Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-03-31
THE PAnDoNINe POWER.
The P,oovuue says on this subject

looming power cuula nov w ni'snSeh
in this State. "a the consent Of the
Senate is necessary to enable the
Governor To open the doors Of the
Pehitentisfy TO any convict hut the
unusual number pfs pardons granted,
within sixty days, affords evidence
that the Jealousy exhibited by the
trainers of the constitution Of ESeeu-
tive clemency, is not sufficient 10
make the certainty Of punishment for
crime ~ terror to evil dosrs
During The lssi sessioh of the Lrg-
islature. with the concurrence of the
Senate. no less than twenty-one con
victs were released from confinement
at bard labor. many Of them reeeiy
lag unconditional pardons OF these,
| thirteen were convicted before the
First District Court Of New Orleans,
aud four were sent up frpm the neigh
boring parish Of Jefferson. The crime
which they were eEpiajng were mur
der, manslaughter. assault with in
tent TO kill. arson, rape. burglary, aud
larceny -thuse demanding the Sc
verest punishment known to the laws
Eight Of the yatdonsd ronvicls were
convicted Of manslsugbter. one Of
murder. four Of arson. one OF rape
committed by negro ~ white girl,
three Of assault with intent tp kill,
one Of burglary, one of larceny, aud
three Of embeEtlnment. Seven Ut the
number were condemned tn the peni
tentiaiy Tor lie, twp ~ - term oi four
teen years. one. pegrp, - capital
punishment The term Of punish.
ment Of the remainder ranged from
nne TO ton years nj hard labor.
u not this most singular exhibit
ton of clemency In what State,
though no restraint be placed upon
the action Of tho executive. has such
a number Of pardona been recorded in
one single yearl
To our mind The uglipst feature IN
the lat Of twonty-one. before the pub
lie. ia this There are seven of tht
convicIs. slaves On being pardoned
they are not liberated. but return e
their masters. who either have TO TAX,
them into their families again, or sci
them. Doubtless some Of these mal
be found in month hence at depot'
in the Crescent City labeled IA honest
Trustworthy and reliable servants
and in this way will Innocent third
parties become their victims In
what light must this be viewed Ger
tainly not in that from Above, which
commands us TO do to others even o.
We would they should do unto Va --
What kind at influences il brought
90 bear to obtain the release from i'm
prisonment of such brutes Z Not that
they have friends aud relatives who
are weighed down to earth with the
stigma upon the family name--no'
that there are any of the restraining
influences Of love and respect for 9th
ers, TO deter them from repetition Of
their outrsges ! l. il then the mere
matter of dollars, Of difference be
tween tho price paid tho master by
the State. and the value of tho brute
in the slave market 7 These are qups
tions for serious consideration Ne
groes are not sent 60 the penitentarl
for petit larceny and minor offences
but for crime of the most serious mn
ture. This being the case constltu
tioually opposed to hanging MS we are
we are willing to give up the qucs
ton and make no further defense il
behalf of humanity, if this class o
offenders are TO come within the rang,
Of executive clcmeucy. Let them b,
hanged--all of them, and then W,
shall not live in terror, Instead q
sending slaves to the Pcniteutiary fol
capital Offences, let them be hanged.
nrATu or A CELEBRATED Doc
On the morn Of the 18th ult., Will,