Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-01-15

| merctul prerogatIve.
The pardon report win exhibit that many
! instances in which Executive clemency has
been invoked youthful prisoners, charged
with their first offences, and those of triv-
ial character, have been the recipients. The
object Of punishment, in all cases, should
not be 80 much to inhict pain as to reform
the sufferer and prevent the repetition Of
evil deeds This fact is frequently lost sight
Of in imposing punishment upon criminals,
especially when inexperienced youths are
shut up in close cells with men hardened in
crime, where its arts are daily taught and
romance thrown around its commission. In
stead Of being improved, they come forth at
the expiration of their terms OF sentence
with the loss of selfrespeet, their moral
sentiments blunted, and prepared TO prac-
tice upon society the infamous lessons they
have learned Such punishments tend to
increase rather than lessen the quantity Of
crime When houses of correction and re-
formatorics are constructed, or a proper sys-
TEN Of confinement and prison discipline is
adopted, there wil be . material decrease Of
crime, and comparatively lew cases to de-
mand the exercise Of the pardoning power.
Communication Of Sentences.
There are confined in the Philadelphia
county prison the following named convicts,
under sentence of death, for whose execu-
ton warrants have not been issued Ed
ward Ford, sentenced May u, 1851; Jerry
Dixon, May 80, 1868; Patrick Finnegan,
February 9, 1859, Newton Champion De-
cember i, 1866, and Alfred Alexander and
Hester Vaughn, July 3, 1868. Successive
Governors, for satisfactory reasons have de-
cliaed to order the execution Of these per-
sons. The law requires that they shall be
executed in accordance with the sentence,
pardoned, or held in close
in the county jail during life.
The latter punishment, with the additional
constantly preying upon the
mind that death warrant may at any mo-
ment be issued, is, perhaps, the severest
that could be inflicted. 1t would be both
just and merciful to give the Governor au-
thority to commute the sentence OF death IN
the above named cases to IMPRISONMENT, at
labor, in the penitentiaTy, for such term
Of years as the ameliorating circumstances
may seem to justify and demand. One OF
the conyicts named has been imprisoned
about eighteen years, and although It might
not be advisable to set him at liberty, hu-
manity and the ends Of justice require the
of his sentence IN the manner
suggested.
Conclusion.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
1f sufficient importance to submit at the
present time for your information and con-
;ideration. Others may occur before the
,lose of the session which may be worthy of
special communications. It will be my con-
;tant care and determination to cooperate
with you in the prosecution Of any measures
hat may tend to preserve and increase the
of the State and the happiness OF
Is people with the firm belief that your
united wisdom will aim constantly to pro-
note these desirable results.
Many Of the events that have transplred
;ince my last annual communication to the
Legislature have been usually interesting
md significant They have been infinitely
more than political, and bear directly upon
he great interests and most sacred destInles
Df the nation. Apart from the vindicatlon
Of the principles of the party which sus-
tained the government and the army during
The contest for the preservation of the
Union and the election TO the Presidency
ne pe5pl6 dave By triumphant saf 'iat mai6ri q +
les forever settled our controversy upon
artain fundamental principles
Parties may and undoubtedly will arise
pun bbuNA lcbAtSs D1k AuGlG Cdu lE lU lu-
ure struggle about slavery Involuntary
ervitude, as q monopoly of labor, is forever
destroyed. The monster obstacle to the
ational progress has been removed, and
all the the faculties of our
eople can be developed without let or
indrance p" The fair and exuberantly
srtile States of the South, heretofore COM
aratively retrogressiye and unproductive,
eiieved from this terrible curse, with the
lfiux Of northern immigration and capital,
ill soon become the rivals of their northern
ster States in all the arts of peace, and ad-
itional markets will be developed in which
} exchange the varied products of the here
fore hostile sections
Hardly less magical has been the effect
pom other nations. General Grant cleo
on has confirmed the hopes of our nations
lends, and the fears of its foes in the Old
Torld. 1t supplements and seals the YER
let of arms and the progress of republican
rincipes. The downfall of the rebellion
e 4hreT prtaa uh11 HrovUrutrJIi irl- lag rauu}
10 peacefuI expulsion of the last OF the
ourbons from Spain; the unrest OF Cubai
he concession Of more liberal principles IN
-ermany; and the necessary acqulesceuce OF
le Emperor of the French in the republi-
m sentiments he fears even as he has be-
AVP1 TDGIU. w LlII IEE AuGsI bGA AA40
hoes of thedire catastrophe that has over
beImed aristocracy in the United States?
Notwithstanding the importance of the
sues involved in the late canvass, and the
tterness of feeling as well as the earnest
sss with which it was conducted, its ter
,ination has happily met the with acqui-
seenee of nearly the whole people; and at
. time in the history of the nation has
nere been opened before us a brighter
rosuect of continued peace and increasing
rnsperity; and we have no greater cause
N universal congratulation than that no
iferences of opinion now exist that can
,aterially mar our national happiness, re-
lrd our onward progress, or threaten the
eace or perpetuity Of our government.
In conclusion, permit me to remark that
ne voice Of Pennsylvania, as well as that of
majority of the States, has at the ballot
OK proclaimed to the world that all our
a+;onal Indebtedness, no matter how heavy
he burden, will be paid according to the
tier and spirit Of the agreements made
IA entered into at the time the debt was
ontracted; and that in this as in all other
esnects our Individual and national honor
must and shall be preserved that we are
etermined by all honorable means IN cur
,ower to secure ample announcement and
protection to each and every branch OF Home
industry and every manly enterprise that
oDtributes capital, labor, skill and industry
q our material wealth, social advancement
md political tranquility; that for all our cit
zens. tbe children of the Commonwealth,
,eine also citizens of the United States, we
Iemand the fullest protection, in their per-
ems, their property, and in all their rights
nd privileges wherever they may go within
he national jurisdiction or in foreign lands;
md that whilst our financial policy shall be
uch as to maintain untrammelled our ma
ional credit, it is to be hoped that it may
4 The same time, be such as win permit and
,anotion the construction Of the great rail-
ways now in progress and stretching out
heir giant arms 70 grasp the mighty com,
,,erce Of the Pacific, to develop the untold
-esources of wealth in the intervening terri
-ories. and to connect the most distant por-
-;l,,e ~ rpr cntlntrv in q common union,