The Van Buren press., 1871-08-15
NO. IL
Bowen, the President and Atterusy
Fishsr.
from the Richmond Ensuissr.I

Fishsr.
from the Richmond Enquissr.l
We called attention yesterday 70 one
Of the reasons alleged in the above docu-
ment for the pardon of Mr. BoWtn.
namely, the fact that "be rendered rood
service to the Union during the rebellion,
and since its termination. We are not
Informed what "good service" Mr.. Bow.
en- " rendered to the Union during the rs-
oellion. The fact is Bowen was Con-
federate soldier, aud was undergoing
punishment for some offence when Gen.
Sherman entered South Carolina. Is
would appear from this circumstances that
he is no ordinary offender. A Con.
federate he was yiolator ofthe law, and
was punished by the Confederate author.
tiles as criminal. When the war ended
he consorted with the negroes Of the
Second congressional district Of South
Carolina, and was elected to congress. II
Is in this connection. we presume, that
he has rendered "good service" to the
Union, since the war. But he paid ~ liz
tl1 respect to the criminal code Of the
Union as he did to that of the Confede-
racy--for he soon got himself into trou.
bic again BY perpetrating one ofthe great
est crimes that can be committed In the
sight Of God or against society.
But their is another ground alleged for
the extraordinary exeriion of the execu.
tive prerogativc-namely, I" that he acted
in good faith, believing his former wife
to be dead We want no better reason
than this it is enough but why then as
sign so many other reasonsS The only
| question Is, Is the statement trbs p II
true, why was he convicted ? And, again,
if true, how did it happen that he sent
letter to the woman whom he believed
to be dead which letter his messenger
actually presented to the dead" woman,
and which she Indignantly refused TO re-
ceivc? lftrue. how was 1t that on the
trial Bowen undertook to prove by forged
divorce papers that he had been divorced
| from his wife 2 If she was believed to
be dead, why did Bowen provide himself
with these papers?
| But there Is yet another ground aileg.
ed for the pardon and this reads like
piece of fun on the part OF the executive;
| It is the queerest remark to make in q
state paper we ever met with such mo.
tiyes often control men in power, but we
do not suppose that such one was ever
aroued before, even by an Oriental dcs.
pot 1t is this limited States Attor.
ney Fisher would be gratifed by the ex-
ercise of executive clemency." We have
not the honor Of" United States Attor.
ney Fishers" acquaintance; but, Of
course, it will be source of satisfaction
to the country to know that he feels
"gratifed. The tender solicitude Of
his master to amuse him. and to make
him feel comfortable, is sufficient guar
antee that he 10 person Of some impor-
tance. AZ n loyal American citizen we
rejoice in the content of any one who 10
fortunate eno nough to stand in the sunshine
of our Republican court We cannot
help wondering whether any Attorney
Fishers " have had anything to do with
the remarkable flow Of the executive
clemency in South Carolina and Georgia
We have been so entertained with the
freshness and a9iesie of this presidential
document, that we have an almost con
suming desire to get hold of the pardon
literature ofthe Georgia and South Caro-
lima executives. 1t will be remembered
that Gov. Scott in 1870 pardoned out Ill
Of the convicts in the South Carolina
penltentary except seventy four while
his neighbor, Gov Bullock granted
(among shem forty. eight murderers) 328
pardons out Of 426 applications made to
him But we have not been permitted to
enjoy the redsohs assigned BY the State
executives for their acts Of abounding
clemency. We had not experienced any
desire to see them--for it had never oc-
Cured to us that manfcstoes Of this sort
were fitted for summer reading; but Gen.
Grant has revealed to us that genius can
even make this subject interesting Not
since we read the first chapter in the Pick.
wick papers have we laughed 50 merrily
as when be came upon "And seeing that
United States Attorney Fisher would be
gratifed by turning Bowen loose. /" or
course the president could not resist Il
exhibits the grim warrior pursuing the
arts Of peace, II is beating the sword
into the plough share, and the spear into
the pruning. hook. The doves OF Venus
are said to have built their nest in tho
helmet of Mars-and the blending here
suggested Of the rude image OF war and
the gentle ministrations Of lore Is nots
finer picture than that Of the hero Of Ap.
pomattox, melted into good nature, ope.
ming the prison.doo upon Bowen, to
crafty Fisher. Where is Harper's art.
ist2