The daily gazette., 1879-01-21

ana ignored Oy tne milltafy authority.
For proof Of this proposition 1t is not
necessary to look beyond the history of
in the events which have so recently
transpired in our midst. Through the
instrumentality of the military power of
the country, and under the false pretense
of preserving the peace OF society, we
have seen States dsmantled OF their
sovereignty, and communities robbed of
their political rights and privileges. And,
in addition to this, We have stood on the
verge of a great political revolution In
volvng the restoration of the General
Government to its former purity and
vigor through the peaceable and constitu-
tiopal medium of the ballot, and yet, by
the concentration of the munitions of
war, and the ordering Of troops at the
seat of the federal legislature, by high
official of the federal government, we
have further seen that revolution part tally
arrested at least, and the public senti-
ment of the country, held under military
duress, submit to the triumph of one of
the gravest wrongs ever inflicted upon a
free people. Let us lay this maxim close
to our hearts 'that arms and liberty do
not flourish together" Before leaving
this subject however, desire to empha-
size the importance and necessity Of the
State relying upon its own governmental
resources and appliances to maintain
tranquility and the supremacy of law
within its own borders. The habit of
calling upon the authorities of the gener-
al government for troops, by the States,
to suppress disorderly and turbulent
demonstrations therein, would undoubt-
Iedly beget a strong feeling of dependence
upon the federal government, and dim
inish, in corresponding degree, the
spirit of self-reliance upon the part OF
) the States. With such relationship
subsistng between the State and FEEDER
al governments, the latter would gradual
ly absorb many Of the attributes ot sove-
reignty expressly reserved to the former
and thereby impair the efficiency o.
those great checks interposod by the Con
lstitution against the centralizing tenden
cles of political power in the hand
of the general government. W.
should beware of power when it ap
proaches us in the guise of a protector
for the object of its protection now may
soon be the victim of its oppression.
, The power 10 appoint many of th'
prominent, as well as the minor officer
of the State is also vested by the Consti
tuition in the Governor. This is one o
the most delicate and responsible trust
confided to the Executive, and the faith
ful execution of which is conditioned up
on the exercise of sound discriminai
! ing Judgement. Offices constitute tn
9 machinery OF State, by which the bur
dens, as well as the blessings of govern
ment, are distributed among the people
= and as the one in many instances proyok
the eensure more readily than the othe
u excites the praise of the public, it is higl
ly proper that honest, capable and faitl
full men only, should be appointed to OF
u flee, in order to insure to the public til
: benefits of good government, without, d
IL the same time exaggerating the burden
which it imposes. Incompetent an
. faithless public servants, by their ignoi
l. ance of duty, or abuse of power, alway
IL bring reproach upon the Office with who's
c authority they have been clothed, and t
l. that extent weaken aud embarrass tn
S administration of the government. l
e the performance of this duty, my chic
e, purpose will be to select such persons ft
II the offices as shall possess those element
lie of character that will best secure the en-
50 of their creation.
l. The Constitution provides that tn
As Governor shall have power to grant II
a. prieves or pardons, and to remit flint
he and forfeitures. Penalties constitute tf
IOrce OF idW' Aho
n therefore, to suspend, or nullify tt
"a Judgment of law, which involves the II
a Fiction of punishment upon offender
should be exercised with a large degrt
% of caution and dehberation. The obje'
ol of human punishment Is not to procul
OF satisfaction or atonement for offens'
committed, but simply to correct offen'
pc ers. and by the dread of their examp
M deter the vicious and evil dispose
osl Whenever the rigid enforcement of I'll
" law fails to accomplish that object, the
humanity as well as the highest wisdo
" demands the exercise of the authorit
IL conferred by this humane provision
it the Constitution. BY reason of the fall
a bility of the human judgment, and IL
ia ;mnerfection of human institutions, CT
ofl cumstances must necessarily arise
l.. some cases, that plead strongly for I'll
-, mitigation of the severity of penal law
which contemplate the attainment
"s strict justice, and not the practice
'se mercy. But, in the exercise of this b
di- nign authority, compassion for the
lily who have been overtaken with the nat
of raj consequences of their own erimt
\ t1,Ar In