The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-22
OUR NEW GOVERNOR.
How he breaches and how he Practices


In his inaugural, John w. Geary,
the Governor elect of Pennsylvania,
made a special point of the uses and a.
buses of the pardoning power. He
promised great care and circumspec-
ton in the exercise of this prerogative
of the Executive. Shortly afterwards
he caused to be published, over his own
signature, the following regulations
concerning the issue of pardons which
he promised "shall be strictly enfor-
ced,' viz:
FErst-No pardon will be granted un-
til notice of the application therefor
shall have been given by publication
once week for two consecutive weeks
in newspaper printed in the county
in which the conviction was had.
Second-No pardon will be granted
unless notice of the application shall
have been given to the judge who tri-
eel the cause, to the district attorney, or
to the attorney who prosecuted; proof
of which notice shall be furnished this
department.
Thrd-All applications for pardon
must have with them the following pa
pers written in clear and distinct
hand:
1. A certified copy of the whole rec
ord, including docket entries, minutes
of court, copy ofindictment, pleas, and
all other papers on file in the court re-
lating to the case.
2. A full statement of the reasons up
on which the application is based, set
ting forth all the facts; the notes of ev-
idence taken on trial; letters from re-
sponsible persons in the community
where the crime was committed; a
recommendation from the jurors who
sat on the trial, and if any of them re-
fuse to recommend a pardon, reasons
given for such refusal; letter from the
district attorney or counsel who tried
the case, and letter from the judge
setting forth his views upon the sub
ject of the application.
FoUth-Recommen for par
don for uneXpired terms of sentence
must have copy of the whole record
as before required. Also a copy of
commitment; petition from prisoner
setting forth reasons and statemen
from warden and inspectors of pris-
OnS.
Fyth-No personal applications will
be permitted.
Sirth-All the above papers, when
submitted, must be accompanied by
printed copy of the same in pamphlet
form, twelve copies of which at least
must be sent to this department. If
the parties are too poor the paper-book
need not be printed.
Simple minded people believed these
rules would be observed, and many of
the abuses that had heretofore been con-
nected with the exercise of the par
doning power, avoided. But those who
were acquainted with the vacillating
character of our new Governor were
not deceived by his professions.
He was the first to violate his own
regulations, and the manner in which
it was done is refreshing to the lovers
of consistency and honest dealing, viz:
Jonathan Bieber, Judge of Elec-
tions in Berks county, was recently
tried in that county for misdemeanor,
in having refused to receive the vote of
Samuel Reinert, an alleged deserter,
at the October election, and on trial
was convicted. The fact was laid be-
fore the Governor by the political friends
of the prisoner, and when he was call
ed up for sentence, his attorney pre-
sented to the court full and free
pardon from Gov. Geary; and Mr.. Bel
ber was accordingly liberated.
He exacted none of the testimony
which he declared to be necessary be-
fore the issue of pardon, and which
he had laid down in the above regula-
tions. He violates good faith to shield
partizan friend from punishment,
and treats the decision of the Supreme
Court with contempt.
With this instance of Punic faith at
the beginning of his administration,
what have we the.right to expect be-
fore its close D0ylestoa0n Dem.