Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-22
GOV. BLACKBURN DEFENDED,
The Cost of the Ashland Trials and
other Literary Knick Knaeks from
Kentucky.

GOV. BLACKBURN DEFENDED,
The Cost of the Ashland Trials and
other Literary Knick- Knacks from
Kentucky.
Correspondence Of the Morning Yeas.
GRAYsON. KY. August IL have
always noted with regret how illIberal
some correspondents are when critl-
cising the official acts of those to whom
they are in no wise partially in
clined. This certainly very disreputable
characteristic was never more manifest
than in the conduct Of those correspond
ents who are continually abusing Gov.
Blackburn. Of this State, for his exercise
Of the pardoning power. Had these cor
respondents been in the least inclined TO
deal fairly with Gov. Blackburn's eXer-
else OF the pardOning power, vested IN MIN
by the constitution and laws OF this com
mOnwealth, 1 am quite certain that their
criticism had been shOrn OF much OF It's
cruelty. l have had occasion TO refer 10
this matter once before. and again notice
il only to boldly assert that IN every IN
stance where Gov. Blackburn has par
dOned convict from the Kentucky state
prison he was governed by either petitions
from the very best men OF the counties
estly believing that disease had already
singled them out for deaths harvest, and
their days of freedom were but few. No
one viii deny Governor Blackburn's ca
paclty for faYOring correct prOgnOsls OF
these cases. A recent article in the
MORNING News intimates that since DR..
Talmage has been guest OF the Gov
ernOr, that he would turn the penltentlary
inside out. The writer Of such unjust re-
E-nnW Governor X
burn. He is not the man to be Influenced
by sickly philanthropy. He has the
nerve to do what his conscience approves,
and all the DR.. Talmages Of earth could
neither influence him to do what he did
not approve. nor deter him from DONG
that which his judgment cOmmends. With
all Of this moral courage, his heart Is as
tender as that Of a child, and this tender
ness has led those who did not know him
to intimate that he could be easily intlu-
enced to pardon cOnYicts by the pathetic
appeals Of those interested in their pardon.
But Governor Blackburn's admins
tratiOn is on the wane, and in
a short time he Will retire to the quietude
Of private life, where he will never be
mortified by the unkind criticisms of those
who do not like him. He can well afford
to submit his official acts as Governor of
Kentucky to the future historian, conf
dent that time. the cOrrectOr of every
wrong. and the great palliatOr for the pres
ent injustice done him. will yindicate him
in the exercise of executive clemency
during his term as Governor Of Kentucky.
As a relation Of Governor Blackburn |
cannot pass these cruel criticisms Of his
administration by unnoticed.
Meals case was continued until the
next term Of the Circuit Court in Febru-
airy next. l am, therefore, denied the
writing up Of the case for the NEWS. 1t
is these vexatious delays in the enforce
ment Of our criminal laws that eXcites
an outraged people to mob violence to
the disgrace Of our country. Other
people do not stop to inquire into
the facts attending cOntinuances Of
our criminal cases, but content them
selves in attributing the same to an in
difference Of the courts to the disposition
Of cases submitted to them, which, | con-
Tess. obtains too often for the cOuntry's
good. In this case. however. the inability
Of the prosecuting attorney to have the
/ Commonwealth most material witnesses
on hand was the cause of continuance.
He has sued out attachments for each de-
taulting witness. and will have them or
"blOOd money at the February term Of
Carter Circuit Court. To give the readers
Of the News some idea Of the enormous
4 expense attending the trial of these Ash
land murderers, l will remark that over
I three hundred witnesses have been sub
pHnaed. They have been compelled to
come from Boyd county to Carter county
already twice since the cases have been
4 changed by venue, and only one Of
/ the murderers. Craft, as yet convicted.
He is IN Lexington jail, and will not
/ be executed until the Appellate Court
/ has given legal notice Of its affirmation of
the judgment of the Circuit Court. AS
this body will not meet until September.
- l. IL.
( less Governor Blackburn should either
pardon the wretch or commute his SEN
tence to life Imprisonment. which is not
probable.
Since writing my last letter abundant
rains have fallen here and the consequence
is the growing crops are booming. The
weather, however, continues too cold for
the comfort Of your invalid correspond
ent. / must congratulate the Legislature
( upon dismissing the suits against the
lessees Of the State Road, a suit which
should never have been attempted. | am
not surprised at the fate which will prOba-
bly, attend the local option bill now pending
before the Legislature, which has been
prOphetically stated by "Chatham," the
gifted Atlanta correspondent Of the
NEWS. than whom there is not more
versatile and interesting writer connected
with the Georgia press.
presume President Arthur greatly en-
joys his soiOurn in the Northwest. 1t is
/ not often that the care-wOrn. encountered
chief of the ''best government the world
ever knew" is permitted to wander off be-
yOnd civilization and commune with ma
ture in its primal state. His trip to the
Yellowstone is therefore a picnic, as is
but seldom enjoyed by President. There
he experiences new sensation, absolute
exemption from Office seekers, and the
blessings of his emancipation from official
labor can descend upon him as gen
erOusly and gently as the dews of heaven.
He is subject to no whim or caprice save
his own, and is as free as the mountain
breeze that fans his cheeks. | hope his
untamed subjects Of the Western wild
will permit him to return to Wash
ingtOn without having experienced the
annoyance Of a surprise party or a scalp
ing bee.
see that Philadelphia has had inaug-
urated within its limits two female base
ball clubs, who propose giving public eX-
hibitions of their agility, for qtid pro
quo of course, in the principal cities
North and West. Girls are by nature
''good catchers," and are very fond of the
diamond" but | regret IS see
them put to such "base"
uses. can assure them
that, although they hail from the getty of
BrOtherly Love-" should they have the
temerity to visit our Southern cities they
will be severely ''put out" Our Southern
girls, although very fond Of diamonds
without a flaw, are not sufficiently mas
culined to initiate those females of the
North who imbibe every issue of the day
give the readers of the NEWS a simple
rule to ascertain the number of feet in a
log, that | nave picked up since | came to
Kentucky, which is as accurate as any
measurement. 1t is as follows: Multiply
the diameter in inches by one=half the di-
ameter; multiply the product by the
length Of the log in feet, and divide the
product thus obtained by 8, and the num-
Der of feet is ascertained. Lumbermen
will do we'll to paste this rule in their hats
and thereby never forget it.
But through fear of growing too practi-
cal for newspaper correspondent, | will
close. More anon.