The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-10
Governor Geary.

THE PRESSURE FOR THE RESPITE OF EATON AND
TwITCHEIL THE CoUNTER-PREssURE FOR
THEIR EXECUTION--THE COMhUTATloN VETO
Yesterday, in our telegrams from Harrisburg,
we gave some interesting information relative TO
the Eaton and Twitcheu cases The following
is in addition
Among other letters received by Governor
Geary in favor of enforcing the penalty OF law
upon Twtchell one from distinguished
citizen of Philadelphia, setting forth that ut
this particular time when society has been star
tied by so many outrages, 1t can only depend
upOn the firmness of the Executive to protect
its honest citizens. Still another letter begs
that the lawlessness of the men OF whom
Eaton was an associate may be checked by
the ntexible course OF the Governor, ana
adiures him to uphold the majesty of the
law. third letter, which is anonymous, says,
'Do not pardon Eaton or Twitchell; beware, be-
ware !" and may be regarded as an offset TO n
deeply italicised scrawl signed "Ihe Avengers,
which says, "Geary, you savage Governor, we
owe you grudge that will long last in our
minds; be on your guard; at your door is the
blood of Eaton and Twitchell; you are the base
murderer of two men, one our friend and re-
venge on you, we are bound, if we hang for it;
Il will be recollected that the Legislature hur-
riedly passed an act authorizing the Governor to
commute the death penalty to imprisonment Tor
life. 1t was this afternoon vetoed by his Excel
Iency for reasons set forth hereafter. A letter
from Hon. Judge Taylor, of Huntington, de-
nounces the communication as a monstrous revolu-
ton IN the penal cOue calculated 10 take tue laws
from the statute books, and make the bosom of
the Executive the Judge of every crime. Judge
Taylor appeals for veto of the bill on the ground
that it is alike Illegal and unjust.
Another correspondent says-'To have this
important act-the most important that has been
passed for many years-sprung upon the com
munity is one Of those many legislative outrages
which have done so much to bring the name of
the Legislature almost into contempt"
CoMMUTATIoN OF THE DEATH PENhTY-Gov-
ERNoR GEARY VETOEs THE BILL.
message was received by the House from
Governor Geary this evening, yetoing the bill
authorizing the Governor TO commute the death
penalty The reasons set forth for the veto are
as fooWs- -.
That tbe hill is unnecessary. and imposes Obli-
cations and responsibilities which were never
intended to rest on the Executive IL makes q
legislative interference with power tlat shouu
!, only be prescribed by the Constitution. Inc eX-
sting laws give the court and jury power TO pre-
vent any undue rigor. No man can be convicted
of murder in the first degree, unless with all the
formalities of law, which generously accord 10
the prisoner the benefit of the slightest doubt.
The act OF 1894 secures moderate Out certain
hpenaties, and denounces severe and excessive
*punishments but it recognizes the death penalty
twhen necessary for public safety
In view Of the power of the courts to consider
Il aUmitigatlng circumstances there is no fitness
N giving this additional discretion TO the Cover
1oT The law furnishes abundant security tC
;i1mnals, as well as opportunities for new trials
yrite OF errors, etc. The law its efficacy t.
.he certainty of punishment, and the pardonine
power has itself been doubted. This power has
been always held by the people to be the subjec
of constitutional provisions and not of lcgisla
tive interference. 1t is unwise 10 open so deli
cate subject to the fluctuations of legislatiy,
will. 1t il unjust to the Executive to compe
him to retry every cases it is unjust TO the court
and iuries to expose their solemn findings TO sucl
irresponsible re-eXaminations and to have pri
yate reviews at the request Of interested parties
The bill is deceptive because while it repre-
sents its objects to be to commute the dealt
penalty 10 imprisonment for life, there is NOTHING
10 prevent some future Governor from exercisni
the pardon power, and turning the crimina
loose upon society. The power OF pardon Is th