The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-28
From the New York Morning News
VAN STEENBURGH AND O,CONNER.

We have avoided any expression Of opinion upon
The question OF committing the sentences Of these
more than misguided young men, not that our own
feelings aud opinions did not incline to the side OF
merc7, but because we knew that the governor had
most delicate duty devolying upon hun, which he
would discharge eonscientiously, according TO the
reasoning OF his own sound Judgment upon the facts
omcially presented 10 him, and any other circum-
stances properly TO be taken into consideration. To
ms decision We were entirely content to commit
their fate fully satisfied that il he was able con-
vince himself that ii was rig and just TO mitigate
their punishment, he would do SO; and in case he
eouiu not arrive at that conclusion, did not wish
that any previous opinion of should break the
force OF the entire acquescence in his final deermi
nation which We would have felt il to be our duty
TO express. The exercise of the power Of pardon
ana Communication Is given TO the governor, and upon
MIN ITS responsibilities rested; and we would not
seek to embarrass his consideration Of the accredited
testimony 10 which duty restricted his mind, either
oy demagogue rant about blood shedding" and
"butchery" en- the one hand, or unfeeling invoca-
tlons for "the law to take its course on the other.
We hnd IN the Albany Atlas letter from the gov
ernor TO the sheriff of Delaware county, announcing
that he has commuted the sentence of the convicts
to imprisonment for life, which republish in to-
days paper. II will be seen that the governor ar
rves at this conclusion upon full ard deliberate in
vestigation of their Although other crcum-
stances exerted an influence upon his mind, the
Pos"tS uPou WHICH nc principally TeSts MS utCl-
sion are the subordinate part acted by the convicts
the probability that neither of the two was among
the number who fred and their youth, with other
exlenuating circumstances of personal nature. II
Is certain that there other Of greater degree
OF guilt who should more properly pay to the Of
tended laws their extreme penalty; and ii is hardly
desirable that, while they escape unpublished, the
less guilty offender should be sent to his final ac-
count. Again, il these did not fire, as is most
probable, they were not guilty than the Others
present, but not firing, who were allowed to plead
guilty TO the charge of manslaughter, and were SEN
fenced four to the States prison for life, and nine
Tor from four to seven years each. These two
young men were tried for murder, with the expec-
tation, on the part Of the prosecuting officers, Of
proving that they did actually fire. This not being
established, there is no reason why they should be
hung while the thirteen others equally guilty are
sent to the prison. Van Steenburgh is a very
young, Ignorant, weak, poor, miserable fellow, who
was evidently tool in the matter, and by no means
a proper object for punishment as principal.
oConner is his superior in all these respects but
was not easy for the governor TO give satisfactory
reason to his own mind the public, for allowing
him to be hung, and not the other. As it would
have been great wrong not to have commuted the
sentence Of Van Steenburgh, there was no other
course than to commute with il that of O'Conner.
The governor has tempered the stern rigor Of the
statute with iudcious mercy; and, with wise fore
sight looked to the probable effects Of the execution
Of the sentence upon the public mind, and taken
that course most likely to promote the quiet Of the
infected districts and bring about the entire restora-
ton of order. At the same time, he pointedy con-
dennis the occurrences which have dsgraced our
annals during the past year, and gives strong assu-
rance that the laws will continue to be strictly en-
forced.
We earnestly commend to the careful perusal of
every reader the convincing letter of the governor.
This short article is not synopsis Of its con-
tents and gives idea whatever Of the conclusive
ness of It's positions.