New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-09
DIR. GRAHAM,s PARDON.

We lately announced the pardon Of this no
torious individual from Sing Sing, to which
prison no was only year ago condemned
for seven years on account Of homicide OF a
very gross and sanguinsry character The rea-
son given by The Albany Eoen'ng Journal Tor
bis discharge was, that be was so very i'll that
q longer confinement would be fatal Besides we
were told, very many highly respectable persons
had solicited his discharge on other and more gen.
ersl grounds To US, we must s,y that this is all
quite unsatisfactory. If convicts are to be dis
charged from our State prisons on such grounds,
the cells will speedily be emptied, and the
Offices of wardens and keepers become complete
sipecure SbommiDg sickness is an old trick
among sailors, soldiers, prisoners and slaves. We
doubt not that DR.. Graham from his long residence
in slave country, has had ample experience,
perhaps in bis own family, OF the ingenious
fetches resorted to for that purpose. Of course
what we soy here is intended to apply to prisoners
generally, and not specially to the case of DIR.
Graham We know nothing about that; nor do we
mean to intimate that DR.. Graham would resort to
any means to get out of prisOn which he did not
consider strictly honorable. But what we do mean
to intimate is that ifprisoners TO be discharged
from the penitentiary because they are apparently
sick and likely to die that sickness even unto
death-at least what seems to be such sickness-is
likely to become the rule rather than the exception
with all our State cOnvicts.
Nor is it st all necessary that the prsoners-some
OF whom may not be good at shammiDg-should
have ANYTHING to do with the matter. 1t may all
be managed for them by convenient friends out of
doors. What is easier than to spread report that
man is sick, very sick, just at the point of death
1t was but the other day that the Boston newspa-
pers announced that COburn confined in Jail for the
assault and battery which resulted in young Sum-
ner's death, was sick of brain fever, and that
5000 signatures had been obtained to a petition
for bis pardon. The signatures having been OBJ
tanned, the same papers announced day or two
after that COburn was only sick with a cold. In
deed, we see it stated that since DR.. Graham'S
release, his recovery has been equally rapid
Bat suppose prisoner really is sck-is that
reason for his pardonl Was the apparent SEN
tence of DR.. Graham to seven years imprisonment
really modified by tact understanding that if he
were attacked by dangerous sickness he should
be discharged at the end of year IL it not one
of the risks that man takes who gets into prison,
that perhaps he may die there Is discharge from
prison sure to Gre o man of consumption or
fever Considering the Incorporate and other
bad habits of so many cOnvicts, is not their chance
of life, Oh the whOle-eyen though they may have
some severe disorder upon them-decidedly greater
in the prison than out of it +? Besides, which is
most fit to be considered in case Of this sort-the
life of Dr. Graham or the danger resulting from
his discharge that new murders may be committed
in some of our frst-class hotels
AS TO the personal appeals brought to bear to
procure this pardon and to procure pardons gen.
erally-they ought never to be admitted, in such
cases to have any weight whatever. AS the GRIM
nal should not be punished out of vengeance so he
ought not to be pardoned out of pity. 1t is ques-
ton in both cases. not Of private interest and feel
ing, but of the public gOsd; and we exceedingly
regret every new occurrence which goes to
strengthen an opinion already too current among
us-that if man has friends and money, it is next
to impossible to convict him Of crime and that fine
should happen to be convicted, the Governor is
speedily TO pardon him.