New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-29
EXECUTIVE nLEMENCY.


to be hailed with peculiar satisfaction by
some of the best people in this city. "A
remarkable interest in the fate of the con-
demned man has recently sprung up. 1t
extended to nearly all classes, and set
influential men to work in earnest to try
and save him from death. Petitions
numerously signed were laid before the
Governor, imploring communication Of
the sentence, or, at least a reprieve,
until some of the alleged f,cts
in mitigation could be devel-
oped. Governor Warmoth himself
felt lively interest in the case, and made
earnest personal exertions to learn all the
circumstances connected with the commits
sion of the crime, the trial, and the re-
suit. There was nothing in the record
favorable to the prisoner A.; the testimony
for the State was direct and positive, while
tina. for the prisoner had either been badly
presented or neglected. But there was an
intuitive feeling that the prisoner had not
been properly defended, that he was about
to suffer the extreme penalty Of the law
for deed which has often been committed
by men who now openly walk the streets
in freedom. The man is poor, without
friends or money; he is of foreign birth,
and unacquainted with our laws and usages;
be had moreover had great provocation
from the deceased for some time previous
to the conflict, and on that occasion been
assaulted in his own house at night, when
unarmed, by a man who tried to take his
life. Fortune, however, favored him on
that occasion. He obtained hold of the
knife of his assailant, and with it inflicted
wound which proved fatal. This was
the theory of the gentlemen whose interest
had been awakened in Bazars behalf, and
which our nd-hearted Governor endeav-
ored to authenticate. But the record was
read and scrutinized in vain tor that pur-
pose. Finally, executive duty prevailed
over manly feeling. Governor Warmoth's
clear head obtained the ascendant over
the law must take its course.
About this time, Mr.. Duncan, editor of
the Bee, waited upon the Governor, and
added the weight of his personal a nd
political influence in the scale of mercy.
And we ascribe to this human and chris
tan gentleman no small share of the credit
of having saved one erring and mis-
guided, but we hope far from hardened
from fearful death. Next to
Governor Warmoth is Mr.. Duncan entitled
to this need of praise. For, though Bazaar
is by no means released from the
of his act, he
has been afforded another chance |
10 show the world that the lie
be took was not sacrificed to preme dita.
led spirit ofrevenge. However much this |
community may deprecrata acts Of vio-
ence, public opinion and the spirit of our |
avs have ever been lenient toward the |
man who took the life Of an
other in actual self defense, whhe the dan
ser of a similar fate was imminent, and he |
driven, as it were, to the wall, with no
escape except over the dead body of his
And the reprieve Of Bazaar, if |
t shall lead to even presumptive show
ng that such was his case, VIII yet be |
looked upon as one of the most judicious
acts Of our Governor. AS the Bee very
properly remarks: cit remains for the
parties who appeled to the Executive
,lemency to make good the existence of
oalliating features in Bazar's case, such as
ire said to exist"
The reprieve will only operate as sus.
tension of the sentence, which the Cover
Tor may still order to take place at any time.
md as he represents the sovereignty of
he State and the majesty of justice, it will
'ecome his duty to do. SO, unless a strong
ase for executive clemency can be made
ut by the friends of the accused. By the
ern,, friends, we mean those humane men
Tho, although strangers to Bazaar, have,
rom considerations highly creditable to
heir hearts, espoused his cause solely for
be reason that he is poor and friendless.
We append the judicious remarks of the
Zee, addressed to those who may be in
lined to build illusory hopes upon the
cton of the citizens and the Governor in
his case:
1t ought to be understood by lawless
len. that there is no disposition on the
art Of the authorities or citizens to step in
etween them and the laws they violate.
he facts of Bazar's case are peculiar, and
Weakened the sympathy OF those who in
crested themselves to have him reprieved. |
imilar facts may not exist in any future |
ase. and it will be very unsafe for law
reakers to rely upon such earnest efforts to
ave them from punishment as have been
lade for Bazar. Ihe exercise OF executive
lemency toward him, we hope, will be
let by all classes of the community in a
roper spirit, and by strict obedience to :
ne laws of the State. Should pistols and
hives and other deadly weapons continue !
} be used, the efforts of benevolent citizens ,
} arrest the punishment affixed to crime,
an not be expected. Their past efforts will
e lily repaid by such conduct. The respite ,
ccorded to Bazaar should not lead any one
0 think that the same mercy will be dealt
ut to him If found in like situation. The
riends of Bazaar have, indeed, given pledges
0 the Governor that his Interference III
his case will be rewarded by more faith {
Ill observance of the laws than has marked ,
he history of our city in times past. These
hedges must be carried out.
HONOR TO THE BRAVE. II
On the thirtieth instant recurs what
lay now be considered the national as ,