Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-01-13
PARD0NS.

The list of pardons issued during the past
year Will BE- found among the papers to
which your attention is called The princi-
pal reasons upon which they were based, and
the names of some of the prominent peti-
tioneIs, are given in every case. That few
of these rardons may have been unworthily
granted, through misrepresentation of rel
atiYes, friends, sympath thizing neighbors and
other Interested parties, there is no doubt,
but in the majority of instances it is certain
that the facts not only justified but demand
ed Executive clemency.
The whole number OF applications for par
dons during the year has been sixteen hun
dred and twenty three. The number of
pardons granted in that time has been one
hundred and six, which is a little over six
and a halt per cent OF those pardoned
about FIVE per cent. have been again brought
before the courts in consequence of their
return to the commission of crime.
am fully impressed with the weighty
responsibility of the pardoning power, which
ranks among the most difficult and embar-
RAISING duties of the Executive Office. Daily
beset with powerful and pitifui importuni-
ties, as we'll conflicting representations,
from those in whom he should be enabled 10
place the fullest confidence, IN order to avoid
errors in the decision Of any case, the Gov
ernor is compelled to take into consideration
the action of the court before which the
convict has been tried; the majesty OF the
law which may or may not have been Viola
ted 4; the condition Of the prisoner; his
temptation 70 err; the injury that may be
inflicted upon his helpless and dependent
relatives and the arguments and appeals Of
citizens whose opinions and wishes he is
bound to resi- ect. And however just his
decision and humane and generous his ac-
tion either in favor of or against the peti-
toner for clemency, he must expect to have
his motives impugned, his name and char
acter maligned. and to suffer virulent attacks
for the exercise of this most important and
merciful prerogative.
The pardon report will exhibit that many
Instances in which Executive clemency has
been invoked, youthful prisoners, charged
with their trSt offences, and those of a tri-
vial character, have been the recipients. The
object of punishment, in all cases, should
not be so much to infiict pain as to reform
the sufferer and prevent the repetition of
evildseds. This fact frequently lost sight OF
In imposing punishment upon criminals, es-
pecially when inexperienced youths are shut
up in close cells with men hardened in crime,
where its arts are daily taught and 4 To-
nance thrown around its commission. In
stead of being improved they come forth
at the expiration of their terms of sentence
with the loss of selfrespect, their moral
sentiments blunted, and prepared to prac-
tice upon society the infamous lessons they
have learned. Such punisbments tend to
increase rather than lessen the quantity of
crime. When houses Of correction and
reformatories are constructed, or a proper
system of confinement and prison discipline
is adopted, there will be material decrease
OF crime, aud comparatively few cases to
demand the exercise OF the pardoning power.
CoMMUTATIoN OF SENTENCES.
There are confined in the Philadelphia
county prison the following named convicts,
under sentence of death, for whose execution
warrants have not been issued: Edward Ford,
sentenced May II, 1851 Jerry Dixon, Nay
80, 1868 Newton Champion, December l,
1866, and Alfred Alexander and Hester
Naue hn, July 3, 1868. Successive Govern
ors for satisfactory reasons have declined
to order the execution of these persons. The
law requires that they shall be executed in
accordance with the sentence, ,unconditlOnaly
pardoned, or held in close confinement in the
county iail during life The latter punish
ment, with the additional embitterment con
stantly preying upon the mind that a death
warrant may at any moment be issued, is,
perhaps. the severest that could be inflicted,
Ii would be both just and merciful to give
the Governor authority to commute the SEN
tence of death in the above named cases to
Imprisonment, at labor, In the peuitentiary,
for such term OF years as the ameiiorating
circumstances may seem TO justify and de-
mand One of the convicts named has been
imprisoned about eighteen years, and al
though it might not be advisable to set him
az liberty, humanity and the ends of justice
require the Communication OF his sentence in
the manner suggested.
CONCLUSION.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
of sufficient importance TO submit at the
present time for your information and con-
sideration. Others may occur before the
close of the session which may be worthy of
special communications. 1t VIII be my con
slant care and determination to cooperate
with you in the prosecution of any measures
that may tend to preserve and increase the
prosperity of the State and the happiness
of its people, with the firm belief that yonr
united wisdom viii aim constantly to pro-
mote these desirable results.
Many of the events that have transpired
since my last annual communication to the
Legislature have teen unusually Interesting
and significant. They have been infinitely
more than political, and bear directly upon
the great interests and most sacred destinles
or the nation. Apart from the Vlnulcatlon
of the principles of the party which sus-
tanned the government and the army during
the contest for the preservation of the Union,
and the election to the Presidency OF the
first soldier of the age. is the fact that the
people have by triumphant majoritles forev-
er settled our controversy upon certain fun
damental principles. Parties Inay and un
doubtedly will arise upon other issues, but
there can be no future struggle about slavery.
Involuntary servitude, monopoly of
labor. is forever destroyed. The monster
obstacle to the national progress has been |
removed, and henceforward all the faculties |
of our people can be developed without let |
or hindrance. The fair and exuberantly |
fertile States of the South, heretofore COM
paratively retrogressive and unproductive,
relieved from this terrible curse. with tie
influx of northern im emigration and capital,
will soon become the rivals OF their northern
sister States in all the arts of peace, and ad
ditional markets will be developed in which
to exchange the varied products of the here
tofore hostile sections
Hardly less magical has been the effect
upon other natioas. Gen. Grants election
has confirmed the hopes of our nation's /
friends, and the fears OF its foes in the Old
World. 1t supplements aud seals the ver-
dict of arms and the progress of republican
PRINCIPLES. The downfall of the rebellion