The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-01-15
| Comined from -EIra nnne ]

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
heset with powerful and pitiful importuni-
ties, rs well as conflicting representations,
from those in whom he should be able to
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; the condition Of the prisoner; las tenn
tatlon TO err; the injury that may be lnfilct-
ed upon his helpless and dependent rell-
tlves, and the arguments and appeals rf
citizens whose opinions and wishes he is
bound to respect And however just his
decision and humane and generous his ac-
ton, either in favor of or against the pcti-
toner for clemency, he must expect to have
his motives impuened, his. name and char
acter maligned and to suffer virulent attacks
for the exercise of this most important and
merciful prerogatiye
The pardon report will exhibit that many
instances in which Executive clemency has
been invoked, youthful prison rs charged
with their first Offences, and those Of triy-
Ial character, have been the recipients The
object Of punishment, in all cases should
not be 50 much to inflict pain as to reform
the sufferer aud prevent the repetition Of
evil deeds. This fact IS frequently lost sight
Of in imposing punishment upan criminals
especially when inexperienced youths are
shut up in c'o3e cells with m.n hardened in
crime, where its arts are daily taught and a
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 Self-respcct, their moral
sentiments hunted, and prepared to prac-
ticc 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-
formatOries are constructed, or proper sys-
tenn Of confinement and prison discipline is
adopted, there will be a material decrease Of
crime, and comparatively few cases to de
mand the exercise of the pardoning power.
Communication IF Scueaces.
There are confined in the philadelphia
county prison the following named conv,ctS.
under sentence Of death, for whose execu-
ton warrants have net been issued Ed
ward Ford, sentenced May -. 1881: Jerry
Dixon, May 30, 1868: Patrick FInueeaB.
February 9, 1868, Newton Champion, De
cember l, 1866, and Alfred Alexander and
Hester Vaughn, July g. 1868. Successive
Governors for satisfactory reasons have de-
cIlaed to order the execution of these per
sons. The law requires that they shall be
executed IN accordance with the sentence,
unc0nditionally pardoucd, or held In close
confinement in the county jail during life
The latter punishment, with the additional
embltteIment constantly preying upon the
mind that death warrant may at any mo-
ment be issued, is, perhaps, the segerest
that could be inflicted 1t would be both
just and mercitul to give the Governor au-
thority to commute the sentence of death iu
the above named cases TO Imprisonment, at
labor, in the penitcntiary, for such a 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
commutatoin Of his sentence IN the manner
suggested.
Conclusion.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
of sufficient importance to submit at the
siderati0D Others may occur before the
close Of the session which may be worthy of
special communications. 1t viii be my con
slant care aud determination to co operate
with you In the prosecution Of any measures
that may tend TO preserve and increase the
prosperity of the State and the happiness of
It's people, with the firm belief that your
united wisdom will aim constantly to pro-
mote these desirable results.
Many of the events that have trauspircd
since my last annual communication to the
Legislature have been usually interesting
and significant They have been infinitely
more than political, aud bear directly upon
the great interests aud most sacred destuics
of the nation. Apart from the viudicatjon
Of the principles OF the party which sus
tanned the government aud 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
tite people have by triumphant maiori-
ties forever settled our controversy upon
certain fundamental principles
Parties may and undoubtedly will arise
upon other issues. but there can be no fu-
tura struggle about slavery. Involuntary
servltude, as Z monopoly OF labor, Is forever
destroyed. The monster obstacle to the
national progress has becl removed, aud
henceforward all the the faculties of our
people can be developed without let or
hindrance. The fair and exubcrautly
fertile States Of the South, heretofore com
paratiyely retr0gressive and unpIoluctive,
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 arts Of peace, ani adj
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 nations General Grant eec
tim has confirmed the hopes Of our nation 5
friends, and the fears OF its foes in the O.d
World. Ii supplements and seals the yer
diet Of arms aud 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
Bourbons from Spain; the unrest of Cuba;
the concession Of more liberal principles In
Germany and the necessary acqujcScence Of
the Emperor OF the French III the rcpubii-
can sentiments he fears even as hc has be-
trayed them. What are these but the
echoes OF the dire catastrophe thar has oglr-
whelmed arstocrary IN the United STATES?
Notwithstanding the Importance Of the
issues involves in the late canvass, and the
bitterness Of feeling as well as the earnest
ness with which it was conducted, its ter
mination has happily met with the acqui
essence Of nearly the whole people, and at
no time in the history Of the nation has
there been opened before u, a brighter
prospect Of continued peace aud Increasing
prosperity; and we have 10 greater cause
for universal congratui4tion than that no