The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1869-01-14


tories ere constructed, or proper system
of confinement and prison discipline is
adopted, there will be material decrease
of crime, aud paratively few cases to
demand the exercise of the pardoning
power
COMPUTATION OF SENTENCES.
There are confined in the Philadelphia
county prison the following named con
victs, under sentence of death, for whose
execution warrants have not been issued:
Edward Ford, sentenced May II, 1851
Jerry Dixon, May 80, 1868; Patrick
Finuegan, February 9, 1868; Newton
Champion, December l, 1866, and Alfred
Alexander aud Hester Vaughn, July 3,
1868. Successive Governors, for satisfac
tory reasons, have declined to order the
execution of these persons. The law re-
quires that they shall be executed in ac-
cordance with the sentence, uncondition-
ally pardoued, or held in close confne-
ment in the county Jail during life. The
latter punishment, with the additional
embtterment constantly preying upon
the mind that death warrant may at
any moment be issued, is, perhaps, the
severest that could be inflicted. 1t would
be both just and merctul to give the
Governor authority to commute the SEN
tence Of death in the above named cases
t. Imprisonment, at labor, in the Ient-
tentiary, for such term of years as the
amelioratng circumstances may seem to
Justify and demand. One of the convicts
| L. al 10Th
teen years, and although it might not be
advisable to set him at liberty, humanity
and the ends Of justice require the CON-
mutation Of his sentence in the manner
suggested.
CONCLUSION.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
Of sufficient Importance TO submit al the pre-
sent time for your information and considera-
ton Others may occur before the close OF
the session which may be worthy os special
communications. 1t will be my constant
care and determination TO cooperate with
YOU in The prosecution Of any measures that
may tend to preserve and increase the pros
perty 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
Many of the events that have transplred
since my last annual communication
to the Legislature have been unusually in
teresting and sisnfcent They have been
infinitely more than political, and bear dlrec-
tely upon The great interests and most sacred
deslines Of the nation. Apart from the VIM
dicatlon of the principles of The party which
susta ined the government ana the army dur
ing the contest for the preservation of the
Union, and the election 10 the Presidency
OF the first soldier of the age, is the fact
that the people have by triumphant ma jorl-
ties forever settled our controversy 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 mon
opoly of labor, is forever destroyed. The
monster obstacle TO the nationa progress
has been removed, and henceforward all the
faculties of our people can be developed
without let or hinderunce." The fair and
exuberanliY fertile States of the South, here
Ioiore comparatively retrogressve aud un-
productive, relieved from this terrible curss,
with the influx of northern immig grafton and
capital, will soon become the rivals OF their
northern sister States in III the arts OF pea ce,
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 CRAFTS eec-
ton has confirmed the hopes of our nation s
friends, and the fears of its foes in the Old
World. 1t supplements and seals the ver-
dict Of arms and the progress of republican
principles. The downfall of the rebellion in
the United States was quickly followed by
The great civil revolution in England; the
peaceful expulsion of the last of the Bour-
bons from Spain; the unrest of Cuba !; the
concession of more liberal principles in Ger
many and the necessary acquiescence OF
the Emperor of the French in the republican n
sentiments he fears even as he has betrayed
them. What are theirs bat the echoes of
the dire catastrophe that has overwhelmed
aristocracy in the United States!
No;w outstanding the Importance Of the is
sues involved ia the late canvass, and the
bitterness o. feeling as well as the earnest
ness with which it was conducted, its ter
mination has happily met with the acqnies-
cence of nearly the whole people; and at re
lime in the history of the nation has there
been opened before US brighter prospect of
continued peace and increasing prosperity
and we have no greater cause for unis sersal
congratulation than that no differences of
opinion now exists that can materially mar
our national happiness, retard our onward
progress, or threaten the peace or perpetuity
Of our government.
In conclusion, permit me to remark that
the voice of Pennsylvania, as well as that OF
a majority Of the States, has at the ballot
box proclaimed 10 the world that all our
national Indebtedness, no matter how heavy
the burden, will be paid according to "the
letter and spirit" of the agreements made
and entered into at the time the debt was con.
lracted; and that in this as in all other res
poets our individual and national honor "must
and shall be preserved" that we are deter
mined by all honorable means IN our power
10 secure ample encouragement and protec-
| fInn to each and hra ncn of Home In