should
never be entrusted to any man. We hope there
FORE TO SEQ the matter Investigated and the cor
receive employed.
During the sitting of our Court Of q Iarter Ses-
sions last week, bill was found by the Grand
Inquest against Messrs. Huetter s. Cantine, Ed
itors of the Harrisburg Magician, for o gross libel
upon the citizens of Getty sburg, and Mr.. Stevens
particularly. When called upon TO put In their
plea of defence, their Counsel presented the Court
Il.
ing q foil and free pardon from the Governor OF
Pennsylvania to Messrs Huetter & Cantnc, for
all the libels published by them in the Magician
sin Adams County or elsewhere"-thus wipng
off all their sins in this particular by stroke of
the pen! They could not, therefore. be tried for
the otfence-nnd havo gone off 'unwhiot of JUS
tice.''
A pardon given before TRIAL and convictonu
What license TO commit crmei, What is 10
cheek the commission OF any act of yIiiany--saye
murder ltset-when the peTpetrator has bis par
don in his pochotl--lt is high time the People
should look into these matters. and give check
to such high handed and dangerous acts, II is
only worthy the despotic power of the dark gesi
10 shew that there is no mistake in the state
ment of the Gettysburg paper, copy the fol
lowing accoun, of this affair. given IN The last
Harrisburg keystone, the official organ of Gov.
Porter. The keystone states the fact OF the
pardon in advanre. but it does not add q word in
Justification Of the proceeding:
LIBEL SUTr.-The prosecution instituted III
the sessions of Adams county. by ThadJeus Ste
vens, ESQ. agains, Huettcr & Canine. for the
publication Of an alleged ibei* upon the charac-
ter of the former, IN the Magician. was. we un-
derstand, brought 10 n final decision on Wednes-
day last. When the defendants were called unan
plead to the Indictment. they. BY their council
W. n Irvine, Esq. pleaded as bar 10 its further
prosecution. pardon Of tse dlledgea offence, by
the Erecufire
*The alleged 'libel' Is understood to hive con-
sisted in charging the dissertation Of some reli
gious rite or ceremony. upon public meeting of
the Harrison democratic citizens Of Getty sburu
during the late canvass. Mt which meeting. the
gentleman named by the Keystone. was present
and bore prominent part.