The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-17
The PardOning Power.

| else OF Wh1cn GOvern0rS and PreSidentS
are more roundly abused than the par
doning power. Some times it is unques.
tionably exercised for insufficient reas-
ons, but 1t Is more generally condemn
ed simply because those who censure
do not know the reasons for the pardon
they condemn. Our own experience in
connection with administrations is that
they do not pardon enough instead of
too much, but Executives also are very
liable to pardon for improper reasons.
The appeals Of personal friends and Of
men of considerable influence, who ask
as for personal favor, the touching ap.
peals of wives, mothers and childre n
who may suffer more by the incarcera-
ton OF the criminal than he does him.
self, being dependent upon him for sup
port, can often be resisted only by the
most obdurate teart, yet are not in
themselves proper reasons for pardon.
We believe that as rule Executives do
not grant one In ten of the pardons APP
piled for-often not one in twenty.
Nearly all the cases are more or less
misrepresented to the public. Thus 1t
Is stated that JOHN SMITH, convicted
of burglary aud sentenced to the peni.
tentiary for ten years, has been pardon.
ed by the Governor after serving only
a few months. The fact is heralded
likely under the caption of civilian let
loose" The same announcement is
made as regards counterfeiters, thieves,
DC.
Now the pardon may have been grant.
ed because ofafter discovered testimony
throwing doubt upon guilt or establish
ing innocence, the sentencing Judge
and prosecutors may themselves have
como to the conclusion that under the
circumstances the punishment inflicted
was too severe, the convict may be on
the verge of death, las is often the case)
and other equally substantial reasons
may have actuated the Executive, yet
they are not given to the public with
the announcement of the pardon, and
the pardoning officer is condemned as
though there was neither reason or ius.
tiflcation for his action.
Pardons for political reasons or to
defeat the operations Of law against
partizan friends are of course indefensi.
BILE.
There are other cases of interest in
this connection. Some very slight Of
fences may be severely punished under
the operation of grading crimes. Dur.
ing the administration of Gov. BIGLER
fellow In Washington county was con-
victed Of larceny for having stolen a |
Jug of whiskey from distillery. He
was caught crawling out of window
of the building with the jug in hand. |
He was sentenced to the western peni. |
tentiary. Influential friends interfered
In his behalf--the severity of the sem
tence for such an offence appeared obvi. |
Gus as well as unjust-and the Cover
nor pardoned the culprit. In two weeks
afterwards he was caught in the very
same act and at the same spot!
Horse thieves and counterfeiters rare
ly quit the business, no matter how
often punished. A pardon will some.
times reform them, if young.
1t is also to be noted IN this connec.
tion that in the Scotch-Irish counties
persons charged with murder rarely es.
cape conviction, and that convictions
upon other charges of crime are more
general with them than in the German
counties Judges of the former nation
ality are more likely to convict and are
much more severe in their sentences
than the latter.
In the yankeeized counties and local
tiles. cheating, swindling, false preten.
ces, &C., are tho most common crimes.
Bradford, Tioga, Potter, M'Kean, and
the northern part of Lycoming are no.
torious as affording refuge and conceal
ment to horse thieves, and perhaps aid.
The pardon, by Gov. GEARY, recent.
ly, OF RICHARD PALMER, of this coun-
ty convicted Of manslaughter was
proper one for proper reasons, and was
recommended by the members of the
bar, the prosecuting attorney, and the
NoSS Who Ptoocu tiC StutcuCt. lHlS :
Is an example of just exercise of the
power. The pardon ofa Dep
lty Sheriff in Philadelphia, for taking
Illegal fees, was little better than the
crime itself and deserves apprehension.
Granted merely to crafty persons who {
asked it, it is an example of improper f
pardons for improper reasons. {
Young men, unless hardened villains,
should nearly always be pardoned be. t
'ore the expiration of their sentences. c
It proves to them in way that cannot 8
otherwise be impressed, that they are s
rot yet outcasts, that they yet have G
riends who seek their welfare, that they t
ire forgiven and will be protected and Il
'ncoukaged in well.doing. 1t is saying p
o them in kindly manner, "go, and sin
10 more"