Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-05
No. J1.

DRY Of those laws even in the despotc AGE
OF the Stuarts, when the royal prerogative
was claimed as a divine rlgt t, and not sub.
ject to human restraint. With much greater
reason should this power be exercised with
a careful regard to the due administration
OF Justice, in government where all power
is derived from the people, and conferred to
be exercised for their sole benefit.
have thought proper to give my views
OF the nature and due exercise Of the par.
donng power, for the purpose of removing
impressions, prevailing to a considerable
extent, as to the motives with which it is
presumed 20 be exercised, and because I
wish to lay before you fully the reasons
which govern me in the consideration Of
your petition.
You state, in your petition, that Work
was connected with your church by a pub
lie profession of religion in 1884, and that
he adorned his profession by a godlv and
consistent life. II is, no doubt, a matter Of
pain and deep modification to YOU, as 1t
must be to every sincere christian, that one.
with whom you have worshipped at the
same alter OF divine truth, and upon when
you have looked as 4 sincere and devout
co-Iaborer in the same faith, and who there
by had gained your confidence and esteem.
should SO totally lose sight of his duty to
his God, and his country, his profession and
his faith, as to commit the ignominious
crime Tor which he has been condemned to
share the teIon's fate. But so lar is his pre-
vIous course OF life from alordng an ex
cuSe for his subsequent conduct, and rea-
son for his pardon, it seems to me as pre-
sentlng strong argument against either.
Had he been one of those unfortunate be-
ngS who never knew the blessings Of re-
veaed religion, but were reared in the nur.
sery Of vice without knowledge of virtue.
his crime might have been regarded as a
misfortune, attributable more to advent.
tlouS circumstances than to any natural
proneness to vice, punishable indeed. but
still, entitled to our sympathy, Bat in this
instance the object OF your compassion had
every lnducement to preserve jncorruptibIe
his faith, and his profession. II he was Il
sincere believer in the christian faith. his
own heart must have told him that stric!
adherence TO its precepts affords the only
sure guide to happiness, here and hereafter.
lie who knows the happiness conferred by
religion and virtue, and the misery atten.
abandon the former and embrace the latter,
is susely less entitled to our sympathy than
one who follows vice, because he knows not
religion and virtue.
You admit that Work was led to the
commission of crime By ''mlstaken sense
rot duty" 1t is known here that the offence
was committed upon premeditaton and de.
liberation, and that he still persists in JUS
tifying the deed.
You ask me TO "forgive the offence and
show mercy but you set forth no reason
why he is deserving the mercy and forgive
ness, more than others who are suffering
the punishment awarded to crime. Mercy
and forgiveness are indeed the most beau
I'uI attributes of Divinity, but are, by no
means, inconsistent with the punishment OF
crime. 10 pardon all who have committed
crime, because mercy and forgiveness are
enjoiued upon men by the Supreme Beng,
would de a monstrous perversion of the
true application of those divine virtues. 1t
is one OF the first principles Of civil gov
ernment, that The State is bound TO protcci
the property and persons, Of its citizens,
but how can this fundamental obligation be
fulfilled, ii crime is suffered to 90 unpun-
lshed.
The pardoning power, as have before
remarked, is not to be exercised at the ar
bilrary will Of the Executive, but some
good reason, founded upon fact, applicable
TO the particular case, and consistent with
the principles OF law and justice should al
ways be shown. Does Your petition come
within this ruler You have not set forth
single fact or circumstance applicable 10