Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-16
Mercy and Murder.

even mitigating the Governors conduct.
We charged that Governor MoRroS had used
the pardoning power to protect his political
friends from the penalty fixed by law when they
have been convicted for numbering Democrats,
simply because they we're Republicans. when
there was no pretense that they we're not guilty,
or that they have not had a fair trial.
We showed that he was in two cases-the only
ones TO which we referred-inhuenced by mere
partisan considerations, and exercised the par
donlng power merely because the persons to be
punished we're his political friends.
The cases TO which we referred were those of
yLrHEus 3. HoUsroS for killing WILLIAM SILL,
in Shelby county, and ALEXANDER HArTos. for
killing JOIN BRowN, in Brown county.
We showed that as to HoUsroS, it was
understood among his friends previous to the
session of the court that he would be pardoned,
that the petition gave reason why he should be
pardoned; and that it was accompanied by afida-
Wits urging, as a reason, that the sheriff had
in some instances failed to put Republicans upon
the jury when be bad an opportunity; that the
aft ints we're not satisfied with a mixed jury.
Dut luOuSub u cNulCiCAh SiOhhN " q PeaNNh INA
the jury was not exclusively Republican. and
that he was pardoned the same day he was SEN
fenced.
What does the Journal say in reply 70 this?
Simply this: that the defendant was only eigh-
teen years of age. and that two years imprison-
ment would have proved utter and total ruin"
This is a new reason for pardouing a person for
taking human life The law does not receive it
as an excuse for crime, and has been unable to
see that a murder committed by a person of that
age shall go unpunIshed
Governor morton, BY this act. has said to
every young man of eighteen-"You may mur-
der. rape, and rob. and l will pardon you, provi-
ded you are of my political faith. and your victims
are Of ano;her."
HoUsroN slew a fellow being. a mixed jury
convicted him, and Governor MoRroS is so so
licitOus for the young mans morals. that he
thinks it best for the interests of society that
he should not be punished, and lets him 60 scot
free.
IL is a serious subject for the people to con
slider what protection they have from the mani
f~estations Of the subjects Of the Governors moral
upon experiments.
In the HATToS case the parties had had a po-
litical dispute. HArroN called BRowN ''secesh.''
BROwN retorted "Abolitionist."
That night, after BRowN and his wife had gone
to bed, HArroS was discovered standing near a
window, at the head Of the bed. with a pistol
pointed at BRowN. swapping il. BRowS went out.
a scufie ensued. and as BRowN got up off HAT
TON. he was stabbed mortally. The question of
guilt was submitted to the jury, also what pen
atty should be inflicted. They found that the
defendant should be hung.
Here is a cool, deliberate murder, proceeding
from political heat, and MORON commutes the
sentence. Now what causes i'll
The Journal says that a number of the people
of Brown county p~etitioned for it, and that no
body demonstrated against il.
The fact that a petition is presented. signed by
a number OF persons, argues nothing in a case Of
this character. as there never was a man sen
fenced to be hung whose friends we're not able to
work upon the sympathies of many who. for the
sake of the criminals friends, will sign a petition.
even when hey believe him guilty. and when a
man is guilty of a crime. a petition by citizens
furnishes no reason for a pardon or commutation.
The crime is tried by the court and jury. and
not on petition by the Governor.
The fact that no one demonstrated, is a ridicu-
lous consideration. M public notice was given
Of the fling of the petition. or that remon.
strauces were expected. or would he considered.
The Shelby county case shows What morton
thinks about remonstrances, ami what weight he
gives them Here the papers we're prepared in
SheIby Vile on the day before the defendant was
sentenced. he was pardoned on the day the sen
tence was pronounced, and the pardon was in
Shelbyville before it was known 10 the public
that a petition was presented.
The Journal says HArToN was a half IDIOT.
We do not know whether it means by this to say
that he had so little mind rs to be below legal
responsibility or not. The jury did not think so,
and if the Governor did. he should have let him
of entirely.
IL certainly appears that he was able to engage
in political controversy and parrot the Journals
and MoRroS's slang about the Democracy being
"secesh. aud was able TO appreciate. and bad
enough to carry into practical effect. the teach
ings Of those high authorities. that Democrats
deserve death because they do not agree poriti
cally with our excellent, impartial, and pure
minded Governor.
The Journal publishes a letter from Mr.. JOHN
D. HowLASD, OF this city, who it says was sent
as the Governors special detective into Brown
county to investigate the matter, and who is
damned by the Journal with praises of bis ability
and integrity.
Mr. HowLASD says" Il could obtain no notes of
the evidence. The charges of the Judge who
tried the cause. il in writing, were not upon the
files Of the Court"
Finding nothing of an official character. be
proceeds to explore other and various sources
to which I applied"
He found the defendant a tender youth of
about twenty one years Of age. Hi parentage
was degraded; bis surroundings such as to make
him reckless and depraved."
He further shows that the various ~sources'
informed him that this amiable young patriot,
after a political controversy with the deceased,
walked to a house where he occasionally stayed
with a cousin. some half mile distant; procured
a pistol and knife; the latter dangerous weapon;
the former, though charged. entirely harmless,
as the tube was 50 battered that the powder could
not be fired. He then walked about an equal
ing TO the tory Of the condemned. he pas passing
Jor the purpose Of going 10 a neighbours house TO
sDend the night"