New-York tribune., 1867-08-19


Of his responsibility 30 that the establishment Of Coun-
ell 10 act connection with Chief Executive In re-
laOn 10 pardons, would only tend largely 10 increase
Executive labor and The Committee consulted eX-
Cows FISH Morgan and Seymour. and His EXceency
Gov FentOn md all Of these gentlemen Win the eN-
cepton Of exGOv Fish, fully conoufed III The view last
Ex-Gov Seymour was kind enough 10 come from his
home to thee apto and personally explain TO the Commit
tee the working Of present system as witnessed y
himself during his official experience aud 20 state 10 tue
Committee that in ms opinion although the possession OF
the hardening posed upon Governors the most
labOTiOus and painful duties which man can De cdle1
upon to discharge, yet from the nature OF our
the power could not De safely lodged IN other had nor
its responsibilities be safely divided That an which ~
his Opni0n could be safely done 10 Tighten Governors
lahors would be for the LEGISLATURE OF the Sae TO pio
vide the means from time to lime to enable lhe GovtI8r @
10 ascertain, through suitable CleIk or ssit Wy
or fasch0Od Of the allegations ON when the alncati9ns
view that such aid should be furnished to the Executive
but rs they believe the Legislature viii always ovue
adequately for the necessary expense OF the EAeeue
Dcparfment they have not deemed any new consiitu-
tiOnal provision necessary TO secure inc emu hucatcu
the whole number of pardons granted during the last
twenty years 2915; OF this number 766 were arnos
tthiiea, & au "} Pcc0rd. so ibot tbc whole number
of pardons for all grades of oenRes, have averaged os
than per year for the last twenty years A1olhot
has an important bearing upon the s9ee m Tasp G of
Record during the last twenty years y S12{ d ncn
whole number OF paIdons oiiIr , nnynber from all
places but 2gl5. nOt more than one ia ta would
persons convicted in Courts OF Record ag g LIENS o mar
be hazardcd saying that the proportion Oh P M much
doned for convictions III inferior courts No t na rnns
less The whole number OF apptcatio,S l yc nj
durpg the last sixteen years 66io or an ~
about $50 per year. that II appear taat % ofi ,
half of the applications for pardon HNe gvei a., 20 M %
I'm word something n the cases OF one III SIX OF seven
Of those convicted in Courts OF hee9[u has % oCeu @ a
application for pardon, and one IN iiteen OF nose 80 con
yi,ted has been successful IN his application But II
st not be supposed that the pardons granted have re-
ieved the persons pardoned on a puhlshmcnt. ~ VIII
he found that il has been Exceedingly rare lhaJ any per
son has been pardonc1 until after suffering considerable
portion of the punishment imposed by the Court ana IN
most instances only after the term OF imprisonment had
more than half expired. What is called pardon is really
remission of portion only OF the sentence imposed
many convictions have been had for ofenses
the punishment for which, as preScnDedby law, was I'VE
or ten years. where examination of the case showed
th but little moral guilt comparatively was really IN
had no power TO impose less sentence than liploOh
ment for five ten years, and although the Judge I'M
posed the sentence required by law, both te Juse ana
Disrict-AttOrney have uDedin recOnmchda uoh lor
pardon at an earlier day than the expiration 0l te sen
tcucc Another frequent OF pardon is the lauI
OF health in consequence of imprisonment IN the case OF
persons who were not known rs od offenders % IN iooh
twenty years, the Committee believe thait VIII De lound
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. used and that although can be
found where the exercise of cemcncy has set at liberty
most wicked and undeseryng criminals such cases @ nave
readily joining IN recommendations TOO favorable
to the & 81 Sso & ss bn HTG nc Hce interests 40 G
suffer by leaving the pardonHg power IN the ahds OF
the functOnary where it has rested Tor the last
AbGay August ls, 1867.
MARTIN I. TOWNSEND, Chairman
JuDsoN 5. LASDoN.
EIIzUR H. PRINDLE 10y dirccton).
NJ. L. LEE.
EIBRIDGB I. GERRY.
SECTION THE Governor shall have the power to
grant reprieves communications and pardOns after cOnvc
tOu for all Ocnses except treason and cases OF pech
ana limitations he may think proper, subject to such
regulations may be provided by law reauye 10 uG M
reason he sa have power to suspend the execution OF
the sentence until the shall he reported 10 the Legs
Iaure mt ITS next meeting when the Legislature shall
pith
tiOn OF the sentence, grant further repre'S. ho
shall annually communicate TO the Legislature cch cre
OF Tcpricve Communication pardon granted; stating the
name of the convict, the crime Of which be was con
yctcd the sentence and ts date, ana the dato ol 'he
commutation, pardon or reprieve.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC IN
sTRUCTION IN RELATION TO TAXATION FOR
SCHOOLS.
STATE OF NEw-YoRx, DEPARTMENT OF PuDLc)
INSTRUCTION, ALBANY, July 81, 1867.
To ne Hon wM A WHEELER, President Of tA1 OoHreaoH:
The Superintendent, to whom was referred
the following requests
on motion OF Mr. Barto,
Resored That the Superintendent Of Public Instruction
be requested prepare as possible and com
municate to this Convention, "A tabular statement,
The whole number Of children in each county in the
state entitled to attend common schools each year
q The number Of children attending such schools in the
several counties each year sfnee.oiO .
g. The amount of taxation imposed upon the people IN
the several counties Of state for school purposes in
year since 1sio state, county, town and municipal
tax stated sepaRtey. and the percentage each, OF
state county, town. and municipal tax upon the amount
| of taxable property.
The ratio Of taxation to the humber actually IN
| attendance in each year since 1910.
The ratio OF taxation TO the whole number OF children
entitled to attend schools IN each year since
/ 1910.
G. The ratio OF Increase decrease In the attendance
upon schools in each county, taxation has been
increased.
T. The number OF schools which have become free, and
the wear in which they became free
The ratio Of decrease In attendance upon
such schools in municipal corporations rs have been
made free, to the whole number Cf children entitled TO
attend such schools, much Of said information as
be obtained by examination OF the records In his
Office, and the other public offices in the City Of
Albany.
Aud fmtler. that the superintendent before he pro-
ceeds 10 discharge the duty required by this resolution,
be requested TO report 10 the Convention how soon lie
can probably make the above statement and what pOr
ton OF the Information asked for be obtained from
the public offices OF the state in this city, and what por
tOn he will be compelled 10 obtain by inquiry from other
Offices and how much will be the probable cost OF
obtaining information from such other officers not in this
city respectfully
REPORTS
That prior 10 the $780, the trustees OF school
districts were by law required 10 report:
The number of children taught in the district during
the year, and the name and age Of each child.