Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-12

ly furnished with copy o. the act and IN
! formed Of the annointncnt of Cotnullssi0..-
ems under 1t, a.ii his co operation invited;
! But, so-far as | am advised 70 action oil
any kin has been taken by De!i"are oh
I the subject; and consequently tue ~ork
contemplated hy the act above referred 10
has n I been performed.
Yonr special attention Is invited to the
report OF our Comm jsaioners, which Is here
with communicated
IN MEMoRIAM.
il is eminently proper that special notice
should be taken of the dccease Of such per
sous as have occupied prominent positions
In, and rendered distinguished services 10
the State. Conspicuous among these were
Hon Joseph Ritner and Hon. David T.
Porter, both of whom died during the present
administration During their eyentful lives
they shared larg, ly in the public confidence
and regard. and filed many posts OF honor,
trust and responsibility, including that OF
Governor, with distinguished fidelity and
patriotism. They were cOnSpicnousiy Iden-
titled with all the grave aad important
questions of State policy and administration.
through the cgenriul period III which they
lived, and contributed largely to shape aud
strengthen he firm foundations of our Com
m0nwaalti.. which others have been en-
ab'ed to buid securely They have passed
away. rine 10 years and full OF h0nors; ana
il Is respectfully submitted whether 1t be
not proper for the Legislature to take some
appropriate notice ot' the lamented death Of
these 1870 distinguished public servants.
PARDoNs.
L has groEn into a custom TO regard an
application for Executive cemency as an
indispensable part of the machinery Of Grim
inal justice. BE -ause ihe Executive is in
vested with the power to pardon, it Is by
many supposed that he las not oHiy the
right, but that it Is bis duty to examine into
every allegation Of error, and give tavora-
b.eresponse to every application and hence,
petitions for pardon aie becoming 50 numer
Gus that the mere examination OF them Is
exhaustive OF large amount OF valuable
time; at least an hour in each case, exelu-
sive OF The tIme occupied lii correspondence
with the judges, district attorneys aud other
parties Criminals are no sooner convicted
than their friends, and other interested par
| ties, who seem to think that il is the Gov
srnor constitutional duty 10 nuliity the
( Lass instead OF seeing that they are faithful,
| iy executed, prepare a raid upon him, and
/ employ IN their opportunities for pardon
every device that human ingenuity can sug
gest; and If but u 1.-THE Of the repre-, ,euta-
! tions set forth We're believed one would be
| led to suppose hat or courts are daily guilty
of the g:oSscSt biuuders, and that justice Is
far mere blind than she has ever been paint
ed iy the most skiiliul artist
During the year ending December 81, 90,
there have been fifteen hundred aud fifty
applications for pardon, of which sixty two,
or four per cent, Were granted, eleven hun
| dred and eight rejected, and three hundred
and eighty are still under adFiSement.
For some reason not easily understood, il
seems that public sentiment has become per-
verIed on this Important subj sct OF paIdOns.
! The trainers OF our government, as under
stand it, never contemplated or intended an
/ IndiScriminate use of the pardoning power.
1t was only designed for the correction OF
manilest errors or expressions, palpabie mis-
/ takes, cases OF after discovered evidence.
and others OF exceptional character. Both
the theory of our government and public
policy require that the pardo0ing power
should be kept within these reasonable lin
its, and not be made an instrument to defeat
the execution of the laws and the admins
tralion of public justice All ordinary cases
therefore, are wholly outside of, and in con
tiict with, the principle on which Executive
clemency should be based; and none sucf
sholll be presented for consideration. lii
earnestly hoped the public viii understand
and act i'll accordance with this view OF thl
subject as due alike 10 the Executive and /;
proper regard for the execution of the laws
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Having laid before you general survey
of the affairs and condition of the State
which relate to the common welfare, it af
foTds me also the highest qualification to AID
that the amicab!e Intercourse and pleasant
relations which have 50 long existed between
the government Of Pennsylvania and The
governments of all the other States and o.
the Union, continue unimpaired and con
sequentIy, our resolution. TO preserve. pro
tect and defend these fundamental princi.
pies of humanity, ,equa! right and equal jus
tlce 10 all, universal freedom and a unite
country, Is greatly strengthened
The general relations of the Nationa
Government, as set forth in the recent an
nual message Of the President. continue /,
be peace at home and without entanglins
alliances abroad ;" the reconstruction Of n,
States lately in rebellion Is being ranidiv ac
compiished-the revenues are iaithlullv col
lectcd-the National debt is being liquidate,
at the rate of about one hundred million
dollars per annum and reputation has beei
emphatIcaliy repudiated 4 strict and an
compromising adherence to this policy hy
I lEuueHt anu ecOuOi4lcdi administration la
already restored the National character {,
the fullest confidence in the minds, not on,
ofour countrymcn bat of foreigners, and ha
,, allayod all spirit of discomfort that nigh
have been dangerous 20 the stability of on
: institutions.
There is another subject also of Nationa
Importance claiming oar intention. bccau
it directly affects The industrial oDeration
l IN which Pennsylvania Is so largelv interes,
! cd. Movements, characterized with th
greatest energy, are now te!ng made b
those interested IN i!ce trade, 10 induce Con
: gress to take such action as will permit IN
free Introduction of eel, iron aud ron ma
teria!s Tor ship building and ,nanv othe
. notifications Of the tariff laws. Shopl
I such eifnits be successful. the result mn.
prove disastrous to the great coal. iron an
other interests OF the State diminishing m
: production of iron and other manufacture
. articles, and consequently the consunpfia
II OF coal and be destructive to our valuaJ
i home markets. 1t would also prove disa
: trouS to many Of our capitalists and workir
# people, depriviug them of all leasunab
prospects OF future activity AMI remuner
,lns wages, and bring cur producers into
n rnlnous competition with pauper labor frG
a abroad. SO lar as the present system afTorC
= protection to the mauuf;3cturcs Inbor ~