Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-12
To the Elton. Of the whis

Messr' Bdifors-I hope you will p.r,on mn. fl, .o,.
ing oet space IN your columns Tor the purpose OF con-
sdens the roer which seems to be established in ,hi.
WIN esstd To that unfortunate portion of our fellow.
euze9s who have brought themselves within an. nsn.l
nes the ahu-dueing law. From what has occurred an
,b.s .,,J [ - On on his subject, IL would to be
'ne P1ney OF the Legislature TO exclude forever
aud under all circumstance every one who bas - r..
unfortunate as to have placed himself within the pale Of
,s nos' questionable statute. An effort has been made
curing the present session. release all who wee md,
the penalties OF this law. IL failed by very large
d~' saInS s made by private citizen seeking in
,ene'' Ihs petition presented by one who has
been Tor hteen years political slave excluded ,n,r,
avenue o, professional and political advancement and vet
ne ''e oiseosed IN the petition presented show his Of
fence was OF the slightest possible srad, even md, ,h
exaggerated penalties OF this the harshe.t law in oar c,
| u.s. $3.50, J i"s Peunon was referred to the committee
y" |O"'sV Ssshee That committee, formed of rente-
men trained IN the law, aud familiar with IN, non,I.. ~
courts OF lusnee promptly reported against tAe petition
propose To consider briefly the propriety of sueb N
course, and TO contrast IL with the daily p,c.
cd and illustrated both in Court Of Eaav IN e,,,i
| criminal cases. e' u"
The learned committee in question are of eour., init
maey acquainted with that in our eip cod,
ptescrbes to every Chancellor the posfr, eor,,,a,d a.
heve every citizen, properly falling under his ipdr,I co.
nzanco against harsh. unjust or niqutous ana
oHeitufes-eSiendng. in their baefu either TO
'isNs " property or touching his social and individual
Interests Ih's 10 tAe eardiasI prineip, ON which il errc
ed that enlarged aud beautiful system OF equity which
- y. o." ;Haie'di ,y'iem. the peculiar safeguard
" every e'u1ehs nights and privileges of property No
Chancellor can disregard it, No system of equity "a, or
,nao1t a. tits the peculiar right OF every citizen TO
avail himself OF IT, whenever his relative situation reoue.
such equitable relief However clouded his title or en-
oafrassed his rights uammellcd his immunies-f he
can lay the foundation which bill in equity can rest,
complete" " '""
The learned committee in question are doubtless equal.
convcrsant with that practice and principle of juste,
which imposes the Executive branch of the Conmon
wealth the rjsIrisE relieve m all
extending TO FE or LIBERTY where, all things being con
sdered the party condemned is entitled relief IN rue
FORM OF A KKTKIyE.
Even where citizen Indicted and tried for MURDER
and the jury find verdict of ulaa-slIusk,r and on.,
inc secuscd to confinement IN the Penonnary the CO.
vernon can intervene, and by his MKRE WILL restore 10 So
eiey the convict Yea. even in OF a verdict under
the charge oi MURDER and sentence of DEATH the Exec-
tive can release the guilty cup and restore him bach q,
oil his social and political immunites Nor is this a-,b.
Legislature can elevate him, if they will it, to the Guber-
material seat,..
In every case Of this character il the party concerned
has only taken the avoid FORMAL SorE he
Is At ireemau-enued TO solicit receive and er,v
any political, Judicial civil pos, OF honor or emo,msn
with which his teiow-ctzens may fit to invest him
contrast OF rHEsE FEATURES IN laws with
the policy indicated by the report of the learned
committee in question: presents one of two diemmas-
either OF which would equally repugnant 10 Jus-
ricK on TRUTH.
We are LETT TO inter-ist that the Legislature has no
toW@S 10 relieve IN the PREMISES that secondly barring
inc power ey are wholly nsensble TO the dictates OF mo-
detation, and inscnsibe to the calls OF soeia! equity
Ii Is not IN the OF PROBABILITIES that any ono will
attempt to question the ample power of the Ies,n-, 90
relieve any enc against such penalty that imposed by
r.,
that II Is ideal deude the
euzsn who may desire ITS remedial operation l. the in
Jured HUSBAND 70 be divorced from the criminal wIFK-the
MURDERER 70 be restored society clothed with every i'm
muniV OF the free zenl-the FoRGER resnTreefioai.sd
from the pit Of niquity and re-invested with every sr,
cVil aud political prNiegei-and yet the citizen who has
shed no blood assaulted dvdua violated no cardinal
principle OF the social political compact TO be doomed ~
perpetual slavery; merely because, his YOUTH when his
Impulses were quick, his affections sirong and his feelings
oil honor sensitive he unfortunately quietly sought to rKE
VENT FcutrT by formal note INSTEAD OF K.sHLy EX
FaSiNs ais oN'N AND OTHER A STREET AFFELY1
Why Is u, Messrs Editors that week convict from
the enentaFy, put there Tor mansaughter t believ-
ed) has been released and tree to seek seat in
the Legislature as members Oi the present bodyl-and We,
the petitioner IN question, after fifteen years dsranchse
men' s still denied reei2 What JUSTICE is there in n
Tag perpetual bondage one (who believed as dis
closed IN ms petition, was when he the slight
offence OF seeking redress HIMSELF aciuated by the
unreNengeiu ieeliussD
i there no principle OF relief against 50 UNNATURAL A
SoNnAsEf Is the citizen who has thu, offended 10 be per
petday excluded from the honors and emouenis of the
Saie-and yet SHE 10 claim Of every discharge of her
military, civil and political service
Feb lOih, lSl7. ONE OF THE PEOPLE