The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-06
DOUBLE sHEET--THREE CENTS.

the Vermont Legislature, bearing Just tribute
to the late Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, Joint re-
which regard as worthy OF your consideration,
relative TO the act OF Congress ITO establish and
protect National Cemeteries" and recommend
ing ITO the Legislature of the State OF Penn
sy ylvania the passage OF an act empowering the
Ssdare, S TainnaI naving a Snarge Oh tne
transfer all the right, title, int crest and OF
said Soldiers National Cemetery to the Gene.
same."
I'm Mcmoriam.
It has been the misfortune OF the State dur.
ing the past year TO lose by death two of her
representatives in the Congress of the nation,
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, OF the Ninth, and Hon.
Both were natives Of Vermont but in early
life selected Peunsy lvanla for their home, aud
Identified themselves with her interests, which
they were chosen TO guard in the Legislature;
end the people Will long remember with grati.
FIRST went down TO his grave after a long life of
public usefulness and in well matured honors.
the other In the prime of Manhood, which gave
promise of scarcely less brilliant career.
PardOns.
The list OF pardons issued during the past
year Will be found among the papers To which
your attention is called. The principal reasons
some of the prominent petitioners. are given
in every case. That few OF these pardons may
representations OF relatives, friends, sympa.
thizing neighbors, and other Interested parties,
there Is no DOUBT, Out IN the majority OF 10-
stances IL is certain that the facts not only jus
titled but demanded Executive clemency.
Tue whole number OF applications for pardons
during the year has been sixteen hundred aud
Jwenl three. The number OF pardons granted
In thar time has been one hundred and six,
which is q little over 81 per cent. or those
pardoned about five per cent. have been again
brought before the courts In consequence OF
their return to the ommission OF crime.
lam fully impressed with the weighty re-
sponsibility of the pardoning power, which
ranks among the most difiicult and embsr.
UoA,, ds,fta nft nnl tun hlil
beset with powerful and pitiful opportunities.
as well as conflicting representations, from
the fullest confidence. in order to avoid errors
in the decision OF any case, the Governor is
Of the court before which the convict has been
tried; the majesty of the law which may
or may not not have been erson violated;
temptation to err; the injury that may be In.
fiicted upon his helpless and dependent rela-
tives, and the arguments and appeals ofcitizsns
whose opinions and wishes ne is bound to
respect. And however just his decision and
favor of or against the petitioner for clemency,
he must expect TO have his motives impugued,
his name and character maligned, and TO suffer
virulent attacks for the exercise of this most
important and merciful prerogattve
The pardon report will exhibit that many in
stances in which Executive clemency has BEEN
invoh ed, youthful prisoners, charged with their
first offenses, and those OF trivial character,
have been the recipients, The object of punish
ment in all cases, should not be much to
lnflict pain as to reform the sufferer and pre-
vent the repetition OF evil deeds. THIS fact is
upon criminals, especially wnen mex xperienced
youths are shut up in close cells with men
taught, and romance thrown around its COM
mission. IHstead OF being improved, they
come dCftn VIII a. tne me ps ~ e Ht .nee o
moral sentiments blunted, and prepared to
practice upon society the infamous lessons they
have learned. such punishments tend TO in
crease rather than lessen the quantity of crime.
When houses ofcorrection and reformatories are
and prison discipline is adopted, there will be- a
material decrease OF crime, and comparatively
few cases to demand the exercise OF the pardon
ing power.
Communication Of Sentences.
There are confined in the Philadelphia county
prison the following named, under sentence of
been issued:- Edward Ford, sentenced May IL,
1851; Jerry Dixon, May 80, 1868; Patrick Finne-
gan, Febr9ssgy ,1sy 0, 1853; Newton Champion, De-
ter Vaughan, July 3, 1868. Successive Cover.
nors, for satisfactory reasons, have declined to
order the execution OF THESE persons The law
requires that they shall be ex xecuted in accord
ance with the sentence, Internationally par
doned, or, or held in close confinement In the
The latter punishment, with the additional
embitterment constantly preying upon tue
mind that death warrant may at any moment
be issued, is, perhaps, the severest that could
be 10 tiicled. 1t would be both just and merciful
to give the Governor authority to commute the
sentence of death in the above named cases to
i'm mprisonment, at labor, in the ntiary
Tor SQcn q term OF years as bu6 am6llOrAtlug
circumstances may seem to justify and de-
mand. One OF the convicts named has been
i'm prisoned about eighteen years, and alth nugh
IL might not be advisable to set him at liberty,
humanity and the ends OF justice require the
communication Of his sentence in the manner
suggested
The foregoing subjects have been deemed Of
sufficient Importance to submit at the present
time for your information and consideration.
Others may occur before the close of the session
which may be worthy of special communica-
tions. IL Will be my constant care and determi-
nation to cooperate with you In the prosecu.
tion 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 your united wisdom will aim constantly to
promote these desirable results.
my last annual communication to the Legsla.
ture have been unusually interesting and sig
nificant. They have been infinitely more than
political, and bear directly upon the great
interests and most sacred destinies OF the
nation. Apart from the vindication OF the
principles Of the the party & which sustained M the
for the preservation OF the Union. and the elec-
ton 10 the Presidency of the first soldier of the
| phant mejorities forever settled our contro-
| versy upon certain fundamental principles.
| Parties may and undoubtedly will arise
| upon other Issues, but there can be no
| future struggle about slavery. Involuntary
| servitude, as monopoly of labor, Is for
| ever destroyed. The monster obstacle to
| the national progress has been removed, and
ht nceforward all the faculties of our people can
| be developed without let or hinsranoe." The
fair and exuberantly fertile States of the South,
her Ietofore comparatively retrogressive and un-
productive relieved from this terrible curse,
| with the influx OF Northern immigration and
| capital, will soon become the rivals OF their
Northern sister States in all the arr s of peace
| and additional markets will be developed in
| which 10 exchange the varied products OF the
| heretofore hostile sections.
| Hardly less magical has been the effect upon
| other nations. General Grants election has