The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-06-16
THE PARDONlNG POWER.
MIR. brooker Protests Against Condemna-
tion Of tho Executives.

tfon ofthe Executives.
COLUMBIA, S. c., June 6.-Editor
Register: Much has been said OF late
comdemning what ls purported to be a
too Tree exercise of the pardoning power
by Governor Tillman. I beg to say
that in my Judgment 1t would be better
ior the press of the State to abandon
that subject as a weapon of warfare in
this hot political contest, because:
First, l do not think an Executive
ought To be interfered with in the exer-
else OF this right, wisely given him by
the Constitution Of the State, in any de-
gree whatever, unless it is shown that
such power is being indiscreetl5 used.
1t Is question which inv Olives the lives
and the liberties of human beings, and
hence is too important as affecting hu-
man liberty TO be tritled with. Secoud,
Ihe Executive of a State is made re-
sponsible, and only he occupies the pro-
per position to know when, by the pro-
per investigation. such power should be
exercised, and where it is done it should
be presumed. without proof to the con-
trary. that there exists good reasons
why it should be done, more especially Y
when there can be discovered no under
lying base motive in so doing, which IN
this case Is impossible to be so imagined.
Third, In the peculiar condition of our
convict system, the nature apd the COM
plexlon OF the prison population, the
uncertainty and ambiguity which in
wolves the correctness of many of the
convictions in our State, and in some
| cases the severity of the sentences on
account OF political feeling aud prejudice,
ana which may sometimes be Inflicted
oy peevish. impatient Judge, may be
IN a moment OF passion. II demands,
on the part OF the Executive, the most
rigid, careful and labored investigation
OF each individual case. and becomes
the grave duty of the Governor of q
state to look we'll to the matter; and in
the discharge Of this sacred obligation
he should be free from bias or fear of
any person or persons, or Of conse-
quencc or consequences. And he should
be upheld and not condemned where it.
Is seen that he is fearlessly moving IN
the discharge of this sacred duty.
am willing to hear complaints and
condcmnations against Governor TILL
man or any other Governor when the
proofs are submitted tha, he has acted
lndlscreetlY, but until such proofs are
submitted, in the name of liberty and
justice, OF mercy and Christianity, l beg
10 enter my most solemn protest against
wreckless charges in this regard. Let
the light be made upon some other line
or submit the proof and don't let num-
bers be taken as proof.
Governor Richardson WAS condemned
for the liberal use of the pardonipg
power. / defended him, for l knew
"hereof l spoke. l was chairman OF
! The board of directors of the Peniten-
tlary AMI committee on pardons during
his administration, and recommended
much that he did, and I never knew q
case in which he acted unwsely in nv
Judgment. Upon this same principle I
uphold the present administration and
Will continue to uphold it until it is
shown TO be wrong.
remember to have sad to Governor
Tillman upon my retirement from the
work, that | thought there were at least
| hundred conyicts in the prison that de-
served clemency, and l feel TODAY that
II he has pardone1 as many and the pro-
per subjects, the number is not too
large. L am equally sure that he has
not acted upon my suggestion, but upon
his own Judgment, for soon after his in
auguration l submitted in person an ap-
pllcation for clemency in a case which
J. had fully investigated and was salts
tied as to its merits and which was high-
ly endorsed, which he fatty refused. I
could not make HIM see it as saw it
and knew it to be. And that convict ls
now serving out an unjust sentence in
the Penitentiary. This is not politi-
cal letter, but written in the name of
Justice and humanity. God save the
liberties and the lives of the innocent
human beings Who are made 10 suffer and
die in our State prisons.
Very respectfully,
NJ W. BROOKER.