Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-04
TIE PARDON OF App1seroS.


aplimenta,v allusion 10 the conduct OF the
vernon of the STATE:
Our NOS; exccca; ciei magistrate seems % nc
rc.s!ns his p.v!o:..- power w..a2u: Inn: cr i.'-
zion. y: ,ie r-;t lie i now GONG. i s. b@ r,e-
FOR the Legislature - adop: tina: feature ~ H.,
ssage advising tie leasing OF: 0; ihe institution
the par?9>e o.: :'ak:;!g !: revenue :ns:e.' @ =
king fund !ie Won, have any one u 'so!a. ei'
8. the polls. IN Tie comm: .p!.nc election. lie
rs moreover, 70 exercise no discretion. only Oh!
!ay or Saturday last. he pardoned q iaan who Wa
81 from ILL., ;'.aee - Norfolk 70: >!!aae;Iiy anal
in, AL !n.occa WIFE, and axe: .e::.!., - ::e "a:
9ace va, t.iei convicted ard sen: q Tia PEN.
arv !o- = crime scarcely VIII! :.-s,!!el-:! -.
J.; 20 :Gr:er HI, brother. ~ recent .>it - thu
..g:.o! w4s :o.l that Ills !.,! -. from
r.r. pea.:eacc. Was :ncn in close coa:aeinr:!; ;o
.:s:ce - ne Officers and oyT bad bc!avip:. g..
again cas-: upo:. Tie world 20 co!;:!!: :!c same
ace % enjoy ,.!e same i'nalG!!:!es and benefits.
social and political, ,!a; yoA or | DO through
c.-.Deccv O: the Go".rlic!.
lad these unjust assertions appeared in Az
ositioa paper. We should probably have al
ed them 70 pass ymno;iced Appearing a.
.,v do. in Democratic sheet. which owes i
% party allegiance as well aS TO common justice.
TO abstain from all unjust assaults on 4 repre-.
sentative man Of the party we ,ahc occasion 10
correct the impression which might otherwise
be produced By the publication OF the ''Repub-
lea
Had the Richmond correspondent Of that
paper been Inclined 10 acco:i common justice
20 Coz. Wise !; would seem tina, ne Nigh, have
given him the opportunity Of hearing, before
publishing denunciation such Is the above.
\ short walls to the capitol would have enabled
this correspondent 10 examine the record Of
Adding,ons case. and thus pronounce know
insly concerning matter abou: which ne has
written in evident ignorance Of the fac.>. y
verv close intimacy with GOV Wise enables Us
to state positively tina, the inSinua,;on o; an en-
ercise Of the parioning power on his part with
on, limit or Distinction or discretion is en-
,!relv un.ouaied lie has never issued u pardon
without a full. laboriouS study Of the record in
the case, thorough sitting Of all information
recaived from reliable sources, and conse-
ouen, conviction ,ha, il required the exercise
OF the parionnc power. Indeed, the CORES
poaden, OF the Republican does not attempt
to justify his general accusation. amounting TO
nothing less than 4 charge 9! official incompe-
teacv. except by reference ;e the single case Of
Adding,on.
However base may haze been Mr.. Adding
tons character. however cruel ana unmany
his treatment 10 his wife. however ineycusaale
his assault, or his brother. it WAS the unayoiia-
Die duty of Governor Wise 10 pardon him.
The facts are these In consequence Of a.
legged violence towards his wife, NJ. Arlington
- said to have been obliged, hy the ini;gna-
TOT. Of MS neighbours TO absent himself from
Eichmond He Went to Norfolk. Both in
Richmond and Norfolk he hal become very u:l-
popular Oh account Of his wcll.known violence
g ..,,.-. and other unamiable traits OF cha
,.a- ~ >, least Of. reputation. After his
,rriv,i a. Norfolk. his br. >'heF repealed him
with harsh accusations and us''a','''''''.' u'
tered in his presence He rep. 'eu y =" ''''S'e
severe blow. which ne did not attempt TO repeat
de was indicted for assault and battery. '''h
intent % XII The case was argued before
TWO ,ur;es successfully: both jur!c, hung
before third Jury. NJ. Arlington refused to
employ counsel. and behaved in sHch q
manner A. to prejudice his case; the 'air!
Jury brough: in a verde: Of guilty.
We nave me; with q number Of gentlemen pre-
sen, AT the trial: among them leatiin: members
Of ,hs bar. These express but one opinion
tina. Arlington owes his conviction merely 10
HI; bad reputation and Usual violent conduct
int Inc evidence produced showed nothing
more than an ordinary case Of assault and bal
:e-v there being no proof whatever Of an IAiea'
70 Kill. This Is not an offence legally pt"isia'e
bv confinement, in the penitentiar:. The verdict
Of the iury was based upo: -yidencc r?ea~'y
insufficient, to justify it; With these facts be-
fore him. the Governor had no option lie .
was not only permitted but absolutely re-
ouired TO issue pardon Nor was the pardon
granted precipi,atcly. without limit O: dis
,iac,ion or discretion He waited 10 re-
ceiYe the record Of the case. studied II care
sa!lv. listened patiently 70 the recita!> OF nj! |
ne-soos from whom he could Obtain; reliable /
information. among them those w!!3 werc de- !
,irous Tor the sake Of the community AMI Tor
ne sake 0! Mr.. Adiincton'S own family, that
to 81. A serve out his term in the penite;i-
:iarv: the States Attorney himself who pro-
secuted hl,a certifying ,ha; ms was proper
case FOR the employment, o! Executive PARDON
Unwilling 10 allow the statement Of These
facts TO appear merely On our own reSpon-
sio;li.y. VIC have procured the following extract
from the files os,he Executive Department. set
ting forth, in the Governors own language,
the reasons which induced him to sign the
pardon of Addngton
copy.
RICHMOND. NigGISiA.
December sd. l>j>.,
Communicable rs X b. -Aifiagto".
I am called "a t. review this case, and To de-
eide upon the question OF his pardon
LIST, 1t appears TO have been hu, case OF
assault and battery, lnilictin- no bodily injury
Of a permanent character. 1t was
ID Doubtless malicious in the sense that
there was existing il the mind hostile feel
ING. apprehensivc Of personal rcnoountre pro-
b.blv: bu, there is no evidence that this assault
was planned or preconccrted. and there is proof
the contrary. that It was accidental and sud
denly brought on. and the prisoner was not
armed. AID
GA The ,r,yor,.i,., Lv his brother en-