The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-25
Governor Hunt and, the Recent Fugitive
Slave Case.

Several days ago we published letter from Mr.
Allen Thomas, jr., relative to the pardoning and
escape of fugitive slave from Sing Sing The
Commercial advertiser, Of last evening, gives the
following letter from Gov. Hunt, relative to the
affair:
ALBANY, May %, 1852.
DEAR SIR reply with pleasure to your inquiry
in relation to the pardon of james Z. Snowden, n
colored sonyict.
The newspaper statements to which you refer arc
erroneous III several important particulars An ap-
pication was made to me few days before his term
expired, to pardon him, the ground of his inno-
ccncc.
1t clearly established, by the proofs presented
to me, that he had been convicted Of crime which
he committed. He was sent to the State
prison for larceny which never occurred. Under
these circumstances, considered his imprisonment
clear violation of law.
granted the pardon, therefore, not as favor but
as right twas an exercise of justice, and not Of
mercy. In my action upon this upon all similar
applications, intended to be governed by the in
trnsic merits of the ease. 1t was not known to me
that he was fugitive slave.
At the time Of granting the pardon had no
knowledge or suspicion that Snowden was the same
person referred to in the letter addressed to me by
Dr:s Allen Thomas of Maryland Indeed, it did not
occdfto my mind that | had received such letter.
until my attention was subsequently called to the
fact. This inadvertence will not surprise you who
know something of the immense pressure upon the
executive for padons, and Of the hundreds Of appli
cations constantly pending before me.
On referring to the letter of DR.. Thomas, | find
that it contains no expression intmation of Il
design to pursue and reclaim Snowden as n fugitive
slave. 1t not for me to assume that his inquiry
was made with any such intention 1t is the first
instance that has come to my knowledge where n
distant owner has attempted to regain possession of
a slave who had been convicted of felony
W hen il has been satisfactorily shown that an in
nocent man is confined in the State prison, have
hs.,~ stopped to inquire whether he is black or
Whl'e, be''d or free. 10 detain him longer would
oe a a nasr'hl sG@~"rsion of law ana justice
10 you, who know me, know that no assurance
is needed to satisfy you that ~n incapable of exer
cising my Office with view to dereot The execution
of the Fugitive Slave law, or any Other law Nv
explicit ayowals ia favor of the constitutional 90 n
promises, and against further sectional collisions
are before the public. OF my liability to err in the
exercise Of the pardoning power be so fully
conscious as myself
When | consider the labor and embarrassment
which inseparable from the discharge of this
responsibility IN large State like ours, it does not
surprise me that erroneous differences should be
adopted, in some cases. by persons having imperfect
knowledge of the facts governing my action. But
l have learned to regard unjust ccnsurcs and nuri-
Gus comments with that calm composure and uncon-
which spring from conscious reotitude Of pur-
POSE remain, with great regard yours truly.
WASHINGTON Hunt.
To the Hon EDWIN u. MORGAN, Senator