The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-07-14

Olumns. The Press Is political sup
orter of the Lit. Governor, and its OBJ
ervations and deductions cannot be
resumed to have been made from an
lnfriendly standpoint.
First, the Press characterizes his
lction in pardoning a man charged with
he brutal and horrible murder of help
ess woman in the presence of her five
'atherless children, ''as monstrous and |
& hi1eous spectacle of violated trust and |
% abuse Of power"
Second, it reiterates the statement
that he himself had offered a reward of
$500 for this same murderer, and that
he granted the pardon even before the
was brought into the State and
put upon trial.
Third, that he ''took advantage of a
80 few hours absence of Gov. Ames from
90 the State al dead of night in which to
interpose Executive clemency between
the murderer and the penalties of the
law.
Fourth, in consideration Oft this pardon,
the charge is that the Lt.-Governor
received sum of money, said to be four
hundred and fifty dollars. In other
words that he exercised the powers of
the Office of Governor which he tenn
porarily filed in virtue of his Office of
Lit. -Governor, and polluted the seal of
the State, for a money consideration.
The Press, it will be seen, so far from
discrediting this main charge, virtually
countenances it, and emphatically dis
approves the method by which it has
been met, as feeble and insufficient.
Now the Index has come squarely to
the point, and specified that Colonies
Beverly, Matthews and w. f. Gibbs are
cognizant of the facts--that the money
which was expended to procure the re-
lease Of the criminal, passed through
their hands, that as lawyers, they receiv-
ed their fees out oft, and that Col. Gibbs
disbursed to the Lt.-Governor the sum
received. These gentlemen have itin their
power to clear up this whole transaction,
if they will. They haze not spoken. True,
Col Matthews has satisfied the Index
that his action in the case was 90 profess
" sional and honorable" but this does not
amount to pinch of snuff. He is not
on trial at the bar of public opinion.
Nobody has inquired whether his conduct
is professional and honorable +" or not
The inquiry is, what do you know about
the charge against the Lit. Governor, and
what were the influences that induced
him to pardon the criminal? Any an
swer which does not meet this question
squarely is simply evasive, and is utterly
abortive, as an attempt to satisfy the
public demand upon the point at ISSUE
Until the matter becomes subject of
legal inquiry, and of Legislative investi-
CATION, these gentlemen who are publicly
declared to be cognizant of the facts, have
it in their power to keep silent, but their
silence, under the circumstances, is omin-
Gus.
Here is the article from the Press, the
journal above referred to:
Gov. Davis and the Index.
The Columbus Index has charged 1t
Gov. Davis with the crime of pardoning |
one Thomas III. Barrentine, man who |
stands indicted on the records of this |
for one of the most brutal, fendish |
and unprovoked murders found in the |
annals of crime.
Its second charge is, that the 1t. Gov |
ernor hlmself-actIng as Governor when |
the crime was ommitted-offered re-
ward of $500 for his apprehension, and
when the officers of the law were upon
his track ard about to bring him back to
the State for trial upon this heinous
charge, that Lt.-Gov. Davis again took |
a hand in the case, and taking advantage |
of few hours absence from the State of |
Gov. Ames, at dead Of night, interceded |
his pardon between this criminal and out
ragged justice.
The third charge is, that this pardon
was granted for a money consideration of
$500, given into the hands Oh the 1t.
Governor for that specific purpose.
The first aud second of these counts, |
we presume, Gov Davis will not DENY. |
The third charge, while more fragrant
violation of the letter of the law, is GER
talnly not greater outrage upon the
morals of the sense of justice of civil
lied people than are the first charges.
The moral guilt of the act stands asa mon
strOus and hideous spectacle of violated
trust, and abuse of power.
When, therefore, the Lit. Governor
comes forward confessing the first counts
accepting the verdict of condemnation
from the mouths of all honest men, which
these confessed violations of duty fasten
upon him-can he reasonably expect the
public to accept his mere denial of the
last charge as it is by thou
sand suspicious circumstances-as a full
acquittal? The Pilot, with all the SIM
plicity of child-like faith, remarks:
I'VE are assured by Lt.-Gov. Davis that
there is no truth in the article published
recently in the Columbus Index" mo
Davis, and the Pilot gulps
t down and then proceeds to call on the
Index to prove the statement
Whether the Index is able to do so or
lot, we do not know, but we are of opin-
on that it will be time enough to call
or proofs when the opportunity is ex-
ended to them to secure them. This op-
Mr.. Davis can give them by
bringing an action of libel, or by taking
uch other steps as will give the Index I
chance to compel the attendance of
witnesses and their sworn evidence under
be penalty of perjury for false state