North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-27
Wednesday. Feb 27, 1857
Geary.s Rules fer PardOns.

Thompson, the two election officers from
Windham. this county, who were trleu
some time since and sentenced BY the court
to pay fine OF $50 for refusing TO receive
the vote of Stephen Taylor, a legal voter
of that district.
When first entering upon the duties of
his office, Geary, forgetting almost every
thing else but the alleged fanlts of his pre-
decessor, Curtin who was charged with
too tree use of the pardoning power, had
drawn out and published certain rules
which were to be infexiby adhered TO in
al cases of applications for pardons-
These rules if enforced, made an applica-
tion for executive clemency, even in clear
cases, about as difficult, uncertain, and
expensive as a suit ii the English courts OF
Chancery, where such suits are said to be
entailed to the third and fourth genera
ton.
To show that war, that stern, unrelent-
ing teacher, haG well nigh dried up the
fountains Of the milk of human kindness
in his bosom, and that he was unlike bis
kind hearted and weakened predecessor,
these rules were made by this ''stern states
man." They were hailed by the radical
press as an evidence of superior sagacIty
aud craftsmanship, in the man-who As
governor on a former occasion stole the
grandilOquent well rounded sentences of
puritanical New England governor, and
tried 10 palm them off on the rude from
tiersmen of Kansas as his owr. These rules
were published by them, with the usual
amount of beslavering commendatory
comments. Of course, "Geary is states
man, of the first rank" said they. Just
look at his rules to be observed in granting
pardons. Does he not say that they 'are
intended to subservs the administration of
justice" and that they will be "strictly
enforced and relaxed only when good rea
sous shall be furnished for so doing?"
These COOL reasons seem to have offered
themselves very Frequently, ever since
their PRONUNCIATION.
In our exchanges all over the state we
find that all election officers who in the
interest of Geary violated tie eh.ction laws
and their oaths of Office in rejecting votes
of alleged deserters, and have been prose
cuted for 50 doing, are receiving pardops
from Geary almost without asking for them.
In some cases they 60 to trial with pardons
in their pockets and after having put the
county to the expense and trouble of the
trial, aud after conviction, when called up
for sentence, fout the pardon in the face of
the junge.
1t would seem that Geary's rules which
We publish below, do not apply in cases
where the applicant is a radical and has
contributed to Geary's election by refusing,
in violation Of their oaths and the law, to
allow men tn voet against the hero of Snick.
ersvlle'. The following are Geary'S rules
for those who are not his political friends.
REGULATIONS FOR PARDoNs.
First. No pardon will he granted until
notice of the application therefore shall
have been given by publication once a
week for two consecutive weeks in news
paper printed in the county in which the
conviction was had.
Second. No pardon will be granted un-
less notice of the application shall have
been given to the judge who tried tIr ca1se
to the district attorney, or tn attorney who
prosecuted; proof of which notice shall he
furnished this department
Third. All applications for a pardon
mnst have with them the following papers
written ir a clear and distinct hand;
!. A crrliIied copy of the whole record,
intending docket entries, minutes of court,
copy of indictment, pleas, and all other
papers on file in the court relating to the
case.
2. A full statement of the reasons upon
which the application is based setting forth
~A' VIZ ioSNSs lhC NOlto VI tNlNI'UCt tdktU
on trial; letters from responsible persons
IN the community where the CRIME was
committed, recommendation from the in
rors who sat on the trial, and if any of them
refuse to recommend a pardon, reasons
gwen for such refusal; letter from th, DIS
trict attorney or counsel who tried the case
and letter from the judge setting forth his
views upon the subject of the application
Fourth. Recommendations for pardon
for unexpired terms OF sentence must have
copy of The whole record as before re-
qulred. Also commitment; petition from
prisoner setting forth reasons, and state
ment from warden aud inspectors of prison.
Fifth, No personal application will be
permitted.
Srth. All Of the above papers, when
submitted, must be accompanied by prin-