The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1883-01-27

pOpulhf lolofaliOni though welt Known
to be continually committed, which are
occasionally prosecuted in way, 10
impose on the perpetrators sort of
tax Tor the benefit Of tho officers, with.
out in the lea5tdegreo preventing fepe
tition Of the oflenses. nq
1t iB however, due those officers TO
state, that in tho more serious ollenses
such as murder, robbery and theft,
they have exerted vigilance and prompt
activity in making arrests, and do not
now usually wait for rewards to be Of
forod before bestirring themselves in
tho discharge Of their duties,
rARpoNs AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
Notwithstanding that public notice
was given IN my first ttterance as gov
eruor that did not intend 10 be nude
u high court of appoals in criminal
cases, there have been presented to me
In four year / 100 original applications
for pardonR, commutat ms and remis-
sions in criminal car, amounting to
nearly six per week upon an average,
which / have carefully examined and
decided, as ig shown by the bookaJ and ei.
papers in the executive office. This
does not include the hundreds of Sec
ond applications made in these cases, sm
and in cases that had boen presented tow
my predecessor. few Of them pre-. H.,
sented grounds for action worthy Of
consideration. Most OF them presented n
some frivolous excuse, or the blanc of ia
some other person or persons, or that ,r
the punishment already, however Short,
was thought sufficient, or family Ie-
speciality, or poverty OF family, or
youthfulness, or age, or permanent or
accidental drunkenness, or Ceneral Sn'
sympathy, or a numerously signed PEI ff
tition, or alleged innocence. 40 shown W
by aiiidavits taken ex parte, y. unjust Of
or illegsl conviction. ,.,t
Tho getting up or forwai ding to me
such applications Inns become1a part of
some lawyers' practice for compensation, ~
and others OF thcm, andother most res, tN
pectable gentlemen, engage in it oc-
caaionally from sympathy, or friendship
for relatives OF the unfortunate por- y
sons.
These indscriminate applications TO
the chief executive, to prevent or mod iai
L fy the execution of the law, sanctioned
By responsibility aud numbers OF per-
sons who enlist their efforts, or care
lessly Give their names as signe-s to pc
titions, 10 favor, OF convicted criminals .
being relieved from punishment, has a. rs
bad effect upon the criminals them
selves ind most demoralizlng effect
upon tho community where they are
made by its tendency to alleviate and io'
detract from the enornity OF crime, and
to prevent its public condemnation, as
fixed by law and properly adjudged by
the courts. lHt
Though the governor is not respon.
I sible, except to his conscience and sense
Of right, for the manner in which ne
has exercised this extraordinary power
entrusted to hinl,it is deemed proper
that no should disclose TO his constitu-
enta, whom you also present, the prin-
ciples which have controlled his &C.
ton.
The leading one has been to place
good conduct and reformation in the
penitentiRry ut a premium, and to do it
in such a way that all will be enoour-
aged TO work and act for ii, and there
BY. have their times Of service dimiuish-
cd. They hsve beer thus taught to re-
lly on self-effort, rather than on outside
Influences, to obtain re lief This,
have been assured, has had o powerful
effect in aid % the government conyicts.
BY extra good conduct, some convicts
have been pardoned, and the time Of
service of others has been shortened by
communication every year OF my service.
BOYS under sixteen, convicted OF theft,
or similar offenses, have been pardoned
after six, eight or twelve months Bervi-
tude, on account of their tender age.
A / st OF their names has been furnished
to me for that purpose once each year.
Convicts that have become permantly
diseased or badly crippled in the GER
vice, have been pardoned. In case Of ~
murder, it has usually been required
that statement of the facts in the evil
| 4 "a 4. - H.,
4 ton, before acting on tho applications.
A few have been pardoned because
! felt satisfied of their innocence, ian
} A few have had the death penalty
! committed to labor in the penitentiary
S for lie, because, after full considera-
Q ton of the evidence, did not think they
Q ought to Buller death, and in all such
0 cases my reasons at length have been
S assigned. Thus continual effort has q
J been made to aid in the proper execu- ma
! ton Of the criminal law, guided by
I some principal Of justice and OF right,
. and not by mere Observation-Disclosures.
'i rEslTINTiARiEs, H''
The report Of the penitentiary board
will show what efforts have been made
s % complete the two penitentiaries, and
0 TO have placed within their walls as
v many cOuNlCtb ~ lIactAcabAcsI ifaT ms. H
On account Of the facility OF the
o criminals in crossing the Rio Grande
j from either side, TO avoid arrests and
! prosecutions, II became Necessary to ap.
s point all the county judges and district
+ Judges whose Jurisdiction reached that
0 river, extradltion SCENTS IN behalf OF
+ Texas, accompanying their appoint
3 ment with circular letter requesting
4 their acceptance and action, aud copy
: Of the extradition treaty between the
J. United States and Mexico Of 1851.
3 Upon communicating these facts to
4 the goyernors Of the adioising states in
o Mexico, favotoble answers were receiy-
ca, giving assurances OF similar action
! on their part. I.
IS Since that has been done very little
Q ronble has been experienced in that
q matter. a .II 10 5000
r, FRoNrRR BATTALION Asn Poiicr loRer'
A. The report Of Tho adiutant general
~ viii ahow that To frontier battalion
aud special police iofoe have done good
~ service la arfCsting criminals aud IN