The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-19
THE NECESSITY OF EXECUTING LAW

pardons of criminals by the State
Executive. In many articles the
matter has been discussed. 1t is
surely not Democratic. not Repub-
lican to invest one man with abso>
late power over life ana death. No
thing but the existence Of such pow
er could possibly reconcile freemen
to its exereish: Custom, habit play
havoc with our conviction. some~
times. What happens day by day
does not disturb or alarm US. Fam
iliarity breeds sometimes contempt,
but it oftener rec0nciles men TO what
is occurring. Upon the principle
that vice which at first shocks is
afterwards smbraced. so people can
become go reconciied to any condi-.
tion of things that they cesse to
wonder. complain Or even reflect.
If there had never been the one>
inan power in North Carioiiia Ind it
was fo- the first time gravIy pros
posed that henceforth TIE work CT
the courts In matters of life and
aeath shnuld be suIiect TO tie rcvi
Sion of one fl lie E0rtal, VIII lii,
rrejudices IN i iafirn-i les as his fell
low men. and aroa his will should
detend the punis lmsrt Of criminals
or their pardon: tnus mega, wing; de
stroying. the findings OF courts: if
this pr6positio'i were to be seriou-l,
made it wcu'd create such r.yu,,-
sion of feeling on th. ins Mt. wea!d
awaken sne,i fears aId ant. o .ishs
on tie part of rejecting and law
abiding citizers that the froposer
wsuld be secuted and derlde as IL
unseemly, foolisL dad visionary il >
novator. And yet, becans. We h&ye
this power il full exercise and have
been accustomed to t, everybody is
Quiet and satisfied; and when a MUIR
tcrer is tried and sentenced to be
hanged after q fair and dae process
Of law, aid his seAt.nce is commut-
ed OF he is pardantl AID the galows
is robbed Of is victim, all men ac=
cept this exercise of oae- sn power
hs very right end very proper.
We sincerely believe that the
cause of so much crime is as much
owing TO the exercise Of the paisl0a-
ing power is 10 .ny other thing. The
laws delay OF course is one cause
and great one the technicalltlss
Of law and the ingenious dodges Of
advocates constitute other causes;
the imperfect jury system is sti an
other caus, tae pulling, sictly, dis
gusting SCI timentality that pervades
communities and the outrageous
sympathy offered to criminals, their
hands reeking with the blood of
dead men ,-.hese se all ,m5 ne C, n
stitute powerful reasons why crime
should flourish and Eob law .hOu,d
prevail.
Blt greater as an elcSura2t me2t
to crime aad q, N :tntive to lynch
lngs is tne constant exercise ofthe
one-man power. AS long as Gov
errors can set aside the findings Of
courts and Ia n Judicial proceedings
into unmeanll5 farces just sc long
will murderers and house breakers
take the chances and communities
will take the punishment of vi lians
into t!.ci Ovn hands.
There is no cure rs long as the
causes indicated exist. Crime shou d
be sternly met at every turn. The
peace Of society, tie safety OF
homes, t.ae protec5 Il on OF human life
all depend on the prompt, faithful,
upbendlng execution of law. Inns
prove the jury system ;let the judges
do their duty; let trials be speedy
let the prosecuting attorneys be
faithful and active AID capable ::
let communities cease to sign petit,
tionS asking for executive c.emercv,
and let The Governors cease to hear
such petitions only in the most rare
extraordinary case 3 that can seldom
occur, and then there viii he less
crime, fewer murders will be COM
mitted, Life will lie safer. .he sancity
of homes will be NOR, rar, ~ invad-
eel, society will I've more at ease, and
law and order will prevail to Il great
er extent than now.
Why continue the obnoxious. of
fensive, dangerous and abused one
m IN power? Gov. Jarvis sad this
power gave him ally more trou
BILE than all of the ether duties OF
tie Chief Executive. 1t is announ-
ced in the public prints that Gov.
Scales has ha;! already, IN about a