The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-01-15
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
GOV. FOSTERS FIRST MESSAGE TO
THE PEOPLE OF OHIO. .l
He Approves Of Short Legislative Session
Recommends PurdOning Board, aud Says
. Good Word for the National Guard 9 81
Short But Business like Ad. ' o.
dress. ''liN i''
Gentlemen Of he General Assemblv :

H... .. ... ..... ... B
Gentlemen Of he General assembly: ~.
In appearing before you to take the oath of
office required by the Constitution, and in as.
suming the duties OF the Chief Executive off ce of
this State, am not unmindful of its responsibii.
ties, or ofmy deep sense Of gratitude to the peo.
pie who have thus honoTed me. 1 shall bring to
the discharge Of this high trust an honest dur.
pose to faithfully perform all the duties 1t i'm.
poses. ''"
We meet under the most favorable auspices
The period is one of unprecedented agricultural
and commercial prosperity. All the great indus.
Fies Of the State are active and thriving and our
more than three millions of people, in the main,
are eqniented, prosperous aud happy.
Al this time there seems to be no pressing ne.
cessity for extensive legislation, and am pleas
ed to know that we are in perfect accord con.
eerning the proprlety Of short session OF the
General Assembly. '''''.
have but little to. add TO the recon menda-
lions made by my immediate and distinguished
predecessor--in most Of which I concur and 1
especially desire to repeat and emphasize his
suggestions under the headings of Penal Insu.
~
Charities Ohio State University" and "0hio
River Neylgation."
Your attention ia especially called to that part
OF the report Of the Auditor of State relating 10
the condition OF the Sinking Fund.
The honor and credit Of the State should be
placed above all ether considerations, and to
maintain them, all constitutional and lawful re-
quirements should be rlgidly and faithfully OBJ.
served. ...,,, .....
The fifth section OF the second article OF the
Constitution confsrs on the Governor the author.
ity ito grant reprieves and pardons, after con
1iction, except in cases Of impeachment"
Crime Is, punished not because, the State is
VindicdYe towatds the criminal, but 10 restrain
and pIeventthe commission Of crime; to protect
sodiety against lawlessness. If this is the right
full Interpretation Of the object of punishment
then the more certain the conviction and hope
lessness Of Executive Clemeney the more certain
will restraining Influences be felt, and the better
will society be protected,
In my judgment this power can be safely ex
ercised only whenthe Executive is convirced OF
the il1egelity or injustice of the sentence. 1t
ought to reach but few, II any, other than those
whose cases come within this Limitation.
The safety and security OF society depend upon
the rigid, imperial and certain execution Of the
penal laws
Every application for pardon and reprleye
must upon the exercise of wise discretion and
sound Judgment, which can only be exercised by
a careful examination Of every case brought be.
fore the Extcutive.
1t iS apparent to me tha, It Is physically impos.
sible for the Executive to give every application
for pardon or reprIeye that comes before him
such examination as will enable him to act with
discretion and wisdom. These unfsyorable con.
dltions win be augmented as the number Of con.
victs increases. ,
Under these circumstances the prefopsuye of
the pardoning power is liable to abuse, both by
withholding the pardon in deserving cases, and
the too frequent exercise Of 1t in cases not meri
torIous.
In some States Boards Of Pardon, or Advisory
Boards OF Pardon have been established with
gratifying results.