Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-09
PLEAS FOR MERCY.
TRIALS INCIDENT TO THE PARDON
ING POWER OF GOVERNOR.
PATHETIC WORDS AND SCENES,
a Constant and Unending source of
Worry TO the Executivcs--crimi-
malls Do Not Hesitate TO Ask Gle
meney.

Tue thoughts OF the ambitious man
eager TO have his name perpetuated II
tho annals OF hts state. turn, naturally
80 the gubernatorial chair. In the mind
OF uninisiated public men tho Office II
one OF diguity and ease and 'n the pre-
negatives Of the Executive the vain car
find those lingering traces Of sovereignty
which nowhere else can be acquired IN
America The aim, doubtless. is laud-
able one, and the honor. when achieved,
naturally affords satisfaction. and offers
recompense for hardships encountered.
but few stop 10 reflect on the other side
The first feeling OF the candidate when he
has emerged successfully from the laby-
rinth OF ballots are those Of Joy and
power--that ia. II he is not an extraordi-
nary man-but ere long he sees another
aspect, and feels the restraint of his posi-
ton His life. from the moment he
takes the oath Of office, passes under the
surveillance Of his constituents, and
thenceforth he is the cynosure Of all eyes.
From that time until he ushers his sue
cessor into Office he is the butt Of petty
annoyances. and must grid himself with
scores OF difficulties and bear with hun
dreds OF inconsiderate citizens. At times
he win almost feel temptation to lay
aside the sceptre. though the writer can
recall no instance where this temptation
has conquered. This picture, while 1t |
may appear overdrawn. has at least one |
merit. II IL accomplishes no other pur |
pose IL may at least serve as a consoIa-
tion stake for those aspirants 10 the
h1u vat hod
opportunity OF verifying the writer's
assertions.
The difficulties above alluded TO can
all be overcome. and that. too. by three
qualities which even the weakest could
possess-bravery honesty and integrity.
But If you were TO ask the governors
Of this Union 10 tell you their most
troublesome duty-the one particular
thorn in their sides-they would respond
una voce: "Our pardoning power"
In nearly all the States Of the Union
the Governor. by virtue Of tho Constitu-
ton, is vested with this authority, and
none but the initiated can appreciate its
Importance. II makes the Executive the
highest criminal tribunal. and throws
upon him the burden of finally weighing
large percentage Of the crimes in his
State
On the one hand he Is restricted by his
Cdlu 10 see 10 the SltlCl 6NtCullO0 OF the |
law. while on the other he is harassed
by en- equitable jurisdiction which goes
beyond the law. and authorizes him TO !
temper justice with mercy. He has to /.
deal with a treacherous. deceitful ele- :
ment ever alert to evade the law and
avail themselves OF technicalities-an :
slernent devoid of gratitude, and usually /;
but too ready to stretch the utmost leni- :
ency Of the Code. :,
ALL ASK FOR PARDONS. b
1t is almost safe to venture the asser- a
ton that 70 per cent, at least, of the p
criminals who have been apprehended
and convicted consider themselves L
worthy subjects for clemency. Certainly p
a large proportion Of the convicts in the a
State the writer has in mind send their !;
petitions to the Governor, and hundreds p
1f others would follow suit were they II
not prevented by the superintendent p
some OF the papers. prepared by lawyers G.
)r those versed in law, set forth SUBJ X
'tantial grounds for clemency, but by u
ar the larger proportion are bald-faced II
'equests for mercy. based on the simple D
eason that the prisoner is weary Of in II
'arceration, or has starving family at y
ZONE. The ignorant in their appeals.
imost Invariably strike a religious
train OF composition, and nine times
'ut Of ten they will assure the Execu-
i've that God will bless his act and smile 10
lpon him II he turns a yielding ear TO as
heir prayer. Unfortunately for the
Triters-but very fortunately for the geD OF
raj pnblic-the average Governor la
equires stronger guaranty Of blessings lie
han can be furnished by the crafty IT
elons- The plea Of wife and nine chill c.
rem Certainly one calculated TO excite IN
ity) is utilized for all it is worth. te
When the uffSOnPr time 7
imself his own lawyer, it is no difficult WI
natter TO dispose of his case. for ne ne
1quiries at the prison will generally set ie,
10 Chief Magistrate right. The uu1cials IN;
the penitentiaries, from their LONG
<perience with criminals, will doubtless ed
now the man. and their estimate of him ~
IN invariably be relied upon cb
WEEPING WIVES AND MOTHERS. tn
But not so easy is the matter of dis an al
'sing OF pardon petitions when the IN,
risoners are represented by their ne
Iothers, wives, daughters, or sisters. No {
an however firm in the discharge of m IN
$ duty, can resist the onslaught OF W mn
oman's tears. and no woman, in plead
q cause. has. so far as the writer
lows. ever failed to avail herself of this
cans OF attack One and all they come
The Executive chambers in person.
I'd, once there. II requires but little To
genulty 10 obtain an audience with the n,
an who holds their happiness in his
md. True 1t is the part OF the secre-
rvs duty TO ward off these visitors
IT secretaries, like their official
periors. are only human, and thew Tn,
o, fan victims TO the lachrymose
essure. The methods of cultured
dies. on whom the blow Of disgrace has N
Hen, vary I'm detail no little from those mis-
their humble sisters but the general Pee
ode OF appealing is the same. All weep. are
shed the tears that are born of and are
'enched from deepest sorrow, but the SIR
pre- refined abstain from that bare mis-
red display of grief which in it's the
ncerous hideousness serves only 10 N
pei Mothers ofttimes bring with them any
these disagreeable errands their dirty. nerl
FALLING children. whom they utilize as sto,
ldence OF their indigence-as monu- sbo
,nts TO their misery and as the strong 90
tangible grounds for mercy Some cos
mes, upon the faintest hope. these rosr
'etched women. with their soualid "a.
pods. will travel hundreds OF miles 10 ,,,,,
TX governor and wherever he goes uitt
thin the confines OF his State. some o,,,-,
artbrolken unfortunate will be sure IN I'm I'm
him and harass him with her pitious NJ,
go sire
RUGGLES AGAINT THE GALLONS. low,
'hese, then. are come of the hard pror
they surely are--of a gard
'ernor's lot but there are other trials Stua