The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-04


EXECUTIVE CIEMENCY BY WHOIEsALE.-We
had expected to be able to say that no one act
ever became the official life of Governor Clark
half so much as his leaving it. That consOla-
ton is denied to us. Almost the last act Of his
life as Governor of the State was 10 set free nine
teen convicts to help us make merry during the
holiday season. Here is the list of Governor
Clark's friends, and precious set of fellows they
must be-
Morris Kirgsbaugh, alias Miller, convicted Of grand
larceny. Tenn, two ears--served eight months.
Theodore Hudson, grand larceny. Term i've yssrs-
W. a. Dalton, grand larceny. Term two yean-served
Robert Csruthers, grand larceny. Term three years
served eighteen months.
Thomas Burns, grand larceny. Term two years
W.T. Valentine. grand larceny. Term two years-
Rerved FIVE months.
E. A. Howard, grand larceny Term four years-serv.
Marr,nus Hopper, burglary. Term three yearsservsd
Uriah B. Low burglary Term ten years-served one
yesr.
Jerry Mcclsr, forgery. Term three years and four
moDths-served eleven months.
Patrick Hanney rape. Term ten yesrs-served twenty
four months.
James Cole, rape. Term ten years and six months
Banned Rooney, rape. Term ten years-served TWEEN.
Stephen Hogan uansaughter. Term two years
served eleven months.
The Governor has also granted the following
communications
John Hendrichson, robbery. Term ten years-com.
mu'ed to four years and two months Time expired
VIM. Hickey, grand larceny. Term COMMITTED from
four years to two years and three months Time expired
Russell Johnson grand larceny. Term commuted from
ave yers to four. Time expires January 20.
Forester Young: burglary. Term cemmuted from
Patrick Cox, assault with intent to kill. Term
muted from three years six months to two years two
months Time expired January l.
Fourteen free pardOns and five combinations
in one week. Nineteen men duly convicted of
manslaughter, rape, burglary, forgery, robbery,
and almost every crime in the calendar, are re-
leased at time of the year when labor is at dis
count and when the temptation to plumber is un-
usually strong. Let Mr.. Clark keep close
watch over bis hardware store in Canandaigua.
Some of bis Sing Sing friends may even forget
the motto of the craft, " honor among thieves"
We begin TO be seriously of opinion that it
would be as well to abolish the criminal code
altogether, or else to ascertain distinctly the
true intent Of criminal law, which is to
protect society, and to carry out that in
tent to the letter by allowing society the
privilege of protecting itself by such methods
as it may choose. What protection is there for
life and property in this city at this time? The
stream Of justice lie polluted at the fountain head.
1t is almost impossible to procure the conviction
Of rogue if he can command few hundred
dollars, no matter how patent his guilt may be.
Astute advocates set up impudent and absurd
theories, bully the bench, weary the jury and en-
ploy tie most disreputabe means to save a
scouDdrel from merited punishment. Take the
Baker case, for example, and witness the unblush-
ing efffontery of the defence in the Huntington
matter. Happily, it was not successful in the
last instance.
After the rogue is convicted, sentenced and duly
shut up-what then? His friends bring all sorts
Of influences TO bear upon weak Governor for
his pardon. Every man, said great statesman,
has bis price; and some queer prices, in singular
cmIeDces, have been peid, it is said, for pardons
in this State. Sometimes the executive clemency
is exercised for a political friend who amuses
himself between elections by little bit of grand
Larceny or a nocturnal foray for silver plate, &c
conpaDed with deadly assault upon the own
CT thereof Sometimes the convict has pretty
mistress, who fascinates some of the Governors
friends; and sometimes the lobby will sell out
its influence with the executive for a round sum-
1t Is not alleged that the Chief Magistrate is
aware that the benevolent exertions Of bis advisers
are altogether selfish but his ignorance cannot be
pleaded in excuse for the betrayal Of the trust
reposed in him by the people. No matter how il
is done, or who does it. The fact is that it is
very hard TO get rogue convicted, and still
harder TO keep in prison, with an executive who
yields TO the most delicate outside pressure The
consequence is there is no protection for society,
except in revolvers, which will Immediately rise
in value as each new batch of convcts is liberat-
I'd from Sing Sing. TX. Governor Clark merits
statue from the fraternity of thieves. He has
been their greatest patron and their frmest
friend.