Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-26
The Pardoning Power.

One of the reasons why punishment
by The courts does not punish was
strlhingly illustrated in the petition for
pardon, recently presented to Gov.
llirnilton, of Illinois, in the case OF
Angcll, the defaulting book keeper of
the Pullman car company, who was
sent up some years ago on "a ten years
sentence. The petition, bore the names
of scores of prominent citizens OF
Chicago, including editors of the lead
Ing newspapers, the district attorney
who prosecuted him, and the Judge
who pronounced his sentence Under
ordinary circumstances such petition,
backed by so much responsibility and
influence might have well been expected
To accomplish its object. Fortunately
forthe community, morality and society.
Gov. Hamilton was possessed of
strength of character enough to enable
him to withstand the assault and re-
fused to grant the request. His reasons
for so doing are given in detail and call
attention to the fact that Angell' S
crime was not the result of youth, but
the mature act of middle-aged man,
possessed of everything to make life
comfortable In conclusion the Cover
nor stated that's far from sympathizing
with the prisoner he had far less com
miseration for him than he had for
some who were driven to the commits
sion of crime through want or force of
circumstances.
If there were more Gov. IIamiltons
there would, without doubt, be much less
crime, especially in the higher ranks of
society. 1t is 4 fact that the present
ease with which n pardon is obtained
is more than nominal factor in the
increasing prevalence of oficnses again
the law. A man is hardly off for
friends who cannot escape, by means of
pardon, before Il half or two-thrdS of
his sentence is served. That this is all
wrong no thoughtful man will fail to
admit. If there are any ameliorating
circumstances which should operate IN
mitigation of the sentence, they are
pretty sure to be brought out on trial
and given due weight by the judge. 1t
is true there are cases where circum-
stances combine To warrant the pardon
of prisoner before he has served the
full limit of his sentence, but they are,
to use homely comparison, almost
las scarce rs hens teeth" Such cases
NAV occur once in decade but scarcely
oftener
There is again, no doubt but the fire.
uue1cy with which the pardoning power
is used is often the reason for diStrust
on the part of the public and u disin-
clination to trust the tribunals of Justice
with the handling OF the higher degrees
of crime. especially against the person
Ii the law escapes the network of tech
meal entanglements which have grown
ND around it, there comes the pardoniug
power to assist in circumventing justice.
\ change in the use of this power is
necessary. 1t is useless TO expect the
election of executives Of east iron tem-
pcrament and no heart We DO not
want them even il they are TO be Sc
cured for the asking, therefore the sim
plcst and easiest way to place this power
where it will do the least harm is to sc
surround it with provisions and safe
guards that it would be next to impos
sible To secure the release of n guilty
party before the term Of his imprison
ment had expired. When that time ar
riycS the sentence of u court will meaI
something.