Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-04-29
. Executive CIemency.

Gov Means, We beg leave to call the atien-
tion of our readers 10 the statement from f.
J. Arthur, esq This statement is merely
rccapitulation of the facts in the casc.-Car-
Gilman.
MEssRs. EDITORS: AS some misarprehen-
sion has gone abroad in reference TO the cir
cumstanccs under which his Excellcncy Gov
eruor Means remittrd SD much of the SEN
tcnce recently passed upon John NJ E. Sharp,
for mansaughter, rs relates to the mprlson.
ment. ask the use of your columns 10 make
Il brief statement Ut such of the facts and
circumstances under which that pardon was
granted as come within my own kn' w!cdse,
so that the public may be able to form cor
rect Judgment Of the transaction.
On Monday or Tuesday of the Spring
Term of the Newbcrry Court, John A. Moore.
ESQ.,, rs one of Sharp's counsel, and at my
request, applied personally to his Honor
Judge O'Neall, at Newberry Court House,
for report of Sharp's ease, with view of
presenting petition to the Governor for
remission of the whole or q part of his sem
tence. His Honor replied that be had not
vet had leisure to make out the report, but
would do so when he had time, or words 10
that effect. These facts were communicated
to me by Mr.. Moore. This, it will be borne in
mind, was some eight or len days after
Sharp's conviction. The application to the
Governor was accordingly delayed, with a
view of getting the report of the Judge, until
Monday, the 29th day of March, just about
two weeks after the date nf Mr.. Moore's ap-
plication to the Judge On this day, no re-
port having vet been furnished, (no doubt in
consequence of the pressure of other engage
mcnts upon his Honor.) and two respccta-
Bile physicians of the town certifying that
Sharp's health had already severely suffered
from his confinement, and in ease of his in.
carceralion being much longer continued his
health might, and, in the opinion of the ply.
sicians, "wouId be grievously injured and
perhaps permanently destroyed" ], as one
of Sharp's counsel, gave my consent that the
petition should be forthwith presented 10 Il e
Governor, believing, rs did, that the urgen-
cv of the case was such rs to justify such a
step, even without the report of the Judge
i am informed by Capt. J. D. Tradewel,
who was also, of counsel for Sharp, that
about The time of MIR. Nloore's personal ap.
plication he also addressed an application
by letter to Judge O'Ncall, at Newbcrry
Court House. for report Of Sharp's ease,
but without effect, nv doubt from the causes
above assigned.
1t was under these circumstances, (Which
Of course were communicated TO the Cover
nor, in order 10 explain the seeming prerpi-
fancy of the applicalion.) and upon petitions
signed by some Of the most respectable and
Intelligent gentlemen of Richland and Fair
field Districts, that his Exccllcncy Governor
Means remittcd so much Of Sharps, sen.
tencc as related to the Imprisonment, upon
the condition thai Sharp would pay The tint
and costs, and either leave the State or enter
into bond, with sureics for his good br'a'
vor for two years. it may Ge proper to
state also that The peii ion was signed b!
every Juror who sat in the ease, (Which was
in accordance with their previous unanimous
Recommendation to mercy, rs entered upol
the records Of our court,) aud also by man,
members of the Columbia and Winnsbort
.hass.
connected with the presentation of Sharp'
Z petition 10 the Governor, aud the grant O
the pardon. in justice 10 his EXcrllency
Governor Means, TO the highly respectable
signcrs of Sharp's petition, and to myself,
feel called upon TO make the above statement
and without the rcmotest intention of cas-
ting censure upon any one, or attempting IL
dictate u Judgment upon the act of clemcncy
for Which Gov. Means has been so severely
censurcd in some quarters, I must say, that
the above facts furnish to my mind Il com.
plcte and satisfactory yindicatinn of llie Gov.
ernor from the Charge Of precipitanry, and
fully justified his action upon the petition
without the report ofthc presiding Judge.
Those newspapers, which, under II nlisap.
prcllcnsion, or ignorance Of the facts, have
made publications ccnsuring Gov. Means for
rcmitling Sharp's Imprisonment, will M
doubt at once src the propricty, rs al act OF
justice, ofcopying the above.
April %, 1852. L. J. ARTHUR.
Eank of St. Mary's.
This Institution. as it will be perceived
from the subjoined card received by Tclc-
graph yesterday by one of our most infucn-
tial business men in this city, has been forced
to Il temporary suspension of specie pay.
ments. The paragraph alluded TO in it from
the Mobile Tribune is, we presume, The fol-
lowing which appeared in that Journal on
Tuesday last:
"DAHK OF ST. MARY's.-Thcrc was a
| uood drol of ryritrmrnt i'm tnwn vrStcr,i,r