The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-12-18


crusd, and giisvous delays Of justice resulted to
suifors from the late period Of the passage Of the
act, and tho want of inforMation Of ito proviscns.
Iin the distant counties Of the State, ID time to
prepare for the disposal Of the public business 10
pursuance Of iis requisitions
The reason for the suggestion. that most objects
4 Of permanent general legislation should, at this
session, be dispensed with, Is the. fact, that the
Constitutional Convention is now sitting in .
neiehborng city, and from the acknowledged wis
dom and experience to be found in that body, II
| is believed, in ths course u few months. new
Constitutions, worthy of their acceptance, will be
submitted to the people for adoption receive their
appreciation. and become the organic law OF the
State. II so, an entire revision OF the most OF
our public statute may be necessary. another year.
! with many new enactments, to carry out the re-
| quiIements of the new Constitution.
| f II is believed, no substantial evils can result
from pursuing the course suggested. while much
useless labor may be saved; the treasury relieved
from heavy additional burthens, and the Repre-
sentativss Of the people enabled, at an early day.
to return to their constituents and their homes
| The 5th section OF the same article OF the Con.
stitution coBfers on the Executive the authority
to grant reprieyes aud pardons, after convic ton,
except IN cases Of impeachment"
This power, so necessary to be vested some
where, in every complete system OF government,
| il must bs admitted, is extremely liable 10 abuse
This may arise by Withholding the exercise OF
this power, as well as by Its too frequent appilca
| ton. No definite rules OF action can he esfao'
lished, BY which tn guide the discretion OF the
Executive, If tenaciousy adhered to. without the
certainty OF occasional public injury, or private
injustice. Every application for pardon. or re-
prieve, must rest 10 the exercise oil sou"o a!s
cretion, and depend upon Its own merits. and Its
own individual circumstances. sit eaf
| The certainty, rather than Inc severity OF pun
ishment, Is conceded, as the better course 10 Sc
cure the observance Of those rules, which every
government must adopt tor the security OF nseli
and its citizens. against the iawles' violence OF Of
he h H.e"ous "s ao p,'ns nor unusual nunish.
ments. I, is. in the main. as mild in its penalties
for guilt, as the law of any civilized country, and
our modes Of trial are as well calculated Cd to % secure
sna pso,ees nnh,;s is iuuc ns,ce ' "
It always appea,ed to me, therefore, before the
law should be interrupted in its course, the Gov
ernor should be well satisfied OF the ,'egai''y, OF
"asSS aosS. " ,ha, ' ,hs sSamuie which had been set
and the reformation of The offender had uly sat.
isfied the claims Of public justices that extraor'
di"sry circumstances had arisen s;,1sequen. nG 20
""chris,an na bJ thai. % n"nishmsn. should be longer
continued.
( l am OF the opinion, that the pardoning power
was designed to reach very few' y any otner cases
.nan 'nose I h Eva. should no, fpr
pet while he sees and hears of sorrows Of Others
that the safety and security of society depend
essentially, ona rigid, impartial and energetic ad
m'n,sua!,on n o. pensi laws ', ,,;,,. .,.c.. ,b.
the Governor "ruay require information in wri
ting, from the officers in the executive depart
ment, upon any subject relating to the duties o
!he'r respective s..t,, cces anu S's ''Ae ''' '
"e Th;S IT W , ';s;on NO. Jss;aned Iconclude
..l mS p.o I";o. ,ho cow.rnos 70 examine and
- n.,a,;,n ~ ,ha tronsac,;on of bu
a;anss = ~ :" .ha o,ber sxscn,;ve department.
o. % ,hs anuarnr,ant. - w mower which NAV be
o.."0,;s, " ~. ~ ,la LnowIad,e reouired TO ena
Ss t',s ,ha E.oo".;ua " @ IN h;s ANIMAL message
=. V ,ha '' oommsncement Of the sessions o
,ha ~ C.nara, asSsmhlv or from time to time
"e III .i,a. 80 s III. ~ yoro, a,;on of tho stat,
of T.. r. cousrnmsn, and that a snnervisor,
~ ~ na,,sno. ~. o ,aan ha sxerted calculated T.
nm.a, .ha nmnotuo, and fa;th6ul discharg.
81 ama;ol phl;oa,;ons
In tho norfornoance IF this inDeratiyf
L., 'Io Iii r ;nr;,a ,bo rnost frapk and
& &G.;oyd,,, o"nomn;oat;on With the subordi
.s..,,;na' ,ana r,mon,s and shall
da,,h,,a.s I n,or. frsnnentlv he under the
uooass;,n or ssL;na adyice in NV own de-
nsrtnoan, than ;mnar,ino i in theirs: ant
% rpa1l s,r;vs % 10 maiptain he most friendl,
| .nd oonfd.n,;aI % raIai;ons so essential r.
,ho N n,hl;o ;ntarast in tho discbaroe of du
.;o. a. ppoDnoot"d pouno . h1 oa;c;aI ;nterconyse
~ Th.ra ;s ons Subject of general leoisla
ton ;n sdd;,;on 10 ,bose befora enumerat
ed however TO which would invite youl
eo, o,.;o,,,e, HU a,,su,;om ~ I do % with 9rea
rssna", p Sor tho on;nions of those with whom
ma d;ffsr and n ot without doubts. wheth
III. 49, shnnld NJ, NO ieti until the result q
'"Vu'N nv W -. :.