The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-04
ooyERSoR ROBTRTs.
A Defence Of His Aetion In Commit
Ing Certain Death t@niTnees' asa
the Mistake lie Has Made Ia
NOT Committing other.

the Mistake I've HAS Ha'' -
not Committing other
To ihe ~ tf - the Herald.
I have noticed upon difTei, oocsf.ohI
many severe crilcim' pubi'hed 10 ~
paper throughout he different psri' q m'
ibe State, oensunng Governor kobsr's io'
committing ibs sentences u certain sup
posed criminals. Believing that you Si'b n
DO no uninpu,ionA Injustice % our chief eH'
ecu.lye, md booHing that your columns sft
slwsyi open 20 free discussions on al q1es'
,ions affecting the public welfare, sfa par
ilculArly The administration u justice 10 ibis
STATE, improve tbs opportunity 70 review
~ briefly ~ possible the different murder
cases IN which the Governor has seeh proper
70 exercise The power q committing ih'
death sentence V impnsormeni fot liieinne
State peni,euiary. /, wiil be seen tbs, b.
each cass ibe Governor has not only ~ 10
wisely ard Justly Ia the pfemiies. bot hu
been governed by those humane and merci-
ful consultations which should charb ofzc
the Official sc1 u executive Oticer through
GU, tbs civilized world.
No one will contradict the statement that,
according ~ the number Of death sentences
passed upon criminals by the courts o. this
EAe, larger per cenisge have been e1ecu-
ted under the present administration than
during a like period Of time under any pre-
yious one. And more people have been le'
gslly executed IN Texas during the prehent
administration than were ever before con
victed and erecuted IN ihb or any oibr
State or Territory ii the Uiion during the
same period Of lime. Yet, With the blood
lest record Of any Governor Texas has eser
had, certain persons, and particularly certtin
newspapers throughout the state, wnOse Ell
tors are strangers 10 the facts Of the cases
about which they claim 70 know 30 much
and. in truth, know 30 little, are disposed 70
visit the yiles, and seyerest censure and
abuse upon the head Of our venerable Chief
Magistrate, whose only aim and purpose Is
and has been 70 perform the duties OF bis
biph Office faithfully and impartially. Gov.
ernor Roberts' administration needs
no yindcstion al the hands
OF our friends. II will bear the closest
scrutiny By the severesi critic II viii com
pare hyorsbly with any previous admins
tration, ard suffer nothing whatever by the
comparison.
But Of the present administration in gen.
eral we DO not wish 70 speak. Our only m
and object in preparing this article is 70 show
70 the public that If Governor Roberts had
erred at all In exercising the power OF com
muting the sentences Of supposed criminals,
which has been so wisely conferred by our
Constitution and laws upon the Chief E1ecu-
tive of the State, that error consisted in
emitting 70 commute several death sentences
where there we're grave doubts as 70 the
guilt Of the doomed men, or the grade Of
punishment that should have been inflicted.
Before one accused Of crime should be put
10 death, the evidence establishing his guilt
should be clear and certain. II should be
free from all doubt. II should cmanate from
a pure fountain and not be polluted or tainted
with the foul bresth Of perjury. Neither
should ii b0 predicaied upon the evidence OF
hasty, prejudiced and willing wit.
nesses. Justice should be tempered
with mercy by rollers everywhere
II is one Of the chief blessing,
OF power that it can extend mercy and
clemency TO the weak, and the crown jewel
of courage 10 magnanimity to the fallen.
Suppose Governor Roberts has commuted
the death sentence Of some poor, unfortunate
wretches 10 imprisonment for life. Admit
that the objects Of his executive clemency
were undeserying Of II, who in this age Of
christian enlightenment will nrrogate 10
himself the duty Of condemling the act
without knowing the facts or upon what
recommendations the Governor acted?
Our. meek and gentle Savior. the good
book Ells US, forgave the very thief on the
cross for few moments repentance over his
crimes, and awarded him a place in Para
disc.
Such Is the humane lesson taught By the
laws Of God, and we humbly commend the
same 10 the careful and tender consideration
OF those who denounce Governor Roberts fol
sparing the miserable lives of few faller
and doomed men, by consigning them to 9
tomb Of living misery for life.
As general rule, we find those who
clamor loudest against the humane anc
merciful acts of wise and just ruler to
wards criminals, the very ones whose heart
are cold and whose hands are not guiltless o
breaking and violating, with impunity. tn,
laws OF God and man alike. Their minds ar,
not inbued with the gentle spirit o
heaven. but instead, are tainted with the foal
breath Of hell. They constitute ths
baneful class Of debased mankind VIII,
would mingle with the pure stream Of Just
ice, the foul, the bitter, and the turbid TOR
rent of private hate and vengeance. No re
fined and elegant thought ever crossed thei
minds. and no beautiful thing has eve
grown to indicate their existence in worl
that they curse.
A careful and impartial investigation {
the facts will convince any unprejudiced an
unbiased mind that Governor Roberts hs
not commuted the sentence Of single pei
son without studied and mature deliBeri
ton, moved and prompted BY consideration
the most wise and thoughtful of any dut
!, performed during his entire administration
)v We know that prejudiced and excite
day public sentiment msy-s it has not unfr'