The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-07-17

social and political chaos; that our
courts have been stripped of their
powers, and lawlessness, in its worst
and most dangerous form, stalks rcd
handed and unrestrained throughout
our Commonwealth.
am perfectly aware how all this
is to be answered. l know it will be
said that all these wild, exaggerated
accusations, so utterly damning to
the reputation Ofour State, If true,
are only strong way Of stating the
fact that the present Executive has
been unwise and indiscreet in the ex-
ercises of the pardoning power.
Whether he has at all times made a
proper use of his high prerogative, or
whether he has erred in its exercises
in any particular instance, is some-
thing that neither you nor nor any
just man can say without full knowl-
edge Of all the facts upon which he
acted. That he may have erred
that he may have been misled in
many instances, may be probable, for
to err is human, but the most malig-
nant and Inscriptions enemy he has
on earth cannot truthfully assert that
in any case his escutchcon has been
tingcd by the slightest suspicion of
corruption.
But fellow-citizens, while speaking
of the pardoning power, II may not
be out Of place for me to digress suf-
ficiently from my present line of
thought to briefly present my own
views of the nature of that prcroga-
tive and the principles upon which it
shall be exercised if should be
chosen to the Chief Executive Magis-
tracy of our Commonwealth, as l
doubtless shall be at the approaching
August election. The power OF par
don is one of the necessary and indis-
pcnsible prerogatives of::a sovereign
State. without which it would be i'm
possible forit to afford that complete
protectionto the innocent which it is
under even higher obligation to
render than 10 punish the guilty, and
to ameliorate the extreme rigor OF
the law when demanded by the re-
quirements of justice. Its exercise by
the Chief Executive, to whom it is
intrustcd by our constitution, is
quasi Judicial function. 1t cannot,
in my judgement, be propcrlycxcrted
as mere matter of grace, resulting
from simple sentiment of sympathy
or pity in the Executive mind, how
ever commendable such sentiment
NAV be in our nature, but only in
compliance with rigid requirements of
justice in view of the facts surround
ing each particular case-justice TO
!. the great body of the people, as well
as to the indivual immediately involv-
ed. To permit Il citizen to be wrong
fully orunduly punished regardless
of any mitigating circumstances, of
which perhaps the strict letter of the
law could take no notice, would not
:. only be cruelty to him, but the most
fragrant injustice to the honor of the
| Commonwealth rs well as to every
individual who looks to its cOnstitu-
lion and laws for protection, while
on the other hand, to allow any one
to escape penalty just due to his
crime, as a mere personal favor to
the convict, would be most cruel
, stab at the very vitals of the body
polite. Entertaining these views,
nv citizens, should be called
, upon to exercise this high power con-
/ Eferred by your Chief Executive for
such beneflcent purposes, would
). scrutinize the circumstances pre-
/ sented with the strict impartiality OF
: Juror and the disinterested fidelity
of judge, netting out as far as my
Judgment might enable me equaI
!, and exact justice-justice to tht
:. Commonwealth and convict alike.
I THE REVENUE LAWS.
n But to return to this remarkable in
dictment. We are told 'that the laws
s enacted for the safe and speedy col.
n lection of our revenue have beer
disregarded.r When, where and by
3 whom? win gentlemen who make
i this allegation please give US bill o
# particulars? That the full amour
: of revenue assessed has not been col
l. lected in any particular year, eithel
d before or since the Democratic part!
Q got control of the Government, nj
is one will pretend to deny; but yo'
l. and and every sane man know
,e that the delinquency, whatever
le may have been in any particular yeal
10 has been mainly attributable to tn
ct inability Of the taxpayer to pay hi
pr taxes, and TO some extent,to the faul
TO of the local officials in the severa
e. counties, and if gentlemen will tax
es the trouble to examine the statistic
a. to be found in the Auditors report
,c from year to year, they will find
G. greater proportion of such delinquen
re cies in counties having clear Republl
to can majorities, and where the assess
j. ments, collection and returns of tn
th revenue are made by Republican off
a GERS, and if they will look at the la'
70 of these reports they will find that !