Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-01
From the Udyne County Record, Dec. 81.
Gov. WhitcOmb and the I'ardOning
RawPr.


We invite the attention Of readers to the follow
ing interesting communication from his Excellency
Governor WHITcoMB. forwarded 10 Of citizens
some time since, and which should have appeared
sooner, but for the that it did not find ITS way
to in time for earlier insertion.
Il We would not undertake to say any thing as to the
claims of the particular referred TO In the letter
for official interference. But would do feelings
injustice not to commend, most unequyocally,
the sentiments contained In the letter OF his Excclency
His views the subject of pardons certainly
reasonable and correct 1t is true that this State
we have suffered but little from Official interference
TO prevent the sentence of our Courts from taking
their But in other States, and I'm some too,
Judging from their age and their rank among the
sister States, whose Judicial system should have been
brought to great perfection, and whose policy should
have been model for the younger States the system
of Executive interference has grown to be an intoe
rable evil. This was eminently the in Pennsyi-
rama during the late Administration. The power Of
the Executive exercised with little discrimination
The most hardened offenders turned loose upon
society IN scores and the result was most Injurious
TO community. The supremacy and certainty of the
law Frustrated The criminal learned 10 disrc-
gard It's punlshments, trea' them with scorn. In
ducements were thus held out for the commission Of
crime the result of which It's rapid and fearful
increase. And the must ever be the case where
there is not the greatest taken by the Executive
| IN interfering with the regular course of tic laws
In the letter of Governor WnlTcoMn, we have n
guaranty that such will not be the case during his
term ct Office and we sincerely hope that views sim-
lar to his may ever characterize the Chief Magistrate
of our State.
ISDr,SAroLrs. Nov. 10Th, Iss5.
DEAN SRA press II business has prevented as carly
reply TO your letter as wished.
You refer TO an application (which had previously rcceir
ed Tor the pardon Of WiNfrRrp Wmfrr coloted woman
of mansaughtcr OF which sic had been con-
,ici,d, at the last Spng Tenn Of the Wayne Ccun Count
on IN indictment hr the murder Of her infant sho
wa' sentenced TO be imprisoned at bodily labor for
III he Iii leff xha
The application lor her release pufpoits be- signed by
the Melnbe OF the Count, the Clerk the Sheriff
eung Attorney, aud other respectable citizens You suggest
ha II Is usual 20 grant pa,dons where the same a. lec-
mcuded hy The Court Without doubt the Recommendation
OF the Judges acquainted they necessarily are with the
tAcfs OF The case, a. proven the ial eutled the
highest fespec and II has received from q certainly
mclied, the most careful con>dciaon Hut the Judges
nave mace no reference 10 the FAcrs of the which
would gave To their recommendations any peculiar strength
over that Of other respectable Nor ihcie any
s"oh eie''nce IN any Of the forwarded sup
port OF the application. Nor ,ft To be inferred thai the
recon" eudaton be grounded on then und know
ledge Of The tets On the contrary the expressly
giv'r, on which the pardon l. sought
The paid mig power is by the Constitution Of the STATE
lodged ia the hands of Executive thou, nsbilt,
and without limit. except the soar, ca.e Of imnears
ments la my opibi0n, II should for that yeiy i,aon he
seldom excci.ed and always with reai eau,,n :, hps
never be regarded as the property The dvidual in whom
III temporarily vested, u be exercised or Withheld ean,,-
eouy or Tor his mere personal Qualification should
viewed saoi-d trust deposited hn for the pfoec
ton and welfare Of soc,y TO be used only 10 ,hed the
innocent o. to mitigate The severity Of general its
cumsances which aeseen would probably have
fi"m the Legislature the Pardon then j. in
eucu' 10 De not destructive Of but auxiliary to- the cTmi-
hS ana as aling IT'S moral influences the
oil social order For, If punishment should Justly te-
gaIdea as Too severe under SPECIAL circumstances lis infection
would shock the moral of the community and move
as injurious TO the of good government would an
unjust paidon While justice sound policy require that
crimes should be clearly defined, and that
should e mild yet humanity itself their exc
eson should be certain, unless the particular circumstances
should clearly call for pardon Nor are tunishnen TO be
Ofbe
aud Tor the reformation Of the delinquent
With these views ia mind, return to the case under
consideration As already ntmaed the real difficulty in
The way Of the pardon asked for reason and
INC only reason urged IN It's behalf II asked on
any Of the usual grounds, such om the evidence on
the trial or from facts, which have since transped there il
any doubt Of the prisoners gu, OF, ground Of her
any signs OF pRtence reformation Nor il stated that
the punishment awarded the circumstances Of the
the killing took place otherwise than design and roEence
and under such circumstances, il is difficult to conceive in
the of being helpless, crime could be less
Than murder Her pardon asked in short she
deseres h not account of her or disposition NOT
because OF any thing relating to dese but simply for
pose oil saving the County from the MAIN
enanoe IN prison. because, as IL stated no employment
can be found by which she maintain herself.
But In addition 10 the objections already adyerted 10 ~
may be fairly presumed that If employment can be found
in the present case IN your County vail under
similar circumstances Counties Besides tberr s
class of where offenders are punishable by imnson
ment IN the County JAIL without being required 10 labor
and where, OF course, their maintenance be public
case on the principle ufged-to expense should for
the same reason be exercised the cases referred to-
winch would amount to repeal of the law bv the
Executive, without the concurrence of Legislature
Inc people OF Indiana have been the great
expense oil framing Criminal Code and If ESTABLISHING and
continuing Courts of Justice for the protection Of
ne cizens OF your County addition 10 their share Of
ls charSe nave borne the still heavier of utes the
e ana expense OF witnesses aud the Incl
dent 10 The prosecution Of violations # the laws The
question IS shall all this be unavang the w Mt of the
iufther expense OF punshmsn Shall an evil examine Re
SET ana an open encouragement held out inviting
the fuiher commission of Offences which would again re-
CURE more expense IN their prosecution aud only 10 erm
maize again IN the same manner Such course woua no
but miserable economy and mockery Justice Better
would II be TO repeal the laws once and thus save an ex
pene, which would be rendered uitles by ultimate impu
nifty.
The real evil complained Of in like the present.,
seems 10 me- can be easily and only rghifuy Iemoded by
the Legislature. -
With these views, feel a sense of duty
moi 10 interfere IN the present There NAV be other
ic OF considerations bearing upon brought TO
my notice. which might change tins Such
snail De ready at all times, 10 receive and consider
am with great regard
lonTs, very truly,
JAMES WHIrCOMB
Missouri STATE DEBT.-By the synopsis Of tLe
Auditors Report. it appears that, whilst the State
debt *, nominally, 2tSi93S - il IS actually los
than million. The hank Sfoc- o,r,ol l-