The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-06-27
TIE ABUsE OF THE PARDONLNG
POWER. ~ "a


Some of the recent pArdons Issued
bv Gov. Bate have caused severalof
our contemporaries TO discuss the
propriety of such acts of executive
lelemency. The pardon of DOoley,
for pistol-carrying, has especially
been the subject of acrimonious com
ment. All we have to say of that
case, at present, is, that If Dooley |
was not guilty of any offense against
the law. for the shooting for which |
he was tried, as jury of his conn- |
4 trymen said he was not, it would be |
indeed curious TO see him punished
for carrying the weapon, for the use
of which he had Just been acquitted.
Surely, If the homicide was a guilt
less one, the instrument by which 1t
was effected should not subject him
10 punishment at the hands of law
that had Just justified its use. His
guilt could have been at most but
technical, which q wise, or just
Governor, if he believed the verdict
of the Jury right, ought to remit
This much may, and in that charity
"that thinketh no evil y ought to be
said in vindication of Gov. Bate, in
that particular case. -...
But how about the many, many
other pardons, during his brief OH
cial life. of other enthusiastically
4 all of whom were violators of the
/ laws as TO whisky selling, or pistol
CARRYING? Does it not look as If
our Executive was placing q preml-
um on offences in this direction2 Is
II not time for him to call n halt,
and 90 slow in this matter Of par
: dons. while there is yet left in the
State a little respect for our crimi-
nal laws, and the courts that are
e making some little, feeble efforts to
b. enforce them2 We surely think so.
E Gov. Bate. and all other Governors,
r ougbt to remember that il is not the
sereritV. but the certainty of the
punishment of crime that deters
from It's commission. He who strikes
n at this certainty of punishment,
E strikes at the very foundation of or
ganized society,-of law and order.
1 Long suffering communities will not
+, always bear this wholesale turning
T loose of its criminal classes; will not
: always tolerate having justice tram
q pled under foot, the decisions OF
o courts and juries set aside decis'
81 ions themselves too often leaning
K towards IMMUNITY in crime, and
e against the peace, good order, safe
n ty and well-being of society. After
awhile the right of self-preservation
resident in communities, rs well as
e in individuals, will assert itself II
: vindication of outraged justice
4 Mobs will supersede the work o.
;, courts, and confusion, bloodshed ano
\ anarchy, pile with the blazing ruin:
\ of civil liberty the funeral pyre o.
:. inundated Justice If our courts
= iuries and Governors persist in Sow
: ing TO the wind, it is insane fol
? them to expect not to treap tho
: wbirl-wind.a As a Journalist, as
:. member of society, we raise oul
voice in earnest protest against
= further progress in this unfortunate
: direction. We call upon courts anC
II iuries to enforce the laws, fearlessly
It impartiaIly, unfiinchingly and, wher
they have done so, we demand, II
e the name of justice and right reason
e in the interests of the peace anc
d safety-nay, the very existence o
> society. that their verdict be let
alone.
It 1t seems to us, with our oper
d courts. our free and impartial trials
i our untrammelled judiciary, oul
E many safe guards around the Lives
/ and liberties of our people, it mus
# be an exceedingly rare, and eX
- treme case that can. possibly have
a any claim to executive clemency
We must needs draw the conelu
sion then, that these daily paTdons
:, bv our own, and other Governors
- are but premiums upon crime, ant
: strikes at the foundations OF socie
II ". They ought TO be stopped, aRt
J they must be stopped If we cal
ID not find men, not de1HdgOgUeS, fol
ID Governors-men,w who dare say n
;, To the insolent demands OF crime
ID for impunity, then let us so chang
3 our Constitutions rs to modify, or
-e ifneed be, abolish a one-man power
ID so liable to hurtful abuse, and $
d constantly, and so OutrageauslY
c abused. 1T is time the people tn
source of power in thlsolfree1 ilaRd
were taking TINS matter in hand
: and seriously, and correct it, Will
4 vet they have anything of safety 7
1 life, or property, left free from III.
. pointing touch of licensed eriIpi
d nallty. r4- -.ffg d-7 ll1eiy - nd