The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06
About ESarsVons.

About ParGlOns.
From the Pittsburg Commercial
The indisoriminate use, not to say abuse of
the pardoning power, has. been the subject of
much complaint and criticism among the
people OF Pennsylvania for many years, and
while every citizen will readily admit that
nineteen twentieths Of the pardons granted
operate directly against the peace, safety,
and we'll being of society, still the evil is not
only perpetuated, but increasing every
year. 1t is a oommon thing to throw the
responsibility entirely upon the Governor,
but this Is o grave mistake. It is true,
the Executive holds this power alone, but
when we consider the manner in which par
dons are obtained, IL will be found that the
people are responsible, in large measure,
for the harm done to society in this way.
A corrupt Executive may, of his own Volt
tion, or through mercenary motives, grant
pardons in unlimited numbers; but, under
ordinary circumstances, nine-tenths of the
oonvicts turned loose upon society are released
through the influence and representations of
parties claiming to be familiar with their char
acter and standing, and who certify that they
are proper subjects for executive olemency.
Our political organizations, ramifying through
every ward, township, and county, and the
facility with which party men of inf uence and
character can be induced to sign petitions for
pardons, are mainly relied upon as the means
for accomplishing the end sought. When
an attorney fails to prove the innocence
of his client, and the sentence of the law has
been pronounced, he at once sets in
motion all the machinery available to
secure a pardon. All the appliances,
social and political are brought into
action. A wife; mother, or sister is sent to
importune the Governor, letters from promi-
nent gentlemen are obtained, and petitions
signed by carefully selected names are for
rda6 10 1tr hon In nnd
can bs induced to violate their dearest con-
victions of right and justice in the matter of
signing these petitions. We have known in
stances where men who sat as jurors and
judges, in the trial and conviction Of criminals
justly deserving of punishment, and unfit to
mingle in society, have signed petitions for
their pardon even before they had been sent
to The penitentisry. Those who undertake
the work of obtaining pardon do not count
so much upon the number of names as
upon the social and political influence repre-
sented by the signers. The masses are never
sppealedtC to. Senators, Representatives, clergy
men, lawyers, politicians, editors, and all sup
posed to have weight with the Governor are
approached by the pardon-seeker, and too
often give their signatures thoughtlessly,
recklessly, crimnally. No citizen who has
at heart the welfare Of the society in which
he lives, should sign petition for pardon
unless he is convinced that the
subject hasbeen illegally convicted, or
that the penalty imposed was not justified
by the circumstances of the case and the
nature of the crime. If this course were pur-
sued, improper pardons would be rare indeed.
The Executive would hesitate long before ex-
tending clemency to a convict upon the mere
representation of his counsel or the appeals of
his family for sympathy. 1t is impossible, in
the multiplicity of official duties, for the Gov
ernor to examine into the facts of each case
(and in most cases the facts are carefully con-
cealed), and he simply acts upon the repre-
sentations of others. If these representations
are truthful, no harm results to society, and
the party restored to liberty is saved from
grievous wrong. On the other hand, if the
representations are false, and great criminal
is turned loose, the most serious conse-
quences ensue-the law falls into contempt,
crime increases, jury trials become farce,
and justice mOckery. For all this, then,
the community is mainly responsible. They
unlock the prison door and set the culprit
free.
That the pardonipg power should be
abridged, or modified in some way, is the
opinion of many who have given this subject
their attention. In some States this has
already been done-as in Connecticut, where
the Legislature alone exercises the power; in
New Jersey, where all pardons are submitted
to regular Board; and in Maine, where they
are passed upon by an Executive Council. In
each of these States the prerogative for
merly belonged exclusively to the Cover
nor, as in our own State now. These
changes might or might not prove bsne-
fetal in Pennsylvania. The Legislature
would hardly be a safe depository for the
power, while Board of Pardons might be
Influenced quite as readily as an Executive.
These facts only make the evil more apparent,
and suggest the difficulty of devisipg an ade-
quste remedy. In the meantime let every
citizen ponder well the responsibility resting
upon HIM as an individual, and as member
of society, when called upon to sign petition
for pardon. Let him consider we'll the conse-
quences, and give his signature only from
knowledge of the case. When our men of
influence, position, and power cease to lend
their names for this purpose, the responsi bility
will be thrown solely upon the Executive, and
pardons will be rarely granted.