Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-10-21

of any act of legislation which may not
be performed by the two Houses alone,
without the concurrence of the Governor.
THE PARDoNING POWER.
A constitutional question has arisen in
relation to the pardoning power of the
Executive, to which ! deem it proper to
call your attention in order to avoid any
misapprehension on the subject. Ii has
been claimed that the exception in the
Constitution of cases of murder and trea-
son from the pardoning power of the Gov
ernor is not absolute, but only deprives
him of the power until the end of the next
session of the Assembly after the passing
of the sentence. This construction would
seem to be favored by an act of the leg
islature of 1855, and another in 1886.
l have been unable so to understand the
Constitution. l can conceive Of no rea-
son why the pardoning power OF the Ex-
ecutive in these cases should be absolute
" prohibited for the few months or weeks
that might intervene before the next ses-
sion of the legislature, and be left in full
force forever afterwards. If the legisla-
ture, having had an opportunity to act up
on case, should decline to interfere,
there would, indeed, seem to be an addi-
tional reason why the Governor should
not. The object of the trainers of the
Constitution appears to me to have been
to place these two crimes beyond the par
doning power Of the Governor, confer
ring on him limited authority to reprieve,
in order to enable him, if he saw fit, to
give to party convicted, an opportunity
of applying to the legislature for relief.
If the language of the Constitution be
read as printed in the first Constitution
70 the State, by separating the words " but
not so pardon" by commas from the other
parts of the sentence, (see SHADES State
Papers p. 250,) ! think such would be the
natural construction of the language.
SLAVERY.
The position of Vermont on the sub
ject of slavery, which has for several
years past so much agitated the public
mind, remains unchanged. While yield
ing due obedience to the provisions o
the constitution of the general govern
ment, Vermont does not claim right tt
interfere with slavery in the States where
it exists by law, she protests in strong
and emphatic terms against its extension
into the territories of the Union, whicl
she insists shall be forever consecrated t.
; freedom. And though she does not dem
her obligation by compact to surrende
t fugitives from service, when duly shown
, to be such, she repudiates all pretension
= of right in the STAKEHOLDER to bring hi
e slave into this State and hold him her
in bondage; and will never, under an
circumstances, permit her soil for sin
gle moment to be thus contaminated b
: the curse Of slavery.
am sorry to feel under the necessit
of saying that new and most democrat
+ zing manifestation of the progressive an
J grasping power of slavery has been mad
e during the past year. Not only is the re
lation of master and slave advocated {
the South as the best and most desirabl
= condition Of society, but the African slav
t trade, which a few years ago both tt
F. South and North united in denouncing {
" robbery and piracy, is now openly pr
n claimed by leading Southern politician
v as commendable species of commerc
, and its re-opening even urged as mea
n ure of benevolence and christian philal
thropy. 1t is unnecessary TO say, th
any attempt to legalize this horrid al
abominable traffic will receive the mo
d decided condemnation of the people
9 this State.
u In closing this my last annual messag
u cannot withhold the expression of n
ID grateful thanks to the freemen of Il
State, for the confidence they have on ;
occasions so generously manifested
a. wards me; and beg to assure them, til
of in retiring from public life at the end
ed the present political year, shall car
To with me the warmest and most hearth
in wishes for the continued prosperity of t
a. State, and for the welfare and hap
nd ness of its people.
! HILAND HALL.
~ EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
a Moptnaliar 0ct ID 1870