Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-03-20
The Pardon of the Priest, again.

ne E-sifaOu % tfAc sSsc3k.
In relation to the subject of the PARDON of Mr.
Weinzepfin, the Wabash Express, edited by Mr.
Donaldson, an uncompromising Wing, comments as
follows
Some of our cotemporaries, in this State are very
upon Governor Whitcomb for having pard sSed
Mr.. WenzGpAin, the Catholic Priest, who was, some
time ago, sentenced to the Peniientiary under cir
cumStances with which readers are familiar
We think Gov. Whitcomb has merited no censure for
this act, and that this severity is all misplaced. We
doubt very much whether an instance can be found
in which the pardoning power has been exercised more
Justly legally. If there is any of complaint
about it, it because of the delay in releasing from
prison an innocent and prosecuted man. This delay
presume has been occasioned by the Governors
anxiety to investigate the matter, and TO bring his
mind to conclusion in regard to his guilt or inno
cence We not the defenders of Gov Whitcomb
but cannot consent to remain silent whenever polt
icGl adversary is assaed without cause. He has
done many things for which we are willing TO find
fault with him. but this Is very far from of them
1t should rebound TO his credit rather than his censure
That the Priest was wrongfully and improperly
convicted, we have never entertained particle of
doubt and with these convictions, willingly signed
together with great number of the citizens of this
county-the petition for his release. We do not see
how any man come to different conclusion, who
viii carefully read the testimony reported-drawn
up, we believe by those who active in the prose-
cution That the principal prosecuting witness swore
falsely, is not only beyond doubt from her story
but was admitted by her husband. The greatest Won
der, therefore, Is, how he could have been convicted
at all upon the testimony of PerJUred witness. 1t
must have been the result Of Of those sudden out
breaks of public passion, honestly aroused when crime
is supposed TO be committed, which sometimes breaks
down the forms of law and visits itself upon the heads
Of the innocent 1t Is greatly to be feared that much
of this excitement aroused because the accused
was Catholic Priest. II is certain that very much
n -
this feeling. This is all wrong-totally inexcusable.
We are, ourselves Protestant IN all the principles of
our faith. We have been raised and educated as
eStantS-loOking back upon the great reformation
of Luther as the work of the Divine hand But we
have yet to learn that the charity and justice which
these principles incucate, to be expended only
upon those who profess them. We have known ard
can know no difference-and the Lalo knows none
between Protestant and Catholic, in the progress OF
judicial investigation Whenever the day shall arrive
in this country when Catholic Is to be condemned
because he is a CethUic, then we may bid adieu tC
those liberties which fathers achieved. The right
of worshpping God according to the dictates of
own conscience is one of the most invaluable prvi
leges which they secured by that struggle which inn
mortalized their memories, and IN which both Pro
| teStantS and Catholics were engaged. Was Charles
| Carroll of Carrollton, who the last surviving
sipner of the Declaration of independence, less
patriot or less entitled to justice at the hands of hi;
| countrymen because he Cdthoicl As we re-
we're his memory and cherish recollection of the
principles for which he fought shall strive
and Pro,eStants, to resist persecution in whatever
shape and never will, knowingly, aid bigotry anC
superstition in its warfare against the teachings o
pure and genuine christianity.
Many pardons have been granted in this State
heretofore, and for crimes which of higher grade
upon the statute book than that with which this Prizes
was charged We, of course, know nothing of TIM
circumstances under which they obtained, bu
venture the opinion, that preceding one has beer
petitioned for by longer more respectable numbe
of citizens. These citizens convinced that grea
injustice had been done by the conviction, and the
applied to the only remaining source of relief-th
Executive. As one of them, we feel that we hav
done our duty and our conscience is easy That tn
Governor has done his, feel equally certain. An
if he never has dune, and never shall do act
than this he may well defy all the shafts which
, now hurled at him.
On the same subject the Greenfield Reyeille, a whi
paper, says
From the facts that have to knowledg
touching this mattsr,-from the number and respecta
biiy Of persons asking the pardon, belonging to
political party and various religious denominations
we conclude that the Governor did right in grantin
| al I'D