New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-02
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY ?, 1859

,..,o 81 ,bs State has grown from 800, 600 -
hearty coo eco, and yet, until sa'ey mere was on
one Secretary in tire Governors once. inis ~ionf
has her corrected in some measura during your al
n,ni..r,top ard you have been ensoled 20 make Val
uable re forms in TIE Executive Chamber nI u'ose
Ihsrn law should be passed giving to TIE iotsIn"I
az this great state the privilege which tne m
officers of cities and counties sDloy, =, 1920
discretion the proper number OF assistan's' -,
He u vested TO, only with the pardonlng power u
ia also inirus,ed By the Constitution Win numetVas
lish duties, and smopg other thipss be Is !"
care that the laws are fsithfny exs 9u,edi 70 c'.
~ .ha Ieci.lature on extraordinary occasions. 10
con nun icae 10 II az every session the milton % '
Stste ard recommend such matters q, he snau ueeoi
.xpe1ient ard if necessary restrain It's acton
It conflicts with the Corstituii' or me Gh's OF
ess of o1r people. lie n required to transact al oasl
ress vii The fcers OF Government, cy or mitary'
n the Legislature had enabled our Cove rno,s 10
carry out their constitutional powers, TIE STATE Gov
eminent would have been adnlhislefe1 WIN Au'i0
yiCor and economy.
Lock at the criminal department aione. lie con-
victicps for al grades of offenses are more than ~
Coo annually. and the difficulty OF aetpg upon
them s il creased by accountable and Taordnary
snoralies in the history Of crime. The phases OF vo-
a,ops law are constantly changing certain ofenses
b,irg nost frequent in certain pes.Vis
The foLosrg statement OF CONVICTIONS Tor murusr
for a seres of years. will show this;
In ls4s there convicted Of TIE crime OF uatse
In 1850 there yicted Of the crime OF murder eI'ou'
In iss5 her were convicted Of the crime of nnrde persons
IN e were Of the crime OF murser 10 ersoh
In 1854 there convicted Of the crime o. maI1eI
In 1855 there convicted Of the crime OF mafoe Pe''D
In 1876, nc Teturrs. ,,-- ..-.,,s
In 1881 1e were convicted CT the crime Of murder persons
With respect to psrdons, the great difficulty WITH
The Executive is the want Of proper means 10 inform
himself of the truth of the statements made 10 app,
csticrs. Respectable citizens and Mgh oiheial' VIZ
without ought, sign petitions. Without proper IS
ssants 10 enable i'm to look into facts, the Governor
i left in uuce rtsinty. lie may be deceived he De-
Eeyes those who are worthy of full confidence IN oner
stters or be may let an Innocent person suffer he
disbelieves them In capital conviction. the lag pro-
yides for placing, in the bands of toe Governor n
formation which enables him 20 act iutehgenty' How
ever painful the duty msy be, there are no msgNnss
in these cases The path to be followed is made plain
But with regard 10 otner ofenes there are distressing
donbts In instances mistaken decisions are made,
and unworthy persons are pardoned, ont .ue annoy
apce of berry msed or mistaken, is of little moment
compared th the fesr and belief that innocent per-
sons l.nguish in our prisons whose cases cannot %
investigated b. the policy OF the Constitution Is
ROT carried out by giving the Governor the means 10
perform his high duties. =.
II the public Will demand the reforms OF the crim-
n, iaw which have been urged upon the attention oil
tie Legislature, and will require that proper means
are given TO the Governor to enable him 70 act intel
lpently nd vigorously there will be justice In hold
inc hun responsbe the full and correct exercise OF
ms powers Until then, the Executive must acs IN the
dark in criminal matters, aud the puohc must suneI
NOT ouly IN this respect but from other abuses ana
extravaganza in legislation ana neglect Oh Onncia uu-
ties in different departments.
hope that all who care for vigorous aud humane
execution OF laws, will unite Ia getting the needed
reforms n our laws and in caIrypg out the pocy oi
the ustitutiOu Of State which contemplate an
Executive with strength enough TO check bad eglsla-
ton and TO take care that the laws are allh'
" fully executed"
Very Truly yours