The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-09-09
GOV. TAYLOR DEFENDS HIS
LATEST ACT OF CLEMENCY.

NAHSA hNA OH NhNM AAANN .
He POurs Hot Shot Into Judge Cooper andIAt.
tOrney-General Patterson, of Memphis.
Nashville, Sept. 2.-Gov. Taylor is
still hot over the criticisms of his action
in the Parora matter. He said today:
'I have to say that Judge Cooper and
Attorney General Patterson are deal
ing with matters with which they have
nothing on Gods earth to do. 1t is
more than probable that if l should
stoop beneath the dignity of my Office,
l might parade whole column of in
stances where the brilliant attorney
general of Memphis has subjected him
self to criticism. I might from my
own Office find vivid illustrations of
Judge Cooper's Inconsistencies; but
they are responsible for their deed; l
am responsible for mine. I beg now
once for all to notify these guardians
of justice that in the performance of my
public duties / do not regard them in
any sense my advisers, and if it affords
them pleasure to write cards and have
interviews condemning my action, they
have my permission, just as every ass
in Tennessee has my permission to
bray"
GOVERNOR DEFENDS HIS COURSE.
Gov. Taylor, in speaking of the par
don to the American, stated that he
had received petitions from leading
citizens of Memphis asking for Parora's
Communication, and that all the names Of
the petitioners are on file at the capi-
tol and he would publish them if 30 de-
sired. Among the first who approach
ed him at Memphis was ex-senator
Montedonico and many of the foremost
citizens of Memphis.
The following is the communication
which Gov. Taylor addresses to "his
people" as an explation Of his action,
which he says is neither unprecedented
nor strange, but what any man with o
human heart would have done under
like circumstances:
It has grown to be popular among
certain sensational newspaper men and
certain officers of the law whose busi-
ness it is to hunt up criminals and SEN
sations, to deliver themselves of re-
proachful criticisms and sluices of
abuse upon my head bacause I, now
and then, exercise my own judgment
in pardoning and committing the
sentences Of some unfortunate men and
women who have fallen. Men criticise
me in public print, who, in private,
use their influence to get me to do that
for which they afterw ards criticise me.
Men criticise me for using this high
power, with the view of poisoning the
public mind against me in the political
world. Then there are some small fry
who criticise me in order to advertise
themselves. 1t is the spirit of the devil.
it is the animal in man crying fol
blood.
take this opportunity to say, not tC
heartless politicians. not to sensatioa
editors, not to the hyenas who delight
in scafolds and inhumanity, but to the
people of my state who elected me gov
ernor of the state of Tennessee-tha
! have not abused the pardoning pow
er, that in it exercise, as we'll as in th
discharge Of oil my public duties, an
trying to be faithful to my trust. I d.
not fear criticism, because I am doinI
right
did not pardon Parora, I commute'
his sentence from death to imprison
ment for life. commuted it becaus
he is almost an idiot. commuted it be
cause number Of disinterested me-
whose motives were pure and holy, tes
, titled to me that they knew the ma
+, and his history, and that he has bu
Q little mind; I commuted him on m
: belief that the man whom he killed wa
Q making forcible entry to his home, an
that with the circumstances surround
ing the case l do not believe that b
ouhgt to hang. I have removed him frol
9 society, and those who cry for his bloc
need have no fear Of molestation frol
this miserable imbecile.
] stand upon my record. Tam prou
of it. 1t has been endorsed time an
again by the people Of my state. ALI
ask is that the people stand by n
while I perform my duty to them an
to my state.
Gov. Taylor said that his decisiC
had not been made hastily, but aft
the most careful study and deliberatiol
When asked if the attorney for ParoI
signed the petition or was instrumel
tai in the commutation, he replied tn
SO far as he knew the attorney for P
rora knew nothing of the matter ar
was certainly not factor in bringir
I about the Communication Of the sentenc
Mr.James E. Ferrell, of Blount Hou
W. Va, has discarded all other dia