The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-01-04
HE EXPLAINS WHY HE HAS ISSUED
THEM.
From the Atlanta Constitution ]

hlNC SelA OAuAly obla'tISi UdCiA CttoO,
the evidence and the facts that in
duced me to grant the pardon is
on file, and when the Legislature
meets they will receive my report;
then, if any one has any right to
complain, let them speak. There
is in this state over twelve humid
red convicts. It is my duty to
look over these cases, examine
them carefully and if 1 find where
it is nay duty to exercise executive
clemency, 1 shall not be frighten-
ed from that duty by public clam
G.. These cases are before me
just like the docket of the crimi-
nal court is before the judge. If
I evade that duty / am not fit for
the office.
WHY HE PARDONS.
Il have pardoned since I have
been governor about forty-two
cases. Over half of this number
was recommended to me as suita-
BILE persons to be pardoned by the
penitentiary committee of the
legislature, backed by the strong
est kind of recommendation. Many
OF the remaining cases are small
cases, renting a part of fine,
when I had evidence that it was
impossible to pay the whole fine.
Your reporter had it that I have
ordered fines refunded-that is
ridiculous. I cannot order fine
refunded, and never did My
reason for not having anything to
say is this: I have done nothing
but my duty-it has not been my
habit in life to stop and explain
my official acts, but | have never
evaded any responsibility when
any one having the right to look
into them wanted to. IF | give
the facts in each case, as [ pro-
pose to do to the Legislature, it
will be more than any newspaper
would be willing to publish, and
when [ make my report [ want
the record made up and then T am
ready for Che condemnation of any
honest man, if [ deserve it.
We suggested to Governor
Stephens that we had heard OBJ
jections made that he had pardon
ed men guilty Of burglary in the
night and forgery5
ABOUT THE BURGLARS.
well, replied Mr.. Stephens, I
will just give you the facts in
those two cases. l did pardon
one man for burglary in the night,
and one for forgery. Take the
first Henry Harrison, a ne
gro from my own county, charged
with burglary in the night. He
broke open negro shanty and
took a bushel Of meal AID some
meat From another negro. The
aggregate value of the property
did not amount to four dollars.
The negro has served four years
and four months. His pardon
was recommended by soth8 of the
best people in my county. TIE
negro hasa family, and if he had
served out his term he would
have been discharged in August.
By kgartEoning him now he has the
opportunity, if he will, to make
crop by commencing the first of
the year, and for this reason / re-
lieved him Of few months of his
service.
& TWENTY-FIVE CENT FORGER.
CHOW the case of forgery. A
man addicted to the use of opium
was away from his home without
friends or without money. He
forged an order on a responsible
party for twenty-five cents worth
of morphine and got it. He was
prosecuted, got up before the
court, plead guilty and stated the
facts. The Judge had no discre-
ton. The shortest time he could
be sentenced under the law was
two years, and he was sentenced
for that time, and l had the strong
est kind Of evidence that the man
deserved executive clemency, and
l did not hesitate to grant it.
$50 it is with all the cases I
have acted on, with few excep-
tions. I grant there may be a
difference of opinion with me
among many about my action in
the Cox case, and in the Afford