Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-08-25

mehSJs
Often be looked with concealed ad-
miration upon the character and deeds
Of those champions of freedom-fer even
the tyrant admires freedom and its brave
defenders. And consistently enough, for
the theory is, that all men love liberty and
it would be better for all to enjoy it, if
they knew how to use it, but as they do
not, one wise head, or the wise and pow
erful few, can exercise its prerogatives
better and more safely for the masses, than
they can for themselves, and Utopian,
freedom-loving dreamers who rise in be-
half of the rights Of man, while their
views are impractical, and their efforts use
less, are to be looked upon with compar-
ative leniency, and treated thus, so far
as the safety of the government and So
ciety will permit.
But what shall we say of those men
who have rebeled against freedom and to
establish tyranny-who have made wal, not
to enlarge but abridge the rights of man /;
who would crush race, and perhaps two
races-who have attempted to overthrow
and destroy a government which they
themselves confess to be the best in the
world =? The lenient treatment of rebels
for freedom, is so far from being an argu-
ment in favor OF the pardon, or slight
punishment of traitors against freedom,
it is the strongest possible argument
for their severest punishment. For if we
should favor those who put tyranny
in peril, and praise their heroism, for the
same reason we should condemn and pun.
ish those who imperil freedom. -
Never was there a greater lie-a more
bare-iaced imposition and fraud upon al
enlightened age, than the pretense of the
South that they were fighting for liberty
Fighting for liberty, when trying to crust
four millions of men, and enslaye a con.
tinent! This is liberty with a vengeance
Liberty to be tyrants and to overthrow
and destroy. Satan himself should blusl
at such claim.
To sum up. We object to the pardon
ing power-at least to its present exces
sive use-its most palpable and fagran
abuse -
First, because in most cases IL
wholly unnecessary, since the accuse
have full and fair trial insured to then
III our courts. If innocent, they stan
the best possible chance for acquital.
guilty, they are much more likely to b
punished, and society thereby protected
Second The evidence that come
before the executive, is generally "e
parte," and loose and imperfect at that.
Third-lf both sides were fully prt
sented, it would be too great tax upo
his time, and necessarily greatly inlerfel
with his other duties This is already
great evil
Fourth-If the executive could d
: vote to each case the necessary amount
{ attention, he would not be as compete
u to decide as II jury of twelve honest al
Intelligent men.
> Fith-It is an unwarrantable III
oil the one man power, and wholly at WI
with the letter and spirit of our Republ
Z can institutions
Sixth - 1t is rapidly supercedir
J. and usurping the functions of our Grin
/ inal courts, and aunuls and sets asi,
i their most deliberate and solemn decision
8 If our executive officers should adyan
c much in the use of this power, we mig
= as well dispense with our criminal cour
as useless appendage.
Seventh-In one word, it interfer
with other public business-corrnpts Il
eXeeutiye-encourages crime by openiI
the door of escape for even the worst
criminals, while, at the same til
it is engrafting upon our free instit
tions a dangerous and unnecessary pow,
scion of despotism that is rapidly a
=, " sorbing courts and legislatures, encroac
- ing upon the rights of the people, al
~ triAing with the most sacred interests
society.
We could point to instances fresh
10 the memory of all, where corrupt or co
Il i PLEASANT governors, have not only p
in doned or commuted the sentence of in
~ vidual criminals of the deepest dye,
ir who have just as they were about to
tire from Office, swept the calender, a
ID performed general jail delivery, IL
ii setting loose hundreds of convicts
1t prey upon society anew, and multiply
i list of crimes and the number of crimins
of But enough has been said to show, Il
ch at least the abuse of this power, shol
ch be corrected by the action of those "
ly make Governors and Presidents
ed SOVEREIGN PEOPLE. w
lSt mn
-, IN AND ABOUT TOWN.
,ly NO. III.